Hospice

I had heard about hospice care previously but was unsure about what it really involves. Therefore, when Ms. Rebekah Wilson from Hospice of the Valley began speaking on the subject, I realized how important this service is. I found it interesting that although 90% of the Americans prefer to die in their homes, about 75% die in hospitals.
I have developed a strong appreciation for people working in this field who provide a variety of services to the patients like administering medications and providing emotional support to the patients and their families. I also realize that it is a very tough role because right from the start they know that the patient would probably die within a span of six months because of their terminal illness. Their entire focus is to ensure that the last moments of the patient and their family is spent as comfortably as possible. However, I was shocked to learn that most caregivers die before the people who they care for. This emphasizes the immense stress and emotional pain they undergo. I can now understand the importance of providing counseling to family members for several months after the death of their loved one.
I also learned that insurance companies do provide coverage for hospice care. This reveals that hospice care is considered an important aspect of care. However, it was disheartening to know that some people are also denied hospice coverage. After listening to Rebekah’s talk, I strongly believe that the government should provide more funding in this area as hospice is an important service that helps people in the last stages of their life.