When is Hospice Called?

If a person is in a situation that has them asking “when is hospice called?” the answer is likely now.
Studies continue to show that many terminally ill patients are not referred to hospice until the final week of life. This delay means that both patients and caregivers struggle to control symptoms and pain on their own. Meanwhile, help is just a phone call away. 

Rockbridge Area Hospice offers many services and programs aimed at helping patients and families make the best choice when faced with a life limiting illness. Our effort is to provide calm in the midst of chaos. Our Connections program is available to all residents of Rockbridge County and surrounding communities when traditional hospice is not quite the answer. To learn more about this bridge program and how it can help your family, click here.

Now is the best time to learn more about hospice and ask questions about what to expect. Although end-of-life care may be difficult to discuss, it is best for family members to share their wishes long before it becomes a concern.

Rockbridge Area Hospice will answer your questions and help you find the right care. Our staff and volunteers have the training and expertise to guide you through the entire information-gathering process, we will discuss all your care options and help you determine the right care for you and your family. When you call Rockbridge Area Hospice, you will be encouraged to ask the questions you may have been afraid to ask. 
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The following are some questions you may want to ask your physician:

• How do you expect my condition to change in the next year?
• What symptoms might I experience?
• Will I be able to go about my daily routine and care for myself?
• Will the treatments I am pursuing or may pursue: Cure or slow down my illness or do they focus on managing my symptoms and quality of life; increase or decrease my pain; make me feel sick?

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Turning to Rockbridge Area Hospice is not about giving up, it’s about getting help. The most life-affirming thing you can do is seek assistance and comfort for yourself or someone else. Most of our patients and families say that they wish they had called us sooner—that Rockbridge Area Hospice honored patients’ dignity and enhanced their quality of life.