End-of-life care is a difficult topic of conversation for most people, a conversation that frequently comes too late, during times of crisis, or the decisions are left to the family to make on behalf of a loved one. According to Jan Jones, RN, BSN, recently retired CEO of The Elizabeth Hospice in San Diego, California, having conversations and outlining end-of-life care goals is an important gift you can give to your family.

In today’s episode, Jan joins me to discuss end-of-life care at home and the important role of hospice. Hospice combines the expertise of doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors, home health aides and volunteers to create an intradisciplinary team that provides care for individuals and their families during times of life-limiting illness.

In addition, we discuss:

• The many benefits of hospice care
• How hospice care can help extend life and improve quality of life
• The differences between palliative care and hospice care
• How to have important conversations about death and end-of-life care

Below are some highlights from our conversation

• [1:37] Jan explains the intradisciplinary approach to hospice care.
• [3:15] Learn how hospice care and medications associated with hospice care are a Medicare benefit.
• [3:50] Learn how hospice is care for the entire family, and provides special care for grieving children.
• [6:00] Jan explains how Elizabeth Hospice is not just taking precautionary measures of patients and staff, but also teaching families how to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19.
• [7:50] Jan discusses how the acceptance of hospice care has changed during her 33-year career.
• [9:00] Learn how hospice care helps improve quality of life and does not make death occur sooner.
• [11:30] Jan details the palliative care and hospice care models.
• [12:10] Discover the important role hospice care can play in helping families through difficult times.
• [13:15] Jan recommends several important resources for talking openly and honestly about death, dying and end-of-life care and wishes.
• [15:00] Learn how hospice care helps patients focus on what is meaningful to them.
• [17:00] Discover the doors that discussing the need for grief support can open when it comes to end-of-life care.

After listening to today’s episode, I think that like me, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the important role hospice plays in home care and in helping to honor a loved one’s wishes.

You can listen to today’s episode here, or on Apple Podcasts, Google,  YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.

To learn more about hospice care and the importance of having honest and open discussions around end-of-life care and wishes, please see visit the Help Choose Home library of episodes dedicated to this subject. Each of these episodes is packed full of useful information that benefits individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

If this episode has been helpful, be sure to leave a five-star review and share the podcast with your friends to help us in the national effort to educate about home health care options! You can connect with me, Merrily Orsini, on Twitter@MerrilyO.