What should we know about Hospice?
Quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury is the hallmark of hospice care. Hospice care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain and symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support tailored to the person’s specific needs and wishes. Care and support is also provided to the person's loved ones.
- Hospice provides care and services when cure is no longer possible.
- Hospice care honors the whole person so that emotional, social, and spiritual needs are addressed along with the physical.
- Hospice care is skilled, aggressive, and compassionate with the goals of comfort, freedom from pain and other distressing symptoms, while fostering personal independence for as long as possible.
- Hospice care is provided by a team of healthcare professionals, each addressing the different needs of the person and the family. Specially trained volunteers are also available for extra help and to give family members a break.
- Whenever possible people who choose hospice care continue to live in the comfort of their own homes in the care of those who know and love them best. However for those whose needs cannot be met at home, hospice care is provided in assisted living, nursing, hospital, and hospice facilities.
- Hospice services are fully covered under Medicare Part A; Medicaid and many private insurance plans offer a hospice benefit.
- Hospice admission under these Benefits requires that the person’s physician and the hospice medical director determine that the person is unlikely to live longer than 6 months if his or her illness is allowed to run its natural course. Admission under these Benefits also requires that the person forego any treatments that are intended to cure the illness.
- Hospice care encourages the use of regular maintenance medications or medications that improve comfort and quality of life.
- The decision to enroll in hospice can be changed at anytime if the person’s illness improves or if the person chooses to resume curative treatment.
- To locate a hospice agency near you go to the heading "Find a Hospice" located on the top of this page and click on the link.
Choosing a Hospice
Choosing a Quality Hospice for you or your loved ones can be a daunting task.
Click here for a downloadable/printable document that offers a series of questions to ask Hospice Providers as you go about making those tough decisions.
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