Early hospice care has transformative impact

Early hospice care has transformative impact 
McKnights Senior Living; guest column by Aaron Housh, CEO of Good Samaritan Hospice in Roanoke and Christiansburg, VA; 11/25/24 
Hospice care is more than a medical service — it’s a lifeline of compassion, connection and support during one of life’s most vulnerable moments. For more than 20 years, I’ve witnessed the profound impact hospice can have, not just on residents and patients but on the families who love and care for them. But this impact is magnified when hospice care is introduced early. ... One of the greatest gifts hospice provides is time — time to prepare, time to connect and time to say goodbye. A friend once shared how hospice changed her family’s experience with her mother’s death. The nurse spent time explaining what to expect, answering questions and normalizing the changes they were seeing. That preparation eliminated panic, allowing the family to focus on being present. Her mother passed with dignity, surrounded by love and understanding. This story illustrates what I’ve seen time and again: families who enter hospice early have the opportunity to build trust with their care team, process emotions and fully use the services available to them. Those families are better equipped to navigate the physical and emotional challenges of end-of-life care, creating space for meaningful moments and lasting memories.