Do A Person On Hospice Care Still Need Dialysis

2015-02-22 01:50

If a person decides to go on hospice care, does that mean that they cannot do dialysis or can they still do that? I think most dialysis patients also have this question. Read through the article and you will find the answer.

Generally not. When you are under hospice, all treatments and some medications are paid by the hospice company under a different benefit. Because the purpose of hospice is death with dignity, life-extending treatments will not be paid for. That said, one patient was on hospice and also took dialysis because for him the dialysis was to try to keep him alive for another month until his granddaughter’s wedding. The purpose of hospice is to ease one into a pain-free passing. You would not go on hospice care if you want to continue treatment including dialysis. Usually for hospice you can no longer do any treatment that will extend life. The only thing they will do is to help the pain.

Before going on hospice care, you should make good preparation. You should call a hospice and ask because each region is different. Some will cover some treatments if it keeps the patient comfortable while in transition. They really do focus on making sure the patient is comfortable and can make the decision on what treatments they would like to continue, and those they wish to stop. Each patient is unique and hospice care wants them to be as involved as possible in their end of life decision.

For many people with kidney failure, dialysis helps them live longer and improves their quality of life. But for some people, the improvement they feel may be a lot more limited because of their serious health problems. If they decide not to start dialysis, they require end of life care and they are eligible for hospice service. If you have more questions about medical concerns, speak with your doctor or consult our online doctor directly. They will help you a lot.

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