Hospice vs. traditional pain management is an essential topic for everyone dealing with a serious illness or chronic pain. The decision of whether to choose hospice or traditional pain management can have a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life, as well as the overall cost of care. This article will provide an overview of hospice care and traditional pain management, including their key differences and the situations where a hospice may be the better option.
What is Hospice Pain Management?
Hospice pain management is a specialized approach to managing the pain and symptoms of individuals facing a life-limiting illness. The key goal is to provide comfort and improve the quality of life for the patient and their family.
Hospice care is flexible and adaptable to the patient’s changing needs. Managing pain can include non-pharmacological approaches such as massage, music therapy, and aromatherapy.
What is Traditional Pain Management?
Traditional pain management refers to the range of healthcare services and treatments used to manage pain and improve the quality of life for individuals experiencing chronic or acute pain. These services can be provided by a variety of healthcare professionals, such as:
- Primary care physicians
- Pain management specialists
- Physical therapists
Traditional pain management includes various treatment options, including medication management, physical therapy, and interventional procedures such as nerve blocks, injections, and spinal cord stimulation. Pain management specialists may also use psychological techniques to help patients cope with pain, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques.
Traditional vs. hospice pain management
Treatment goals
One of the key factors to consider when choosing between hospice and traditional pain management is the stage of the patient’s illness.
Hospice care is appropriate for patients with a life-limiting illness and a prognosis of six months or less. It can include patients with advanced cancer, heart failure, or other serious illnesses not responding to treatment. Hospice care is also appropriate for patients who have decided to stop curative treatment and focus on comfort and quality of life.
Traditional healthcare, on the other hand, is focused on treating and curing illnesses and injuries. The primary goal of traditional healthcare is to help patients recover and return to their normal lives.
Treatment approach
One of the key differences between hospice and traditional healthcare is the approach to treatment. In traditional healthcare, doctors and other healthcare providers use treatment to cure a patient’s illness. It may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or other types of medical treatments.
In hospice care, however, the focus is on managing symptoms and providing comfort, rather than trying to cure the illness. The hospice team will regularly evaluate the patient’s pain through various methods, such as:
- Utilizing a pain rating scale
- Asking the patient to rate their pain on a scale of zero to ten
- Utilizing non-verbal indicators such as facial expressions, body language, and the patient’s abilities.
These evaluations are conducted by experienced healthcare professionals and may include the FLACC scale which assesses pain through observations of the patient’s face, legs, activity level, crying, and controllability. This scale is useful for patients unable to communicate their pain.
Team
Hospice care involves a team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide comprehensive care to patients and their families. This team may include doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other healthcare professionals.
In traditional healthcare, patients typically receive care from individual healthcare providers, such as a primary care physician or a specialist.
FAQs
How is pain managed at the end of life?
Pain management at the end of life is a critical aspect of hospice care. The hospice team will regularly assess the patient’s pain and use various tools to evaluate it. These tools include pain rating scales, such as numeric measures where the patient rates their pain from zero to ten, visual aids such as pictures of smiley faces with different expressions that the patient can point to, and the FLACC scale.
What medications are used during hospice?
During hospice, medications help manage symptoms, including pain. These can include:
- Opioids, such as morphine, fentanyl, and oxycodone, can be used to manage moderate to severe pain.
- Non-opioid pain medications, such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may be used to manage mild to moderate pain.
- Specific symptoms medications for shortness of breath or nausea.
- Medications to manage anxiety or depression, such as antidepressants.
- Various medications to manage symptoms related to the specific illness, such as anticonvulsants for seizures, or anticoagulants to prevent blood clots.
Each patient’s condition and symptoms are different, so, the medications will vary depending on the individual needs. The Hospice team will work closely with the patient and the patient’s family to use the most appropriate medications to manage symptoms and ensure comfort.
Why do people fear hospice?
There are several reasons why people may fear hospice. Some of the most common ones include:
- Fear of the unknown. Many people may not be familiar with what hospice is or how it works, which can lead to feelings of uncertainty.
- Losing control. People may feel that by choosing hospice, they are giving up control of their care and are surrendering to their illness.
- Death. Hospice is often associated with end-of-life care evoking feelings of sadness about death.
- Fear of not getting better. Hospice is focused on comfort, not cure, and some people may be afraid that they will not get better.
- Being a burden. People may feel guilty or ashamed if they think they are becoming a burden on their loved ones during their illness.
Keep in mind that most fears can be addressed by discussing the options and process with a healthcare professional. Learning more about what hospice entails and what exactly will be provided, can help alleviate some of these concerns.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice between hospice and traditional pain management is deeply personal. It’s crucial to understand the key differences between these two approaches, including the focus on comfort and quality of life versus curative treatment, the team approach versus individual treatment, and inpatient versus outpatient care.
When you need help with pain management, try to have open and honest discussions with your healthcare provider to determine which approach is right for you. Hospice can be a valuable option for patients facing a terminal illness or nearing the end of their lives, but it’s not the right choice for everyone.
If you or a loved one are struggling with pain management and are considering hospice, contact Perennial Hospice for help. Our team of experts can provide you with the information and support to make an informed decision about your care.