Home hospice care in the spotlight as former President Jimmy Carter turns 100

Last spring, Joan Prum’s advancing age and increasing frailty led to a new reality when she became a hospice patient.

“I thought that unless you were really frail and bedridden you wouldn’t be a candidate for hospice, but that’s not true,” Prum said.

Healthcare teams provide comfort to hospice patients whose life expectancy is no longer than six months. As with all palliative care, trained professionals provide medications and treatments to relieve pain and improve quality of life. But in hospice, attempts to cure a person’s illness are prevented.

Connecticut Hospice, which oversees Prum’s care, became the country’s first hospice 50 years ago. It’s difficult to predict how long someone will have to live, but CEO Barbara Pearce says the decision to enter hospice is made by the patient and their families.

Routine hospice services average about $200 per day and are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association, only about half of Medicare patients use it.

“Hospice care is about sitting down right at the beginning and saying: What are your care goals? What do you want your life to look like in the next few months? “And how can we help?” Pearce said.

Hospice care can be provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and places like Connecticut Hospice, but about 99% choose to receive services at home, just like Prum and former President Jimmy Carter.

Carter, who turns 100 years old on Tuesday, October 1st oldest former president in US history and was in home hospice care in the last 19 months.

“We all support Jimmy Carter. He has done more for us than we could ever do for ourselves by pointing out that it is a sensible choice. “He has given everyone permission to consider this as a reasonable option that does not shorten their lives, but increases their comfort and fulfillment,” Pearce said.

Prum still cooks and manages to navigate her Connecticut apartment mostly alone, but relies on hospice staff and other visitors to keep her safe and occupied.

Prum said she hopes to stay here longer to spend time with her eight grandchildren. With the help of the home hospice, she enjoys every precious moment.