What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a team-approach to caring for a terminally-ill patient and the patient's family at the end stages of life. Its goal is to treat the patient's symptoms and pain, and give comfort to the patient and family. Hospice care is generally targeted for the last 6 months of life, and is tailored for the patient in both the aggressiveness of treatment and the degree and style of medication. It incorporates a team of caregivers, and includes several elements of care.
Hospice care provides support for the patient and the family. Counselors and team-members assist the patient with emotional, psycosocial, and spiritual aspects of death. They can coach the family on treatments and medications, as well as counsel the family on handling the death of a loved one. Finally, hospice care provides help caring for the patient, and helping the primary caregiver. This includes treatment, medication, and sometimes skilled care such as speech or physical therapy.
Hospice Care is often provided at the patient's home, a loved one's home, a nursing home, hospital, or even prison. Hospice care can also include short-term inpatient stays for the patient. This can be done as respite care, providing a break for the primary caregiver, or to meet specific medical needs that can't be met at home.
How does Hospice Care Work?
Hospice Care uses a team-approach to take care of the many needs of a terminally-ill patient. There is generally a primary care-giver, usually a family member or loved one. This person also will sometimes assist in decision making if the patient is unable to.
There is also the hospice staff, who visit often to evaluate the treatment and medications for the patient, counsel the patient and family, and assist in care-giving. Someone on the hospice staff is on call all the time. The hospice staff consists of the patient’s personal doctor, a hospice physician or medical director, nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy or other counselors, trained volunteers, and skilled care therapists.
How is Hospice Care paid for?
If the patient is 65 or older and qualifies for Medicare, then Hospice Care can be almost completely paid for by the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Even if the patient doesn't qualify for Medicare, however, Hospice Care is covered by State Medicaid programs as well as most private insurance plans.
What do I need to know about a Hospice Care Provider?
You'll want to ask a wide range of questions about any Hospice Care provider, to be sure they offer the services that would be appropriate for your needs. You'll want to ask about the range of services they provide, including the roles of their nurses, volunteers, doctors, and counselors. You'll want to ask how often they'll be working with you, as well as how long and what hours. You'll want to know what style of treatment they provide, as well as what their provision is for after-hours needs. Finally, you'll want to talk about where care will be given, whether at home, or in a facility; and if inpatient or respite care would be available.