(NAPSA)—Increasingly, people with a terminal illness are considering hospice care as a way to spend their final days. Developed in England in the late 1960s, hospice care focuses on a holistic approach to pain and symptom management. It incorporates the spiritual, emotional and psychological aspects of dying, while keeping the patient and the family at the center of the caregivingeffort. Central to hospice care is the philosophy that every individual has the right to die with dignity, compassion and comfort. Often hospice care is provided in a person’s home, but it can also be provided in other settings, such as a nursing homeor hospice facility. Typically, a person becomes eligible for hospice care when the person’s doctor certifies that he or she has six monthsorlessto live. Hospice had initially been associated with care for individuals with terminal cancer but now it provides care for people in the final stages of many other illnesses including heart disease, kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. If you or someone in your family is considering hospice care, here are a few hints from the experts at MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Alliance for Caregiving. * Start by discussing with the doctor the type of care, medication, treatments and therapies available under hospice care. * Don’t be afraid to discuss the emotional and spiritual side of the issues. * Talk to your loved ones and let them know those things that are most important to you during the time you have left with them. * If you are a caregiver and are feeling overwhelmed about caring Often hospice care is provided in a person’s home, butit can also be provided in other settings, such as a nursing home or hospicefacility. for someone whois terminallyill, don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends, professionals and support groups for assistance and information. The Since You Care Guide: Hospice Care was produced by the MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Alliance for Caregiving to provide information related to hospice care to assist both individuals facing a terminal illness and the family members whoare caring for them. The guide ineludes Web sites, books, and other resources related to hospice and end-of-life care. Single copies are available free of charge by calling 1-203-221-6580, e-mailing maturemarketinstitute@metlife. com, visiting www.maturemarket institute.com or writing to MetLife Mature Market Institute, 57 Greens Farms Road, Westport, CT 06880.
