When your loved one receives a terminal prognosis from their primary care doctor, it can be terrifying. For some family members, the prognosis and diagnosis are really important; they take it very seriously. Other families prefer to put an emphasis on enjoying the time with their loved one.
At Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, we know that there are a lot of emotions, fear, and anxiety that come with receiving a prognosis, but we also know that there are other things to focus on. Here are some of the things we want you to understand about your loved one’s prognosis.
There’s No Way to Determine an Exact Prognosis
When a patient comes onto our care, we like to remind their families that there is no way to determine an exact prognosis from a time standpoint. Based on symptoms and typical disease progression, doctors can give you an idea of what to expect, but are unable to give an exact date. A prognosis can change after a patient starts receiving hospice care; we’ve seen some patients remain on care for a year or more while others pass fairly soon after qualifying for service. Every patient is different, so a prognosis cannot always be completely, accurately predicted.
Your Loved One May Not Want to Know the Details
There are some patients who prefer not to know their prognosis because it can put them into a state of anxiety. Your loved one might want to take their hospice journey one day at a time, without focusing on a specific end. We’ve seen both sides of the situation, though; there are some patients who do want to know the details of their prognosis. That way they can take advantage of the time they have left. We encourage you to listen to your loved one and find out where they are emotionally and how they might react to this information.
Don’t Let a Prognosis Stop You from Living Life to the Fullest
No matter what your loved one’s prognosis may be, we always suggest that you and your family live life to the fullest. Because there is no way to definitively predict the date your loved one will pass, take advantage of every day you have with them. Use the days you have as an opportunity to invite family to visit, take a trip, and spend quality time together. You don’t want to wait until your loved one is on their last breath to be at their side—enjoy them now.
Our Care Adapts to a Patient’s Changing Needs
We create a patient’s care plan based on the symptoms they have when they start their care with us. Our goal is to keep your loved one comfortable throughout their hospice services and we’ll set them up with the durable medical equipment (DME), supplies, and medication needed to keep them in that state. However, we will deviate from their care plan and adjust the level of care they receive when we start seeing signs that they’re “imminent,” or close to passing. Our team may increase the number of visits and medication, or even offer continuous care. We also make sure we’re checking in on you and your family a bit more to see how you’re doing, help with memorial plans, and offer our grief counseling services if needed.
You Can Always Count on Ardent for Support
Once you receive the prognosis from the doctor, we encourage you, your family, and loved one to lean on us for support. You can talk to our nurses about your loved one’s diagnosis and find out what to expect. Families often get scared when different symptoms are presented, but we find that the more informed they are, the easier it is for them to accept their loved one’s journey. We also have a social worker and spiritual counselor who can support you through this difficult time as well.
To find out more information about Ardent’s services and become a part of our family, visit us online or call us at (559) 408-5945.
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