Page 36 - SEFL Senior Living Guide

by Kelly Wilson, Publisher question can be asked, when is quality more
important than quantity? When is the right
I do not nor have I ever worked for any hos-
pice provider, but I have had the opportunity time to opt for comfort and care when there
and privilege to care for people, 13 to be exact, is no cure? This is such a frightening thought,
who had hospice services in the last weeks, the family, the patient and even the treating
months and sometimes even years of their physicians sometimes feel the need to fight
lives. I have since changed professions and the battle to the bitter end. This battle statis-
now attend various lectures and presentations tically has been shown to sometimes shorten
regarding healthcare services, some of which the length of life and with it the quality.
the primary topic is hospice care. There are a Critical and terminal illness know no barriers
few different providers here in our SE Florida like age, race or religion. That being fact we
area but the fundamental concept is universal. need to all become aware and educated on
Also universal is the uncomfortable feeling options. Those options include the invaluable
the word “hospice” seems to create, the lack services of hospice providers that are not only
of public education, awareness and timely focused toward the patient but extend to the
intervention by way of open discussion even entire family, providing spiritual, emotional
among our healthcare providers. and physical support in the home, assisted
living, nursing home, hospital or any setting
Let me share a little something I heard at a
recent lecture. Over the last 100 years our the patient is comfortable in. State of the art
medical advances have come quite close to care is delivered by some of the most caring
doubling our life expectancy. What was once and compassionate physicians and nurses as
considered a ripe old age was 46; it is now 80 well as social workers, music therapists and
years old. Nevertheless, with all this medical massage therapists just to name a few.
technology we will ultimately reach an end to Please make it your business to seek out
our life here on earth as we know it. information, attend a presentation or an
educational lecture. Share and talk about
We are now able to diagnose and treat many
illnesses with modern advances in medicine. experiences with family and friends. We have
Over the years safety improvements of our no control over the fact that we will all die,
vehicles and workplace environments have but for some, we can have control over how
reduced sudden and accidental deaths. Ap- we and those around us will experience the
proximately 90% of deaths are predictable, last leg of the journey. Human nature is to
with many enduring lengthy courses of treat- fear what we do not know…if or when you
ment. It is under these circumstances that the are faced with a difficult decision you can
find comfort in the life choice you make.