Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Jimmy Carter's long goodbye has sparked a conversation about the myths of hospice care.
The former President has been in hospice care for a year in south Georgia,
a remarkable feat for a 99-year-old.
His battle is shedding light on how hospice can enhance quality of life by managing symptoms.
"We certainly hope his story is changing perceptions about what we do," said
Kelley Clem, Vice President of Clinical Education and Patient Advocacy for
Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo.
"For many years, we have tried to promote the idea that while hospice is for
end of life, it's not brink of death care," she said.
By definition, hospice care is for people with a life expectancy of six months or less. It is a Medicare benefit.
But Clem says there are so many variables that can affect how someone responds to disease, responds to treatment and how they respond to treatment being taken away.
"We have many people in hospice who far exceed the expectation. We don't cure the disease, but they live better and they manage the disease better with our assistance."
Hospice takes a multi-tiered approach. Not only the physical issues, but social, spiritual, and financial issues as well.
"The patient is the easy part," noted Clem. "We really know how to manage symptoms well. But families suffer tremendously because they often feel helpless. We come in and ask them, how can we help? The relief that the families feel is measured exponentially."
The Jimmy Carter story is not that unusual. Clem said Hospice Buffalo has patients who have exceeded one year in the program.
She looks at it this way. "If you're getting great care. If you don't have pain and your family is at peace, your body can handle it much better than if you were going through those things. Studies show that hospice patients actually improve and live longer."
New York State has one hospice per county. Anyone is Erie County is eligible for hospice services.
