Getting the Conversation Started

Hospice care is a very difficult subject to talk about when someone you love is terminally ill. As hard as it is to initiate, this is a really important conversation to have with your loved one earlier rather than later.

At AseraCare Hospice we not only provide essential services to patients and their families, but by commencing hospice care in a timely manner it increases the chances that your loved one will be able to remain where they are; whether it’s at home, in an assisted-living facility, or a skilled nursing home.

Once your loved one's attending physician has determined that hospice is an available option, the following guidelines should help get the conversation started, and hopefully make it easier for you and your family: 

• Choose who would be best to initiate the dialogue with your loved one. Typically, it's either their doctor, family member or a clergy member if they have close religious ties.
• Find a quiet time and a place with no distractions to broach the subject.
• If your loved one is not ready to discuss hospice at that time, keep the dialogue open by giving them the freedom to talk about the issue in the future.
• Your initial question about hospice should be phrased conditionally. It's best not to ask whether or not your loved one wants to enter a hospice program, but if they would like to consider the choice. This approach is a better way to open up a dialogue about what hospice care is. It's a way to both educate your loved one, and help dispell any misconceptions they may currently have about hospice care.