hospice

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OVERVIEW

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Considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury, hospice involves a team-oriented approach to skilled care, pain management, and emotional + spiritual support tailored to the patient and family.  At the center of hospice is the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free, with dignity, and on our own-terms, and that patients and families will receive the necessary support to do so. 

 

Our Hospice Team is dedicated to improving the lives of those with late-stage illness, injury, or disease. We enable patients and families to live life on their own terms with more knowledge of their disease progression, as well as confidence in, and control of, their symptom management. 

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Our Hospice team consists of:

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  • Physicians

  • Nurses (CHPN)

  • Social Workers

  • Spiritual and Bereavement Coordinator (PhD)

  • Home Health Aide

  • Therapists (as needed)

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Among our efforts to care for each individual and family, the following services are some of our team's main responsibilities:

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  • Manage patient pain and symptoms

  • Provide needed drugs, medical supplies, and equipment

  • Coach the family on how to care for the patient

  • Deliver special services like Physical and Speech Therapy when needed

  • Assist with the emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects of dying

  • Make short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home or if the caregiver / family need respite time

  • Provide bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends

Start the Conversation

Having a conversation about end-of-life care, advanced directives, and plans for the future may not be the easiest conversation you'll ever have, but it is one of the most important. One conversation can make all the difference.

Clarifications

Hospice is a service, not a place.

Those who choose hospice do not "go into" hospice, but rather receive care where they live in their home, apartment, assisted living community, or skilled nursing facility. There are some facilites that do provide in-patient hospice; however, the intention of hospice is to provide hospice services where the patient calls home. In 2016, over 60% of individuals on hospice received care in their home.



Hospice is not about giving up, it's about living life to it's fullest.

Hospice is a choice that gives patients and their loved ones an option for end-of-life care outside aggressive medical treatments in facilities or clinics. It puts the patient and family in control of their decisions and provides a full-range of care. It's about living comfortably and with dignity until the end. Further, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article stating: "Terminally ill patients who received palliative comfort care services lived nearly three months longer and enjoyed an improved quality of life compared to those who didn't receive the attention of a palliative care team."



Hospice care is not expensive--it is covered 100% by Medicare.

Hospice is an all-inclusive benefit covered 100% by Medicare for those who are Medicare eligible. Similarly, MediCal and most private insurance companies cover hospice services with no co-pays or out-of-pockets costs for the patient or family. Crossroads works directly with Medicare, MediCal, VA, and other insurance companies to arrange for the services to be covered. Overall, hospice services are typically less expensive than traditional care during the end-of-life. Here is the breakdown for patient coverage across the U.S. in 2016:

  • 85% Medicare
  • 7% managed care or private insurance
  • 5% Medicaid / MediCal
  • 3% charity, self-pay, VA & other



Hospice is not a last resort and should be discussed early.

Our hospice team can do many things to control pain, reduce anxiety, offer emotional and spiritual support, and improve the quality of life for the patient and their families. Now is the best time to learn more about hospice and start the discussion. Although end-of-life care can be difficult to discuss, it is best for the individual and family to share their wishes long before it becomes a concern. Early conversations can help patients and loved ones avoid being forced into uncomfortable situations, make better educated decisions, and increase their quality of life. Survey's show that over 60% of hospice patients said they would like to have been referred to hospice earlier. Earlier admission to hospice usually means a higher quality of remaining life, more support, less stress, and, in many cases, financial relief for the family. Having trouble starting the coversation? We can help.



Hospice is not just for cancer patients.

Certainly cancer patients can be eligible, and elect, hospice care. However, anyone with a terminal illness is eligible to elect hospice benefits. Whether it be COPD, heart disease, kidney faliure, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, AIDS, liver disease, or other life-limiting conditions.



Hospice does not forego medication and treatments.

Although Hospice does not pursue agressive curative medical treatments, hospice care DOES use palliative treatments and medications to relieve pain and symptoms to keep patients comfortable and living life to its fullest. We take advantage of a wide-range of treatments and have a team of therapists, nurses, medical social workers, and physicians ready to help.



For additional information or questions, Contact Us

Or to learn more about Hospice, visit the NHPCO's YouTube channel by clicking here

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