Janny Adkins

“Quality of life” is a key phrase that most people who work at Alive Hospice use often when discussing hospice care. The focus of hospice care is the enhancement of quality of life for our patients and their families.

The details of what contributes to quality of life may vary from patient to patient, but there are some basic principles that create the foundation for quality of life decisions.

The quality of our lives is always influenced by the comfort level of our physical bodies. Most of us would find it difficult to enjoy life if we could not be free of pain, difficulty breathing, or nausea/vomiting. Because of this, the Alive Hospice interdisciplinary team’s initial focus is the enhancement of the quality of life for the patient, through the management of any troublesome symptoms, like pain.The patient is then free to focus on enjoyment of life.

Secondly, quality of life is enhanced when there is a feeling of connection to all of life, others, self, nature, and something bigger than yourself, which most of us call God or a higher power. This sense of connection helps people live fully with meaning and quality until their last breaths, thereby continuing to help them live fully regardless of the quantity of days.

Hospice patients have a way of teaching all of us about quality of life. When facing the possibility of the end of life as we know it, it seems to be easier to to make those hard choices regarding prioritizing those people and experiences that are important. Quality of life must include a sense of connection to those we love and the experiences we cherish. The details of what this means to each person, as I’ve said, may vary. Alive Hospice focuses on quality-of-life care, which makes each moment a gift.

If you would like to know more about Alive Hospice, please contact me.

Janny Adkins is an Alive Hospice account executive who informs health care professionals, patients, and families about hospice care.