For Families and Caregivers
The earlier a patient receives hospice care, the earlier the benefits can be realized. By contacting Good Sam early in the diagnosis, the patient and family have time to understand their options and make plans that have the most impact on quality of life.
- Pain and symptom management
- Specialized medical and nursing attention
- Personal care
- Emotional and spiritual support for the patient and the family
- Assistance with end-of-life planning, such as advance directives
- Medical equipment and supplies
- On-call nurses and counselors
Hospice May Extend Life
Hospice care may even prolong the lives of some terminally ill patients. In 2007, researchers published the results of a study of 4,493 patients terminally ill with either congestive heart failure or cancer of the breast, colon, lung, pancreas, or prostate. All patients under hospice care had a mean survival of 29 days longer than patients who were not under hospice care. Hospice patients with congestive heart failure had a mean survival of 81 days longer; lung cancer, 39 days longer; pancreatic cancer, 21 days; colon cancer, 33 days longer. (Conner SR, Pyenson B, Fitch K, Spence C, Iwasaki K. Comparing hospice and nonhospice patient survival among patients who die within a three-year window. J Pain Symtom Management. 2007 March 33(3):238-46.)
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