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Hospice Care;

we'll be there Emotionally, Physically and Professionally,

this is our final opportunity for the last positive experience.

What is Hospice?

Hospice care involves a core interdisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers who provide medical, psychological, and spiritual support for the terminally ill and assistance to their families. Focused on pain management and symptom control, the care is primarily based in the home, enabling families to remain together in peace, comfort, and dignity.

What are the advantages of hospice care?

Hospice care treats the person, instead of the disease; focuses on the family, instead of just the individual; and emphasizes the quality of life, instead of its duration. Hospice care allows terminally ill patients and their families to experience the end of life together, in the comfort and security of home or a home-like setting. Hospice care uses the combined knowledge and skills of an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including physician, nurses, home care aides, social workers, spiritual caregivers, counselors, and volunteers. Hospice care is a cost-effective alternative to services provided in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutional settings. Hospice is the preferred choice of health care delivery for the terminally ill and their families.

What services are provided?

Medicare-certified hospices are required to provide nursing care; social services; physician services; counseling services (including spiritual and dietary); home care aide and homemaker services; bereavement services; physical and occupational therapies; and speech-language pathology service. Short-term, in-patient (for respite, pain control, and symptom management), continuous care in the home, and medical equipment and supplies. Additional services can be offered. Therefore, the range of hospice services may vary from program to program. Care is structured to keep families together in the least restrictive environment possible.

Who is eligible?

A person is eligible for hospice care under the Medicare Hospice Benefit once he or she is certified by a physician as having a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice care is available to all terminally ill individuals and their families regardless of their age, gender, race, nationality, creed, sexual orientation, physical condition, availability of primary caregiver, or ability to pay.

Who pays for hospice care?

Hospice services are covered by Medicare, the Medicaid programs of most states, and most private insurance and managed care plans.