死亡。没有人喜欢谈论它 - 甚至考虑它。在其他一天或时间进行思考和讨论要容易得多。但是，不可避免地，您可能会面对照顾者对即将结束生命的亲人的角色。
Caring for a loved one isn’t easy. Because many Americans lackadvanced directives, there are several factors to consider and decisions you may have to make when it comes to your loved one’s end-of-life care. One of those difficult decisions might be choosing hospice care.
在临终关怀方面有很多误解。当有人听到“临终关怀”一词时，他们担心这意味着他们只是放弃了希望。这意味着选择死亡而不是延长生命。但是，真正的困惑是由于不了解什么是临终关怀以及如何帮助生病的人。
Sarah Payne，做，医疗总监Banner Hospice Phoenix，解释临终关怀的好处，并揭穿一些常见的神话。
什么是临终关怀？
首先，选择临终关怀的人并没有放弃希望，他们正在最大程度地提高生活质量。
佩恩博士说：“临终关怀是一种护理哲学，旨在提供舒适感，并最大程度地提高患者的生活质量。”“它的重点是对您所爱的人和家人的舒适，尊严和支持。”
Hospice agencies most often provide services in the patient's home, but it can also be provided in free-standing or independent facilities specially-designed to provide hospice care.
临终关怀的护理与姑息治疗一样吗？
Yes and no. A good way to think of it is that all hospice care is palliative care, but not all palliative care is hospice.
可以随时随地进行姑息治疗，在生命疾病的任何阶段，不一定在生命的尽头。这是一种积极的症状管理实践，专注于患者的目标和愿望。通过姑息治疗，您仍然可以接受治疗性治疗。
临终关怀,同时积极治疗信谊ptoms, treats those for comfort at end of life and forgoes curative therapies and treatments. It is provided for a person with a terminal illness whose doctor believes the patient has six months or less to live if the illness runs its natural course.
临终关怀的好处
临终关怀的福利远远超出了患者的身体状况，可以满足患者和家庭的精神和心理需求。
“True person-centered care is what hospice is all about,” Dr. Payne said. “Hospice is not just for the patient; it is for the caregivers and family as well.”
Benefits include:
- 临终关怀医院提供一个跨学科护理团队，包括护理，个人助手护理，社会工作，医生和护士从业人员护理，他们在生命疾病中经验丰富。
- 亲人的预局
- 耐心和亲人的精神和宗教咨询
- 音乐和宠物疗法
- 悲伤支持咨询和丧亲服务
临终关怀昂贵吗？
临终关怀是医疗保险的好处。在Medicare的领导下，如果您选择了临终关怀的福利，则涵盖了与终端诊断有关的所有内容。如果它与末期预后/诊断无关，则通常由其他手段而不是自付费用涵盖。如果您有其他医疗保险，请与您的承运人联系以查看临终关怀是否有好处，或者临终关怀医院可以检查您。
While each hospice program has different policies regarding payment, be rest assured that services will be offered based on your loved one’s needs rather than your ability to pay.
Four common myths about hospice
Myth #1:临终关怀是一个地方。
事实：“Hospice is not a place but rather, a philosophy of care,” Dr. Payne said. “Hospice comes to you wherever you call home, surrounding you and your caregivers with the support you need at the end of life.”
神话＃2：Hospice is giving up.
事实：“Hospice is not giving up,” Dr. Payne said. “It is enhanced care at the end of life, to maximize quality of life at the end of life.”
Myth #3:临终关怀只适合那些积极死亡的人。
事实：“Hospice is for any person with chronic illness whose life expectancy is six months or less,” Dr. Payne said. “The true benefit of electing hospice care is seen when hospice is brought in sooner rather than later.”
神话＃4：Can patients actually improve?
事实：This one is actually true!
佩恩博士说：“要保持临终关怀，如果疾病过程运行正常的病程，患者的预期寿命需要六个月或更短。”“很多时候，我们看到临终关怀的护理进入了患者的生活，并将手臂缠绕在病人和家人周围，在正确的时间为他们提供正确的护理，并且患者实际上有所改善。疾病过程可能仍然存在，但是也许患者已经学会了以不同的方式管理它，他们现在拥有所需的资源。一些患者不会继续下降，而是改善。
“Should the patient continue to decline, they have everything they need to do this with comfort and dignity on hospice care. Should the patient improve, they can either choose to revoke their hospice benefit or the hospice may say the patient no longer qualifies for hospice care and they graduate.”
大外卖
对于那些大约六个月或更短的居住的人来说，临终关怀通常是一个合适的选择。尽管通常对临终关怀护理有一些误解，但首先是最大程度地提高患者在生命结束时的生活质量。此外，临终关怀可以在这个困难时期（包括丧亲咨询）为您和您的家人提供支持，资源和信息。
How to choose a hospice provider
Do you have a loved one nearing the end of life, or are you considering end-of-life care options? To locate a hospice program, discuss with your doctors, nurses and social workers or asked friends and family for advice.
要了解有关临终关怀的更多信息，请访问bannerhealth.com。你也可以参观Medicare.govto compare hospice facilities in your area or the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization for an online提供商目录。
