For families facing a difficult diagnosis, hospice may be offered by doctors as an option. But for many, the term “hospice” is confusing, even scary. Hospice care provides a supportive interdisciplinary approach to care that offers compassion and comfort when families need it the most. We’ve helped dozens of families understand how hospice can help. Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice providers (like Safe Haven Hospice) provide compassionate, supportive care for individuals and families throughout the end-of-life journey. We step in when a physician has given a life expectancy of 6 months or less, when care recommendations focus less on recovery and more on symptom management and quality of life.
Where is Hospice and is it Expensive?
Hospice is provided within the patient’s home, whether in a private residence, an assisted living or nursing home. Expenses, including the costs of care providers, equipment and any medications are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances. Typically there are no costs to individuals or families.
What Care is Provided?
An interdisciplinary team of professionals work together for an individualized approach to hospice care. They share the journey, supporting families and managing all end of life aspects with personalized services from nursing, homemaker and dietary services to spiritual support, bereavement and social services. Care includes:
- Nursing services – routinely available and/or on call on a 24 hour basis, 7 days a week
- Medical social services
- Physician services including attending physician
- Counseling services including spiritual, bereavement and dietary
- Hospice aide
- Volunteer services
- Physical, occupational and/or speech therapy may be provided in certain circumstances
Why Hospice Care?
There are many benefits of hospice support for both the individual receiving services and their families. For patients, care is completely coordinated – from medical services to spiritual/emotional. This whole person approach to care involves a team working together. From managing symptoms to volunteer companions to counseling services, there are great benefits in maximizing moments. Families also receive spiritual support and the peace of mind that all aspects of care are thought through by a team of expert professionals.
The decision to enroll in end of life hospice care is not an easy one. We’ll walk alongside families every step of the way to ensure hospice support is the right decision. Joy, peace, comfort and family connections are the foundations of our compassionate end of life programming. Learn more about Safe Haven Hospice.