LIZELLA, Ga. — You may have heard about hospice care in the news lately. Back in February, President Jimmy Carter's family reported he was entering hospice more than two months ago. He's still receiving care at home. But many families are in similar situations.
Often, there are misconceptions about the services given to our loved ones. Hospice care focuses on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person with a severe illness approaching the end of life.
Lydia Ragins had two family members go through hospice care, first
her big brother, then her mom.
"When I was a little girl, I would tell my mom, and I'd say. Mom, if you die, I'm just going to die. She's like, no, you're not. I said yes, Mom, I'm just going to lay down and die if you die," Ragins said. "It's kind of hard going through it because you don't want to lose your mom. It's like your very last best friend on earth."
Hospice care is for people with terminal illnesses who may have less than six months to live. Ragin's mom lived well into her 80s and spent her last years in hospice.
"Four years gives you hope like she is going to be alright, she's going to be alright. She was a double amputee, had congestive heart failure, and had diabetes. But, she stayed in her right mind a whole while," she said.
When people undergo hospice care, they often live longer than expected.
"It's a tool for people taking care of their loved ones, and they get extra help," Ragins said.
Courtney Randall is a hospice nurse practitioner. "We don't hasten the death process. We don't kill people. That's not what we do," Randall said.
Hospice services include pain management, physical care, emotional support and counseling for the patient and their family. Randall believes hospice care improves the quality of life for everyone involved.
"It was very helpful. I tell people if you're offered hospice, don't look at it as a last resort. Oh, my family member is dying because oftentimes they don't die on hospice," Ragins said.
If you choose hospice care, there are two types of services: inpatient and outpatient.
"Inpatient services are for people who are closer to end of life. They are really sick, having a lot of symptoms," Ragins said.
Outpatient services are for people who have a little more time and can be comfortable at home. Ragins turned to hospice to get the best care for her mom and brother at the end of their lives.
"When she did pass one of the girls that worked at the hospice place, she said you guys took really good care of your mom. I said she took good care of us. So, we had nothing else but to do that back to her," she said.
Atrium Health Pine Pointe Hospice offers bereavement services families can get 13 months of counseling and other services.
Here's a full interview with hospice nurse practitioner Courtney Randall who shares more about hospice care
