All you Need to Know About Hospice Care

What is hospice care? According to CrisisPrevention.com, “Hospice care is specialized care given to people who are in their last stages of life, whether from advanced illness or life-limiting injury. This type of care is specifically designed to focus on patient quality of life and comfort, rather than recovery or cure. In addition to medical services, hospice care provides patients with emotional and spiritual support. Hospice care also delivers guidance and support to the patient’s loved ones and caregivers during the care process and after their passing.”
 
Those who receive hospice care at home will no longer be going to routine medical visits or waiting in long lines at the emergency room as they will receive 24/7 care in their homes to manage their pain and illness(es).
 
How does one qualify for hospice care? According to the Medicare website,  “Only your hospice doctor and your regular doctor (if you have one) can certify that you’re terminally ill and have a life expectancy of 6 months or less. After 6 months, you can continue to get hospice care as long as the hospice medical director or hospice doctor re-certifies (at a face-to-face meeting) that you’re still terminally ill.”  
 
When people hear the words “hospice care,” they may feel frightened or overwhelmed thinking that death is near. Lisa Piper of Focus on the Family explains that hospice care does not mean someone is giving up nor does it speed up or cause death. Additionally, hospice services can always be cancelled. When someone is on hospice care, their terminal illness will no longer be treated, but they can still receive medication for other non-related illnesses.
 
What specific services are offered with hospice care? They include:

• Medical equipment including hospital beds, wheelchairs, oxygen equipment
• Medical supplies including incontinent supplies, bandages, disposable gloves
• Counseling
• Education
• Medications
• Respite care
• Laboratory services

 
Like routine home care, there are multiple ways that hospice can be paid for including

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Private insurance
• Self-pay

 
Hospice care can be a good option for those choosing to receive care at home and are battling a terminal illness. \When it comes to home care, many families are paying out-of-pocket. And although it is possible for hospice care to be paid out-of-pocket it is more commonly paid for through an insurance company, which can ease the financial burden on families who are already paying for home care.

​If you have any questions about home care for your loved ones, you can contact us. You can also check out the rest of our blog posts on our website.

​Written by Madison Chalmers

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