What every family should know about navigating hospice care: The keys to experiencing a peaceful, gentle, and dignified death

What every family should know about navigating hospice care: The keys to experiencing a peaceful, gentle, and dignified death 
Psychology Today; by Bob Uslander, MD; 5/7/24
... As a physician with 35 years of experience, including 25 years as an emergency physician and 10 years as a palliative and end-of-life care specialist, I've witnessed firsthand the stark realities of palliative and hospice care.  ... Let me be clear: Hospice care is an enormous benefit to many people, and I am often awed by the level of compassion and commitment I witness among some hospice staff I encounter. Despite this, there are many gaps, the care can be inconsistent, and hospice care is frequently not the appropriate option for people who are encouraged down that path.

Key Points:

• Families should consider whether hospice aligns with personal values for end-of-life care.
• Families should consider what medical oversight hospice provides.
• And families should consider what enhances quality of life beyond medical care.

Editor's Note: Executive leaders, this is not the typical warm, fuzzy article that you might expect. Examine the hospice care gaps identified by this physician/author, communicated to the public via this well-known journal.