Hospice is a special concept of care designed to provide comfort
and support to patients and their families. Patients are referred to hospice
when life expectancy is approximately six months or less. Hospice care can
continue longer than six months if needed but requires physician certification.
Here are some facts about hospice care:
·
Hospice is not a place. Most
hospice care takes place within the dying person’s home, whether it is his or
her own home, the home of a family member or friend, a nursing or assisted
living facility. Other options, if available from the provider, include a
residential hospice facility or a hospice unit within a hospital.
·
Hospice care neither prolongs
life nor hastens death. Hospice staff and volunteers offer a specialized
knowledge of medical care, including pain management.
·
The goal of hospice care is to
improve the quality of a patient's last weeks, days and hours by offering
comfort and dignity.
·
Hospice care is provided by a
team-oriented group of specially trained professionals (including as
physicians, nurses, social workers, clergy), as well as volunteers and family
members.
·
Hospice addresses all symptoms
of a disease, with a special emphasis on controlling a patient's pain and
discomfort.
·
Hospice deals with the
emotional, social and spiritual impact of the disease on the patient and the
patient's family and friends.
·
Hospice offers a variety of
bereavement and counseling services to families before and after a patient's
death.
·
Hospice professionals make
routine visits to the home, but family and/or friends are nearly always
involved in care. Some families choose to hire additional services from private
nursing agencies, which are typically not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or
private insurance.
·
Hospices use trained
volunteers to help with household chores and to give family caregivers respite
time. For example, a volunteer can give the family caregiver a chance to run
errands or simply take a walk or nap.
·
If a patient’s condition
improves during hospice care or if the patient desires, the patient can
discontinue hospice care.
Many hospice professionals believe people who are referred
earlier, rather than later, benefit most from hospice care.