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Hospice is a philosophy of care designed to help patients who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting disease live their best lives for as long as possible. Hospice is about managing symptoms rather than treating the disease. Hospice is committed to honoring the wishes of patients and their families when life matters most.
Hospice care is provided by a trained team of healthcare professionals who are passionate about providing care for patients with an advanced-staged illness. Your hospice care team includes a medical director, registered nurse, certified nurse assistant, social worker, and chaplain. In addition, hospice volunteers are available upon request. The hospice care team designs a plan of care that supports the wishes, values, and goals of each patient and their family.
Hospice is not a place but a philosophy. Routine hospice care happens wherever the patient calls home, whether that’s a private residence, assisted living facility, or skilled nursing facility. Your hospice care team provides services where the patient feels most comfortable, in their home.
Hospice becomes an appropriate plan of care for a patient who has exhausted all curative treatments related to their disease – those who wish to have their symptoms managed while avoiding continual medical appointments and trips to the hospital. Choosing hospice care is not an act of giving up, but rather a decision that prioritizes quality of life over treating the disease.
Patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and who choose comfort care over continued treatments, qualify for hospice care. Admission to hospice requires a physician to certify the terminal diagnosis followed by a hospice nurse completing a face-to-face evaluation. Common qualifying diagnoses include heart disease, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s/dementia, liver/renal failure, neurological diseases, stroke, and cancer.
Hospice care is 100% covered as a Medicare benefit. In addition, most Medicaid and private insurances provide a hospice benefit. Family Hospice can assist you with identifying the best option for your hospice benefit coverage.
