Terminal conditions sometimes come with unmanageable pain. During hospice, pain is managed in several ways, with one of the most common being using pain medications.
Understanding how to determine if a patient is in pain and what kind of management or support may be the best for their particular condition and situation can go a long way toward keeping them comfortable. When their pain is handled properly, hospice patients can have a better quality of life for as long as possible.
Care For End Of Life Patients
The kind of care people in hospice receive can vary, but the goal is to ensure they don’t die alone or in pain. There are several ways to determine if someone is in pain, even if they aren’t verbal or can’t communicate.
- Crying
- Acting Aggressively
- Rapid Breathing
- Higher Blood Pressure
- Rocking Or Fidgeting
- Refusing Care
If families or care providers notice these symptoms, or if the patient tells them they’re in pain, taking steps to control that discomfort improves quality of life.
What Families Can Do To Help
Families can help their loved ones with end-of-life symptoms and the pain they may be experiencing by watching for symptoms and spending time with them so they’re not alone. It’s also important to help manage spiritual and emotional pain. The family often best handles this because of their closeness to the patient.
Hospice Pain Management Options
Pain isn’t always a part of caring for end-of-life patients, but it’s common in many cases for those who are terminally ill. Because of that, it’s very important to ensure the pain is understood so it can be correctly managed. Typically, pain relief comes through several commonly used opioid medications.
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
- Methadone
- Hydromorphone
While it’s understandable that the use of opioids can lead to addiction, this isn’t a concern for hospice patients due to the focus on pain management and care for end-of-life symptoms. People on hospice typically have six months or less to live, and the goal is to ensure they can have the best quality of life up until their passing.
Getting Information And Support
If you’re in Clark County, NV, including Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson & Boulder City, contact Amore Hospice Care today. We can help you and your family navigate the difficulties of caring for end-of-life patients, including hospice pain management. While we understand this is difficult, you don’t have to go through it alone.