"If there is one thing I would do over – I would have engaged hospice care for my Mom much earlier."

− Family member of Center for Hospice Care patient

If you or your loved one ever need hospice care, the sooner you get it, the better life will be. That’s right — with hospice, life is better.

There is a persistent and harmful myth about hospice that can be summed up with the following question — “but isn’t hospice just for people who have cancer and are ready to die?” The answer is a resounding, “No.” Hospice care is for anyone who has a life-limiting illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live. Life limiting illnesses can include cardiac disease, respiratory disease, COPD, kidney disease, ALS, Alzheimer’s, and others – as well as cancer.

And hospice is not just for people who are close to death. As a nurse, as the daughter of a hospice patient, as a former Connecticut legislator who served on the Public Health Committee, and as Board President of Center for Hospice Care, I can say with personal and professional conviction that with hospice and palliative care, sooner is better.

Here’s why:

• You live longer. Studies show that people in hospice care live longer than patients getting curative treatment for the same illness. Treatment is time out of your life. Hospice care can add quality time back to your life.

• You feel better. The side effects of aggressive treatments for cure of life-limiting illnesses frequently make you feel sicker. Hospice and palliative care treat you for comfort and quality of life. By choosing to stop curative treatment and to start hospice care, you or your loved one will feel better and gain quality time.

• You regain control of your life. In hospice care, you can get out, socialize, and focus on living. Hospice care is about quality of life spent with family and friends. And by managing your symptoms, hospice care will keep you out of the hospital.

• You don’t have to stay in hospice care. If you get better, you can leave hospice, no problem. And you can re-enter hospice whenever you need to and qualify for care.

• We share the care. It’s difficult for your family to be your full-time caregivers – difficult for you and them. Our team manages and coordinates your care, which means that your loved ones get to be your family again, instead of your exclusive caregivers. Hospice will give you the expert care you need, which will free your family and friends to give you their love.

Center for Hospice Care offers both hospice care and palliative home care. Hospice is a specialized medical care for patients with a six months prognosis who have decided to stop or forego treatments to cure their life-limiting illness. We also provide palliative home care to patients with a life-limiting illness who want to continue treatment. With both kinds of care, you would be served by a team that includes a doctor, nurse, hospice aide, social worker, spiritual and bereavement counselors, and trained volunteers. And both hospice and palliative care are paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance plans.

In 31 years of serving southeastern Connecticut, Center for Hospice Care has had so many patients and families tell us that they wish they had called us sooner – wish they’d begun care sooner. Many of them were surprised and comforted by how clearly our nurses explain medical issues. Others were touched by the gentle grooming and hands-on care our hospice aides give our patients. Others were unaware of how our social workers provide support to families and help them obtain resources and services in the community.

Many family members were gratified by how our volunteers give them time to get out, do the shopping, see friends, and engage in recreation. We offer our patients complementary therapies like massage, Reiki, and energy work – free of charge. And we provide bereavement counseling programs – including for children and teens – free of charge.

And hospice isn’t just for elderly patients. We have cared for day-old infants and patients of every age.

We are dedicated to providing deep care and strong support — to make the last months of life an occasion of love, warmth, joy, and dignity. To gain the most benefits from our care, sooner is better.

Lenny Winkler lives in Groton. She is a former state representative for the 41st District and former Lawrence + Memorial Hospital nurse. She now serves on the State Freedom of Information Commission and is Board President of the Center for Hospice Care. Contact the center at 860-848-5699 or www.hospicesect.org.