CHOOSING A HOSPICE

 Hospice care is a health care option to be considered when curative treatment is exhausted or the patient no longer desires active treatment of their illness. When considering hospice, the patient and/or patient's legal representative are encouraged to discuss the type and extent of future medical care desired, their expectations and wishes with their health care professional.

BEGIN THE CONVERSATION WITH FAMILY AND LOVED ONES - The patient's future care and wishes should be shared with loved ones.  Most families want guidance on carrying out their loved one's wishes out of respect. "Second guessing" a loved one's desires can be agonizing for the family when the loved one can no longer make their wishes known.

SELECTING AND CONTACTING THE HOSPICE - Hospice is appropriate when the patient desires a transition from curative treatment to comfort care.  The patient should make his/her desire known to his/her physician. The patient may call a hospice and request more information over the phone or by a visit.  The patient is encouraged to interview more than one hospice agency to discover what feels the best for them.  To identify hospice agencies serving your area Click here to visit Hospice Compare. gov.  You can identify hospices in your area by city/state and/or zip code.  

• Make an appointment(s) to speak to a hospice representative(s).
• Set the interview time when it is best for key family members to be present to participate.  (It is not unusual for an interview to occur after hours in consideration of family members' work schedules.) 
• Make a list of questions to ask at each hospice interview.
• Encourage loved ones who may assist or relieve the patient's caregiver to be present during the interview to ask questions, review expectations, etc. 
• Learn about the Hospice Medicare Benefit - Another helpful informative tool is the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Click here for this information.  You may wish to read the Medicare Hospice Benefit prior to your interview to assist you in forming your questions for the hospice. 
  
• Choice of hospice is always the patient's choice.

WHY HOSPICE- Hospice is the only health care model that offers the full array of coordinated services provided by one team -such as nursing, social services, spiritual, bereavement, personal care and volunteer services .  All medications, medical supplies, and durable medical equipment (wheelchair, oxygen, etc.) which are related to the patient's hospice diagnosis and related conditions are covered under the hospice benefit. Scheduled visits are planned by the hospice staff in coordination with the patient and or patient representative. The patient will have access to services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by simply making a phone call. 

Hospice allows the patient the opportunity to be in familiar surroundings with family, pets, wherever the patient may call home. Unique, comfortable relationships occur between the patient and his/her loved ones, and hospice.  Hospice focus is on managing pain and controlling symptoms whereby the patient can focus on sharing moments with family and friends during the final stages of life.  This hospice/patient/family relationship begins on admission, through the patient's end of life journey and afterwards, as hospice staff continues to minister to loved ones through the bereavement process for up to 13 months.

 WHO PAYS FOR HOSPICE CARE - Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and some insurance plans cover the hospice at no cost to the patient. There is also the option for self pay for those who do not quality for one of the aforementioned benefits.