Hospice Care
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care combines compassionate physical and emotional care with modern pain control and symptom management techniques. The word "hospice" dates back to medieval times, describing a place of shelter and rest for weary travelers on a long journey. Modern hospice care was developed by Dr. Cicely Saunders, who founded St. Christopher's Hospice near London in 1967. Hospice recognizes that we are all travelers on life's journey. While it is uncertain how, or when, our individual journeys will end, at times we all need the care, comfort and support of others. This is especially true at the end of life. 

Life is a Journey. . . 
In hospice, we believe there is inherent worth and dignity in everyone. Even though weakened by illness, a person is still worthy of respect, attention and care. People continue to grow and to share even as they approach the end of life. Many report a feeling of increased intimacy at this time. Emotional, intellectual and spiritual growth does not end when someone is given a grave diagnosis. Indeed, it is the experience of many in hospice that much growth takes place with individuals and within families during hospice care. 

"Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it. 
If we did, we would do things differently. To be prepared
for it . . . that's better."
                  - Morrie Schwartz 
                    From "Tuesdays with Morrie" 

What are the goals of Hospice?
Hospice is a special program that supports the terminally ill, their families and caregivers. The basic principles of hospice include:

  • Using palliative care (comfort care) measures to enhance quality of life.
  • Accepting death as a natural part of life.
  • Controlling pain and other distressing symptoms. 
  • Neither hastening death nor artificially prolonging life. Hospice does not
    support assisted suicide.
  • Respecting the wishes of the patient in accepting or refusing care, and
    not forcing treatments or care on patients.
  • Viewing the patient as a whole person.
  • Supporting the family and caregivers as well as the patient. 
  • Assisting the patient to remain at home surrounded by friends and loved ones until death. Hospice can also be provided in nursing homes.
  • Using an interdisciplinary team of trained professionals and volunteers to
    care for the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the dying.
  • Assisting in any way possible to help the dying person feel valued and
    important, and to feel a sense of completion in his/her life.
  • Willing to talk openly about the dying process with patients, families and
    caregivers. (Also, to respect the wishes of those who do not want to talk
    about dying.)
  • Providing bereavement support after death to family and caregivers about
    what is normal grief, and providing an opportunity for the expression of
    their feelings about death and loss.

Who are the Hospice Team Members?
The "Hospice Team" is made up of caring people who are comfortable with dealing with the special physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs at the end of life's journey. This team includes the patient's doctor and the hospice medical director, the hospice nurse, social worker, aide, volunteer, chaplain, therapist and others as needed. The most important voices on the hospice team are those of the patient and family.

Should you be in need of hospice care, your initial contact will be either Ray Weglarz, our Program Development Manager or Sarah Heinonen, our Family Care Coordinator.

Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice Interdisciplinary Team
Each individual and family reacts differently to being told they, or a loved one, have a terminal illness. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to go about adjusting to, and living with, this news. Many people simply deny the possibility of death and refuse to discuss it. On some level, however, no matter how hard a person tries to avoid thinking or talking about death, it does very much affect the life of the patient and those around him/her.

A frequent dynamic seen in hospice is "protect your loved one" from the truth. Many family members refuse to discuss the "cancer" or illness with their loved one, thinking they are doing a favor and sparing him/her pain and sorrow. Often this leads to communication problems in the family, and leaves the patient feeling isolated and maybe even deceived.

In hospice we do not insist or force anyone to talk about his/her illness. Hospice staff are willing and available, however, for patients or family members to discuss any issue they feel is important. The KHN&H Family Care Coordinator (social worker) and chaplain are especially trained for this.