DeathCare (.com)

Today’s top killer diseases in the United States include heart disease, cancer and stroke. Men and women both are susceptible to these diseases, which cover such ailments as coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart rhythm disorders, all types of cancer and ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. These diseases, once developed, often are fatal.

But, not everyone who develops heart disease or cancer or who suffers a stroke die immediately. Often, these victims need help, and palliative care, or hospice care, is one route to take for this help. Here are a few reasons for heart disease, cancer and stroke patients to choose hospice services:

Heart Disease: Patients who suffer heart disease often suffer through cycles of treatment. They experience extreme pain, get treated, go home and then experience extreme pain again. Sometimes, a little help on the home front can increase the time between extreme episodes. However, patients would need to meet certain criteria for hospice care, including the prognosis of six months or less left to live.

Cancer: When cancer treatment no longer is viable or a cancer patient cannot tolerate treatment, then hospice care becomes appropriate. Opting for palliative care does not mean that the cancer patient is giving up. Instead, the patient is opting for an alternative to learning how manage symptoms and to improve quality of life while living with this disease.

Stroke: The severity of the effects of a stroke will help determine if a patient needs hospice care. The criteria for hospice care includes a coma, persistent vegetative state, and/or severely reduced level of consciousness and abnormal muscle contractions. Usually, the patient’s prognosis after the first three days following a stroke will determine the need for palliative care.

Remember that Medicare and many private insurance plans won’t cover hospice care and hospital admissions for the same diagnosis at the same time in any disease. With that said, when a patient has exhausted all resources and the end of life seems imminent, hospice services can make the end-of-life transition more comfortable for patients and their loved ones.

Hospice care workers who visit the home to care for heart disease, cancer and stroke victims patients can:

• Help with pain and symptom management.
• Help to avoid hospital admissions.
• Help to gain access to community resources and assist with emotional and spiritual needs.
• Can help with death care management.

These services can help family members spend more time with the patient as the hospice worker takes on the responsibilities of keeping the patient comfortable and at ease. If you’re interested in using hospice care, you can find many resources here .

Filed under: Hospice on March 19th, 2009