We would like to share this insightful article about an important event that is tomorrow night at the Branford Firehouse at 5:30. Dr. Maison will present a guide to hospice care and palliative care.
Article by Lisa Reisman published in Shoreline Times, Nov. 30, 2015
More people are living many years longer than just a few decades ago. That means that their illnesses are more complex, with not just one problem but, according to Dr. Daniel Maison, a national leader in end-of-life care, “six to eight to 10 problems.”
That’s where palliative and hospice care come in, said Maison, who will offer a practical guide on each mode of care at the Branford Firehouse on Dec. 1 in an event sponsored by the Shoreline Eldercare Alliance, Seasons Hospice, and Branford Hills Health Care Center.
The difference between the two is important and often misunderstood. “All hospice is palliative care and not all palliative care is hospice,” he said in a recent telephone interview. In other words, unlike hospice care, which focuses on the last stages of an illness, “palliative care is appropriate from the time of diagnosis and is not dependent on prognosis.”
“Palliative care can also be of help when you might be thinking through various treatment options and you or your physician feel having you come to someone to talk through your various choices would be helpful,” he said.
Of course, because “no one gets sick in a vacuum,” both palliative and hospice care benefit the patient as well as all those involved in the life of the patient.
Misconceptions also abound about hospice care. “Many people believe that hospice is only for the last hours or days of life. In fact, interdisciplinary hospice teams can do much more if the patient is brought in a few weeks or even months ahead of time. The more time they have with someone, the more help they can provide.”
Maison will additionally expand on end-of-life care, advance directives, and hospice teams that provide care for patients and support for families and caregivers.
“There’s a lot of misinformation out there, and I encourage people to come with a lot of questions,” he said.
“End of Life Care From a Physician’s Perspective” will be presented by Dr. Daniel Maison, MD, FAAHPM at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Branford Firehouse, 45 N. Main St., Branford. Refreshments will be served. For more information or to make a reservation, call 1-800-426-5086.