When a Loved One Enters Hospice

Hospice is an end-of-life care option that focuses on comfort and quality of life.

The goal of hospice is not to cure. It is to keep the patient comfortable and pain-free, and help them make the most of the time they have left.

It can be very emotionally difficult when a loved one enters hospice, because you know that the end is near. That said, this is also a good time to prepare for some of the practical matters that must be addressed after they pass.

 

Here’s what we recommend:

 

Find out your loved one’s wishes.

• Locate your loved one’s Will and read it to see if it clearly states their preferences regarding burial or cremation, organ donation, and details regarding their funeral.
• Find out if they pre-planned their funeral—and if so, where. If there is no Will or other documents spelling these things out, and if your loved one is able to hold the discussion, gently talk to them about their preferences regarding these things.

Choose a mortuary.

• If your loved one did not already choose a mortuary during the pre-planning process, you will need to do so.  Keep in mind that not all mortuaries provide the same level of services or have the same fees.

 

Gather paperwork and information.

 

You’ll need your loved one’s:

• Veteran’s discharge papers or Claim Number (if they are a veteran)
• Marital status
• Social Security number
• Birth date
• City and state of birth
• Parents’ names, including mother’s maiden name
• Pre-arrangement paperwork (if they pre-arranged their funeral)
• Cemetery lot information (if it has already been purchased)

It is also helpful to have a flattering photo of your loved one and information about their education and family members, to use in preparing their obituary.

Because Olive Tree Mortuary is a family-owned mortuary and not part of a large corporate chain, we are able to offer one of the best mortuary values in Southern California. Plus we have a deep understanding of the Muslim and Jewish burial and funeral traditions, can handle immediate burials, have strong relationships with the area Coroner’s offices that enable us to gain faster access to the remains, and have extensive experience shipping bodies overseas. Not all mortuaries can say the same.