More time with the people you love: Why earlier hospice referrals matter

By Kylie Taylor, Director of Access and Patient Experience, Hospice of the Chesapeake

Many of us have someone we love and quietly wonder if hospice might help. But then we push it to the back of our minds, telling ourselves, “Not yet.”

If hospice has crossed your mind, it’s worth having the conversation and finding out more. Because the earlier it begins, the more it can offer to patients and the people who love them.

Hospice is not only for the very last days of life. In reality, hospice care is meant to help people live longer comfortably. And it works best when it starts sooner rather than later.

When hospice begins early, it’s not rushed. There’s time to get to know the care team and feel comfortable. There’s time to make a plan. And there’s time to focus on what really matters – being with the ones you love in a familiar place that you call home. 

Getting to know you

Hospice is more than medical care. It’s a team of nurses, doctors, aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers, all working together to support not just the patient, but the whole family. They help manage pain and symptoms like shortness of breath or nausea before they become overwhelming. They make sure equipment like hospital beds, wheelchairs and oxygen is in place. And they teach the family what to expect, so nothing feels quite so uncertain.

Hospice gives people a voice in their care. Starting earlier often means patients are still able to share what they want for this time in their life. Whether that’s being comfortable at home, spending time with family, or continuing simple daily routines they enjoy. Hospice doesn’t take away hope. It helps redefine it.

Help for caregivers

For families, the support can be life-changing. Caring for a loved one at the end of life can feel overwhelming, especially without guidance. Hospice brings education, reassurance and a steady presence. Instead of feeling alone or in crisis, families feel prepared. They can spend less time worrying about “what do I do?” and more time simply being together.

That support doesn’t end at the moment of loss. Hospice teams also help families begin to process their grief, offering counseling and emotional support along the way.

What matters most

Hospice is often seen as a last resort, when it’s actually about improving quality of life – right now.

I have never heard a family say, “I wish we had waited to call hospice.” But I have frequently heard, “I wish we had called sooner.”

That’s why starting the conversation early matters so much. Just asking questions or learning more can make a real difference.

Because when hospice begins earlier, there’s more time – for comfort, for connection and for the moments that matter most.

Hospice of the Chesapeake is Maryland’s largest independent not-for-profit hospice organization. Its mission is caring for life throughout the journey with illness and loss in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties. Its affiliated programs include Chesapeake Supportive Care and its bereavement services, Chesapeake Life Center. For details, visit hospicechesapeake.org or call 1-877-462-1101.