Hospice Care
If you or a loved one is facing a terminal condition, hospice may be the answer. Hospice care is a unique, holistic benefit that can help people have a dignified death at home, surrounded by those they love.
While fully covered by Medicare, many Americans don’t take full advantage of the benefit.
WHAT IS HOSPICE?
Hospice is defined as supportive care that focuses on comfort and quality of life for patients with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less if their disease runs its normal course, as certified by a physician.
An interdisciplinary team of compassionate clinicians work together to treat patients’ physical, emotional and spiritual well-being as they near the end of life.
HOSPICE SERVICES PROVIDED
Our hospice services follow Medicare requirements to provide the following services, as necessary, to manage the primary illness for which someone receives hospice care:
Time and services of the care team, including visits to the patient’s location by the hospice physician, nurse, medical social worker, home health aide, and chaplain/spiritual adviser
Medication for symptom control, including pain relief
Medical equipment like a hospital bed, wheelchairs or walkers, and medical supplies such as oxygen, bandages, and catheters
Physical and occupational therapy*
Speech-language pathology services*
Dietary counseling*
Any other Medicare-covered services needed to manage pain and other symptoms related to the terminal illness, as recommended by the hospice team
Short-term inpatient care (e.g. when adequate pain and symptom management cannot be achieved in the home setting)
Short-term respite care for family caregivers (e.g. temporary relief from caregiving to avoid or address “caregiver burnout”)
Grief and loss counseling for the patient and loved ones, who may experience anticipatory grief. Grief counseling is provided to family members for up to 13 months after a death.
*Access to these services is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on assessment of hospice team, goals of care as established by the hospice team, and disease progression and symptom burden.
THE FOUR LEVELS OF HOSPICE CARE
Hospice care can be administered in one of four levels depending on the patient’s needs and the family’s circumstances. All hospice services listed above are provided in each level.
Routine Home Care
In the most common, standard type of hospice care, patients are treated in a comfortable and familiar environment wherever they call home.
Respite Care
When a patient’s caregivers need a break, the hospice team can transfer the patient to respite care for up to five days/five nights in a long-term care facility or other inpatient facility with 24-hour nursing available.
Continuous Home Care
When patients need more intensive medical care for short-term urgent healthcare needs or symptom crises that can still feasibly be addressed from home, patients may enter into continuous home care.
General Inpatient Care
The hospice team can facilitate a transfer to a hospital, long-term care facility or hospice inpatient unit if their terminal illness and accompanying pain and symptoms cannot be feasibly controlled at home.
HOSPICE VS. PALLIATIVE CARE
As you progress in your journey of understanding what type of care your loved one needs, it’s important to know the differences between hospice care and palliative care.
While both offer pain and symptom relief for those with serious illnesses, palliative care can be provided at any stage of the disease progression and works in tandem with curative care treatments. Hospice care is only available when a physician certifies a life expectancy of six months or less.
FAQS
When is hospice care appropriate?
Hospice care is typically recommended when a patient has a life expectancy of six months or less, as determined by a physician, and when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired.
Can hospice care be provided at home?
Yes, hospice care can be provided in the comfort of the patient’s home, a nursing facility, a hospice center, or even in a hospital, depending on the patient’s needs and preferences.
Does hospice care mean giving up on treatment?
Hospice care does not mean giving up on treatment but shifting the focus from curative treatments to comfort care. The goal is to manage pain and symptoms, ensuring the patient’s comfort and quality of life during the final stages of their illness.
What services are included in hospice care?
Hospice care services include pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, assistance with personal care, respite care for family caregivers, and bereavement counseling for families after the patient’s passing.
Is hospice care covered by insurance?
Yes, hospice care is often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. Coverage typically includes the services provided by the hospice team, medications for symptom control, medical equipment, and supplies related to the terminal diagnosis.
How is hospice care different from palliative care?
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and is focused on improving quality of life while potentially continuing curative treatments. Hospice care, on the other hand, is reserved for the end-of-life stage when curative treatments are no longer pursued.
Can a patient leave hospice care if their condition improves?
Yes, patients can be discharged from hospice care if their condition improves or stabilizes. If curative treatments become an option again, the patient can stop hospice services and resume treatments.
How long does hospice care last?
Hospice care is intended for individuals with a prognosis of six months or less, but patients can continue receiving hospice services beyond six months if they remain eligible, meaning their condition still meets hospice criteria.
What kind of emotional support is available for families in hospice care?
Hospice care provides counseling, grief support, and emotional support for families both during the patient’s care and after their passing. Bereavement services often continue for up to a year after a loved one’s death.
How do I know when it's time to start hospice care?
Starting hospice care is a personal decision typically made when a physician determines that curative treatments are no longer effective, and the focus should shift to comfort. If a loved one is experiencing frequent hospitalizations, uncontrolled pain, or a decline in daily function, it may be time to consider hospice care.
Does hospice care include respite care for caregivers?
Yes, hospice care often includes respite care, which provides temporary relief for family caregivers. This allows caregivers to take a break while a hospice provider takes over care for a short period.
Can hospice patients continue taking their regular medications?
Hospice care focuses on symptom management, so medications for pain, nausea, anxiety, or other symptoms will continue. However, curative treatments or medications unrelated to comfort care may be discontinued, based on the care plan developed with the hospice team.
How can hospice care improve the quality of life for patients?
Hospice care prioritizes comfort and dignity by managing pain and other distressing symptoms. It helps patients live as fully as possible during their remaining time, surrounded by loved ones, while also addressing emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs.
