Going into hospice - does it always mean the end?

[Ishacoco]

A relative of mine has brain cancer, two tumours and treatment hasn't worked. He's increasingly confused, can't get upstairs any more, needs help with getting to the toilet, etc. There are carers going in daily because the seizures are increasing and he's unstable and will often fall so needs help with washing and dressing beyond what the immediate family can provide. There seems to be a lot of deterioration quite quickly, tbh.

I've just heard tonight that they're looking to get him into a hospice - I know nothing about them - does this mean that the end is very near? I'm not close to this relative so I only have patchy information, but I'd like to visit sooner rather than later if things look bad.

Any advice/experience welcomed.

Go and visit. Its usually reserved for end of life care

Some hospices take people in short-term to stabilise their condition, get the right combination of pain meds etc. However it sounds to me like your relative isn’t in that position with 2 brain tumours and rapid deterioration - but you can only know by asking, really.

Hospices are wonderful places.

I'm so sorry about your relative's situation.

But yes agree, go sooner rather than later. The hospice staff may be able to give you some broad time parameters.

I will say that recently my friend who had secondary, not primary, brain cancer lived for less than two weeks after entering hospice. Similar presentation to your relative, confused and immobile :(

Yes please do visit sooner rather than later.

I am not writing this to upset you, but I've just been through the exact same thing with a good friend. Diagnosis of brain tumours, rapid increase in seizures, mobility and cognitive problems. He was admitted to a hospice in June and died a couple of days ago.

Love to you and your family.

Thank you everyone. I've spoken to the family and I'll be going up tomorrow. It's such a shock - just a few weeks ago he was comparatively fine. Lucid, coherent, mobile. No one saw this coming 😞

So sorry to hear that. Cancer really is a bugger.

Sorry to hear that. Thank you for posting.

I'm so sorry that you find yourself in this situation.
My partner was diagnosed with oesophagal cancer and died in a major London hospital. His deterioration from diagnosis to death was very rapid indeed. Visit as soon as possible.

Old thread

I work in a hospice . Although we are end of life treatment primarily.we are also pain management, respite until people have the right amount of pain relief to function but to be in as little pain as possible and to help to control other side effects such as sickness , immune support etc.
We have some end of life patients that have been end of life for 3 years .
It is doctors and nurses that know Thier stuff . It's also a place where people come in to be re stabilized.
All however have a terminal illness.