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Making the decision to move to hospice care is a significant decision for any family. It is not uncommon for people to think of it as care that someone receives because their loved one has reached the end of their life and life-sustaining treatment is no longer beneficial. While the primary purpose of hospice is to provide care for patients at the end of their life, hospice care is so much more than patient care at the end of life.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice is a comprehensive, holistic program of care and support for terminally ill patients and their families. Hospice care changes the focus to comfort care (palliative care) for pain relief and symptom management instead of care to cure the patient’s illness.
Patients with Medicare Part A can get hospice care benefits if they meet the following criteria:
- They get care from a Medicare-certified hospice
- Their attending physician (if they have one) and the hospice physician certifies them as terminally ill, with a medical prognosis of 6 months or less to live if the illness runs its normal course
- They sign an election statement to elect the hospice benefit and waive all rights to Medicare payments for the terminal illness and related conditions
Patients receive hospice care in different settings that include:
- Patient’s Home
- Assisted Living Community
- Independent Living Community
- Personal Care Home
- Long-term care facility like a nursing home
- Hospitals-Per Medicare Guideline for appropriateness
- Aspire Home Hospice provides services to clients at their homes most often. It is important to note that professionals in hospice care do not cure illnesses. Their sole focus is to support the patient and family as well as treat their symptoms and minimize complications from the disease.
Why Do People Enter Hospice?
People enter hospice for different reasons. Common hospice diagnosis
- All forms of cancer
- End-stage acute or chronic renal failure (not on dialysis)
- End-stage cardiac disease
- CHF
- End-stage pulmonary disease
- COPD
- CVA
- ALS
- End-stage dementia (A FAST score of 7A)
- End-stage Parkinson’s disease
- End-stage multiple sclerosis
- End-stage liver disease
- End-stage AIDS
It is considered the next step in care once a patient’s illness has reached a point where it is no longer able to be cured or is life-limiting. Please contact us to gain a better understanding of what stage of disease a loved one may be in.
What Services does Hospice Care Offer?
- Medications – Medications related to the diagnosis and symptom management are provided by Aspire Home Hospice and will be delivered to the home. The RN Case Manager will go through the list and explain the covered and non-covered medications.
- Equipment – Equipment is provided by Aspire Home Hospice to assist in comfort and quality of life needs.
- Medical Supplies – Incontinence supplies and other medical supplies can be ordered to assist in daily living.
- Medical Staff – RN Case Manager, Social Worker, Chaplin, Volunteers, Certified Nursing Assistants, and others resources available.
What Happens When People Receive Hospice Care?
When a patient and their family decide that they want to pursue hospice care, the patient’s primary doctor will order that care and refer the patient to a hospice provider of their choice. As part of that process, the doctor will certify that their patient meets the requirements outlined above. This certification is what insurance companies rely on to provide coverage for hospice care. In most cases, hospice care is completely covered by medicare or insurance.
As soon as hospice care begins, we will create an individualized care plan for the patient. This includes medication to help make the patient as comfortable as possible and provide them with the support that they need emotionally, physically, and psychosocially. This support also extends to the patient’s family members.
What Does Hospice Cover?
Hospice care provides a comprehensive care plan that includes control of symptoms, family support, stress management, pain management, and mental health support. These vital features of hospice are meant to help patients live a fuller life while providing them with the support that they need for the transition ahead.
Hospice care also involves providing critical support to a patient’s family. At Aspire Home Hospice, we are here to support families as well as patients. We give family members updates on their loved one’s condition, answer any questions they might have, and let them know what to expect during their loved one’s journey in hospice.
Hospice provides support for patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This includes directing care and offering care. Hospice team members also help patients and their families make decisions about end-of life care. Respite care can also be provided to give caregivers in the home a break. Some hospice providers also offer bereavement support and help coordinate communication with funeral directors after a patient’s death.
Peace of Mind for Our Patients' and Their Families
Aspire Home Hospice provides services to clients in their homes most often. It is important to note, that professionals in hospice care do not cure illnesses. Their sole focus is to support the patient and family as well as treat their symptoms and minimize complications from the disease.
