Frequently Asked Questions
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. Hospice care revolves around the importance of advocating the needs of the terminally ill. Hospice care neither hastens death nor prolongs life, but strives to make death a natural part of life.
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The earlier you call, the more we can do to help you. At any time during a life-limiting illness, it's appropriate to discuss all of a patient's care options, including hospice. By law, the decision belongs to the patient. Hospice staff members are always available to discuss this decision with the patient, family and physician.
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The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their physician, other healthcare professional, clergy or friends.
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Most physicians know about hospice. If your physician wants more information, it is available from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, medical societies, state hospice organizations, the National Hospice Helpline, 1-800-658-8898, or they may contact us for more information.
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Certainly. If improvement in the condition occurs and the disease seems to be in remission, the patient can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about his or her daily life.
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One of the first things hospice will do is contact the patient's physician to make sure he or she agrees that hospice care is appropriate for this patient at this time. The patient will also be asked to sign consent forms. The hospice election form reads that the patient understands that the care is palliative (aimed at pain relief and symptom control) rather than curative. It also outlines the services available.
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Your hospice provider will assess your needs, recommend any necessary equipment and help make arrangements to obtain it. Often the need for equipment is minimal at first and increases as the disease progresses.
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There's no set number. One of the first things a hospice team will do is prepare an individualized care plan that will, among other things, address the amount of care giving a patient needs. Hospice staff visit regularly and are always accessible to answer questions and provide support.
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In the early weeks of care, it's usually not necessary for someone to be with the patient all the time. Later, however, since one of the most common fears of patients is the fear of dying alone, hospice generally recommends someone be there continuously. Volunteer services may be available to coordinate with family members and friends to provide additional support.
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It's never easy and sometimes can be quite hard. At the end of a long, progressive illness, nights especially can be very long, lonely and scary. Providence Hospice has staff available around the clock to consult with the family and to make night visits as appropriate.
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A team of physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aides, clergy, therapists and volunteers care for hospice patients, and each provides assistance based on his or her area of expertise. In addition, hospices help provide medications, supplies, equipment, hospital services and additional helpers in the home, as appropriate.
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Hospices do nothing either to speed up or slow down the dying process. Just as doctors and midwives lend support and expertise during the time of childbirth, so hospice provides its presence and specialized knowledge during the dying process.
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No. Although most hospice services are delivered in a personal residence, some patients live in assisted living, nursing homes or hospice in-patient facilities.
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Hospice nurses and doctors are up-to-date on the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. Hospice's success rate in battling pain is very high. Using some combination of medications, counseling and therapies, most patients can attain a level of comfort that is acceptable to them. Hospice believes that emotional and spiritual pain is just as real and in need of attention as physical pain, so it addresses these as well. Counselors, including clergy, are available to assist family members as well as patients.
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Usually not. It is the goal of hospice to help patients be as comfortable and alert as they desire by constantly consulting with the patient. Hospices have been very successful in reaching this goal.
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Hospice care is not an offshoot of any religion. While some religious organizations have started hospices, these hospices serve a broad community and do not require patients to adhere to any particular set of beliefs.
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Hospice coverage is widely available. It is provided by Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance. Providence Hospice is contracted with over 40 insurance companies.
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The first thing hospice will do is assist families in finding out whether the patient is eligible for coverage they may not be aware of.
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Hospice provides continuing contact and support for family and friends for at least a year following the death of a loved on. Most hospices also sponsor bereavement and support groups for anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a family member, a friend or a loved one.
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Medicare covers all services and supplies related to the terminal illness for the hospice patient.
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*Adapted from the American Cancer Society brochure, Hospice: A Special Kind of Caring
“The attention we received from the entire staff was top notch. They made the experience as peaceful and pleasant as it could have been.” – Cleburne