FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Below you will find our most frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you have any further questions, please contact us. We would like to talk with you about any questions, concerns and comments you have.
- How do I know if I am ready for hospice care?
- Hospice care is for people in the end stages of their illness. We feel that one of the most important ways of knowing if it is time for hospice is to think about philosophy of care. Is the goal to improve health? Or is the goal to be comfortable and as free from symptoms (physical, spiritual, and emotional) as possible. If the goal is comfort, then it is time to find out more about hospice.
Back to Top - Can anyone make a referral to begin hospice care?
- Yes, our most frequent calls are from doctor’s offices, hospitals, and nursing facilities. However, many times we get calls from patients or their loved ones. We are happy to answer any questions and begin the process of meeting with the patient.
Back to Top - Do you need a physician’s order to consult or evaluate the patient?
- Yes we do. We can explain hospice services over the phone to anyone who calls. But to evaluate and visit a patient we do need a doctor’s order. This is so that everyone on the health care team has the same focus of care in mind. We can visit a patient or family to explain hospice services at any time in their illness. It may be information stored for use at a later date.
Back to Top - Who pays for hospice care?
- Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances pay for hospice.
Back to Top - How often do you come and see the patient?
- The nurse comes on average 2–3 times per week. The frequency is adjusted based on the patient or caregiver’s needs. Some patients are visited daily, especially when we are actively working on achieving comfort from physical symptoms. A registered nurse is on call after regular business hours and will make visits as needed. The aide who provides personal care comes on average 3 times per week. The social worker and chaplain determine frequency with the patient and family. The volunteer generally visits once per week. We also have a wonderful bereavement team that works with the patient’s family and friends for up to 13 months after the patient’s death.
Back to Top - What other services do you provide?
- Besides the staff that visits, we pay for patient’s medications related to their comfort, and they are delivered anytime needed, day or night. We provide durable medical equipment; for example, oxygen, beds, shower chairs, and wheelchairs. We also provide supplies such as dressings and incontinent supplies.
Back to Top - My loved one lives in a nursing facility. Will he have to move once hospice begins?
- No, the nursing facility is considered home. They stay right where they are, and we come to the patient.
Back to Top - What if the physician isn’t sure that a person has six months or less to live and is reluctant to order hospice?
- We often reassure physicians about certifying a patient for hospice. We know that it is very difficult to predict life expectancy, especially with non-cancer diagnoses. Medicare sets guidelines for us to follow, but these are based on physical progression. We know that the physical progression is only part of the dying process. So much of “when” is related to emotional and spiritual issues. Our average length of stay is 65 days, well under six months. We take responsibility for reevaluating a patient’s appropriateness for hospice on a regular basis, and we do sometimes have “graduates”.
Back to Top - What if the family requests you not to talk to the patient about hospice care or the dying process?
- Again, our approach is always to support and educate. We treat each situation individually and explore why a family is requesting this. Once we all understand why, we can better determine how we will proceed. Often we seek permission to talk with patients about their dying process if the patient asks direct questions. We have learned that each person approaches this phase of their life differently, and it is important to honor their own journey.
Back to Top - What if family members disagree about treatment options for the patient?
- This is when the hospice team of nurse, social worker, chaplain, and medical director becomes so important. We have had many meetings with our team, the patient, and their families to help make difficult choices. We always try to be an advocate for the patient with an understanding of the loss the family is going through. With the approach of understanding and team effort, we usually are able to work through even the most difficult treatment decisions.
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