Most of us have heard of hospice care, but we may not be certain about what exactly it is, whom it is for, and when is the proper time to utilize it. Knowing all of our options for end of life care can be empowering and an essential step in making decisions about the things that are most important to us. What is hospice care and when is it time for hospice?
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a team approach that includes medical care, emotional support, and spiritual resources to those suffering from terminal illness. The overarching goal of hospice care is to keep the patient comfortable from pain and improve the quality of remaining life. During the often difficult last stages of illness, hospice provides comfort care and pain relief without the intention of curing the illness or prolonging life beyond the natural course.
Hospice care is usually provided in the comfort of home, primarily by loved ones, with the assistance of a team of nurses, doctors, home care assistants, social workers, clergy, volunteers, and specialists such as physical, occupational, or speech therapists regularly visiting to monitor and assist with the care. The patient and family drive the direction of care based on their needs and wishes. Hospice provides medications, equipment, and medical supplies, and is “all inclusive” in their provision of care. Hospice helps gently provide the emotional and spiritual support to help patients and their families prepare for death, and is able to remain connected with families during their grieving process and support them through it.
So, when is it time for hospice care?
The guidelines for hospice care focus on people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, usually with an estimated timetable of six months or less to live. Never fear, hospice care does not stop if a patient should live longer than six months, as there is a renewal process that the supervising physician can initiate. Hospice is not only for diagnoses like cancer or organ failure, but covers a wide range — late stage Alzheimer’s and dementia can be qualifying conditions.
Who pays for hospice care? Generally, hospice care is paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, and many private health insurance plans.
How to choose a provider and when is it time for hospice? Your doctor or other care providers can often recommend a hospice program that they are familiar with, or you can research different options in your area and make the choice yourself. We have put together a checklist that you can download and use when selecting a hospice program, click here to access it.
It’s important to know that not all hospice programs provide home health aides, but may refer you to in-home caregivers from another source. If you choose a program that does not include hospice home health aides, know that at Eldercare we have experienced and well-trained caregivers that can help support your needs, so reach out today.
For more information about hospice programs:
http://www.nhpco.org/about/hospice-care
http://www.nhpco.org/find-hospice