Sileen A. Heston RN Hospice has given new hope to those who could only look forward to their final days alone in the cold impersonal setting of an institution. Hospice can give and increasing number of terminally ill people and their families choices for care during a time of uncertainty. The main objectives of hospice are to control pain, nausea caused by the disease and medications, and depression. Focus is on a comfort approach to pain relief, not measures to cure or prolong life of patients terminally ill.
Pain management is the most important care provided by hospice.
These myths include problems with drug addiction and that drugs loose their effectiveness with long term use. This approach uses low doses of analgesics, such as asprin, then using stronger drugs, such as morphine, to maintain control of pain. Pain medications are given at regular intervals and in large enough doses to maintain a patient's comfort and pain control. Information has shown that patient's using narcotics to control pain do not become addicted to the drug. There is also proof that uncontrolled pain contributes to terminally ill patients physical, emotional, and mental deterioration.