Originally published in the Lincoln Tribune, Feb. 26, 2008
This week I continue with another of the most common questions about hospice. Please send your questions to asklinda@pchcv.org for future columns!
Q: Is hospice only for the elderly?
A: Hospice is for anyone who needs it, regardless of age. Last year, Joe, a 71-year-old veteran from Lincolnton, moved into our Hospice House. Faith, a year-old toddler, became his "neighbor" in the next room. Faith never failed to bring a smile to Joe's face, and Joe loved to be able to hold her and talk to her. He was so devoted to the girl that Faith's mother, Luanne, called him Faith's "adopted grandpa."
Like most people, Joe would never have expected a curly-haired toddler to move in next door. Their unlikely friendship showed me how important it is for hospices to reach the young, the old, and everyone in between.
As you might expect, the majority of hospice patients are elderly. In 2006, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) reported that about 82% of hospice patients are 65 and older. But that also means roughly one out of six patients is not even old enough to retire. One out of six of the rooms at our Hospice House might have a toddler, teenager, college student, or fortysomething.
One huge priority for both both young and old patients is setting and achieving goals. Goals can be small or very involved. A senior citizen like Joe might want to track down and reconnect with old friends; a bed-bound teenager might want to attend her senior prom. Both might want something as seemingly unimportant as being able to eat dessert with every meal. Hospice nurses, social workers, volunteers and other staff work hard to find the resources and solutions that make these goals come true for every person. While not every goal is always feasible (vacationing in Mexico, running a marathon), I have seen hospice teams be very creative with what they have to work with (throwing a Mexican fiesta in a patient's room, going for daily walks).
Next week I'll tell you the #1 comment on our family surveys. Please send me your questions to answer in future columns, too!
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