Talking to a parent about hospice
The conversation everyone dreads, and a few things that make it land better than it usually does.
Words for the questions families ask.
Plain answers about hospice, written for the people living it rather than the people billing for it.
What the Medicare hospice benefit actually covers
For most families the answer is: more than they expect, and at no cost to them. Here is the detail, including the exceptions nobody mentions.
How families know when it's time
Almost nobody gets a clear signal. What they get is an accumulation of small things, and a growing sense that the current plan is not working.
What hospice actually gives a family
Hospice is not the end of care. It is the point where care turns fully toward comfort, for the patient and for everyone around them.
Questions this didn't answer?
Call and ask. It costs nothing, and a nurse answers at any hour.