The Last Homecoming

Our parents and grandparents have formed huge parts of our lives and we have always known that one day we would have to say goodbye to them. As we get older and our bodies age and start to let us down, there will be times when we want to know how it will end. Whether we will be with our loved ones and say the goodbyes that we need to say. While we would want to spend as much time as possible with our families, we may not have thought about the effect that it will have on the ones we leave behind. How the memories will linger in the rooms we slept in, how our clothes will still smell like us, how things we will never use again, will still be there when we are not.

The process of dying can take time and leaves a mark on those who bear witness to the end. The circumstances of that goodbye can be varied. For some it will be sudden, for others there may be more warning, but with the prolonged suffering of a terminal illness. While we want to fight, to recover and to live longer, there are times when that is no longer possible. Then the best we can offer is comfort and peace.

Palliative and Hospice care are how we offer that peace, especially when our loved ones wish to spend their last months at home with us, instead of in hospital.

What are Palliative and Hospice Care?

Hospice is comfort care without curative intent; the patient no longer has curative options or has chosen not to pursue treatment because the side effects outweigh the benefits. Hospice only begins after the decision to end treatment for a terminal illness and when it is clear the person will not survive.

Palliative care is comfort care with or without curative intent. The patient may still have reasonable life expectancy, but they are in an extreme amount of pain and require medication and therapies to be comfortable. Palliative care can begin at diagnosis and happen at the same time as treatment.

Both are specialist treatments that require their own training and certifications, and in many cases, specialised equipment that needs to be hired. While Hospice will not deny care if payment cannot be made, the painful reality is that the specialist care of those who are dying, can become costly if the correct provisions were not put in place.

One particular concern is that it can be a grey area with health insurance products and exclusions or waiting periods. Whether they will pay for palliative or hospice care can be a gamble, and one that few families can afford to lose. The emotional and financial strain of caring for the dying cannot be ignored. The grief affects decision making and causes a lot of pain and anguish for all involved, before the patient has passed

Nothing will erase the of losing the ones we love. All we can do is ensure that we do not add to the pain. It is recommended that we make provision for end-of-life care while it still seems far away, and we can think clearly about what we want for ourselves and our families. The Hospice Palliative Care Association recommends that these conversations be formalised with advanced health care planning documents, that can be included in your red file as part of your estate planning. Specific end of life policies like funeral cover and life insurance should be taken out well in advance. This ensures that there is less likelihood of waiting periods or pre-existing conditions being a problem when the time comes to claim. Funeral policies especially can be a great comfort at the end because it is a quicker pay out that makes a meaningful difference to that final goodbye.

With Legal and Tax, you’re not alone

• Email
• WhatsApp - Just type 'Hi' to start chatting
• Call 0860 587 587