When is the right time to ask about Hospice?
At any time during a life-limiting illness, it’s appropriate to discuss all of a patient’s care options, including hospice. It is never too early to start planning for a time when you or a loved one will need the support of hospice. Patients typically bring up hospice services when a patient starts to show decline in daily aspects of living or having reoccurring trips to the Emergency Department or hospital due to their disease progress. Under Medicare guidelines, hospice care is available to patients whom the doctor believes, if the patient continues to follow the natural disease progression, have a prognosis of 6 months or less. Patients can make an educated decision that includes the advice and input of family members and loved ones. We recommend reading Dr Charles Garretson’s article about having the hospice conversation, which can be found here.
How does hospice care begin?
Hospice care can be initiated by anyone calling into our hospice agency to seek information. A formal request or “referral” should be made by the patient’s doctor, but a community educator can always come to the patient’s home to discuss hospice care. Hospice can contact a doctor to discuss patient care and request a referral to hospice. Hospice care is ready to begin in 1-2 days after referral is made.
How much will hospice care cost?
At Butte Hospice, we are a local nonprofit hospice agency and are Medicare certified, so hospice services are completely covered under the patient’s Medicare benefit which means hospice services are at no cost to the patient.
How does the hospice work to keep patients comfortable?
Hospice staff receives special training to care for all types of physical and emotional symptoms that cause pain, discomfort and distress. Hospice care specializes in pain and symptom management. Hospice nurses and doctors are up to date on the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. Keeping patients comfortable and pain free is one of the major aspects of hospice care.
Where is hospice care provided?
Hospice care is provided wherever the patient resides. This could be in their own home, a family members home, an assisted living facility or a skilled nursing facility. Hospice care is here to support the patient, family members and caregivers who are all going through this journey together.
Is hospice available after hours?
Hospice care is available and “on-call” after the administrative office is closed, 7 days a week/24 hours a day.
Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to regular medical treatment?
Yes. If the patient’s condition improves and or the patient plateaus, the patient can be graduated off of hospice services. If the discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and will allow additional coverage for this purpose.
Does hospice require a 24 hour caregiver?
In the early weeks of care, it’s usually not necessary for someone to be with the patient all the time. Later, however, based upon the changing needs of the patient, hospice generally recommends someone be there continuously to ensure that the patient is receiving proper care.
What specific assistance does hospice provide home-based patients?
Hospice patients are cared for by a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, hospice aides, therapists and volunteers. Each skilled professional provides assistance based on his or her own area of expertise. Hospice also provides the patient with medical equipment and supplies, as well as medications relating to pain and symptom management.
Does hospice provide any help to the family after the patient dies?
Hospice provides continuing contact and support for caregivers for at least a year following the death of a loved one. Most hospices also sponsor bereavement groups and support for anyone in the community who has experienced a death of a family member, a friend or similar losses.
