What is Hospice?
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The hospice
philosophy maintains end-of-life care should emphasize quality of
life. At its core is the belief each individual has the right to
die pain-free with dignity and families and friends should receive
the necessary support to allow the individual to do so.
Hospice is about the time between an individual's life-threatening
diagnosis and death. The goal is to treat the person, not just the
disease. It involves a team approach to care, including expert
medical care and pain management with emotional and spiritual
support.
The Aspen Group
Hospice Team preserves the patient's comfort and dignity during
the last stages of life while supporting the family members and
caregivers who provide the necessary patient care. Spiritual
support is available for at least one year after the patient's
passing to ease the grief and transition of family members dealing
with loss.
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FAQs about
Hospice
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When should a decision about entering a
hospice program be made--and who should make it?
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Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of
hospice, or should I raise it first?
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What if our physician doesn't know about hospice?
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Can
a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to
regular medical treatment?
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What does the hospice admission process involve?
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Is
there any special equipment or changes I have to make in my
home before hospice care begins?
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How many family members or friends does
it take to care for a patient at home?
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Must someone be with the patient at all
times?
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How difficult is caring for a dying
loved one at home?
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What specific assistance does hospice
provide home-based patients?
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Does hospice do anything to make death
come sooner?
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Is the home the only place hospice care
can be delivered?
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How does hospice "manage pain"?
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What is hospice's success rate in
battling pain?
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Will medications prevent the patient
from being able to talk or know what's happening?
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Is hospice affiliated with any religious
organization?
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Is hospice care covered by insurance?
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If the patient is not covered by
Medicare or any other health insurance, will hospice still
provide care?
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Does hospice provide any help to the
family after the patient dies?
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If the patient is eligible for Medicare,
will there be any additional expenses to be paid?
When should a
decision about entering a hospice program be made--and who should
make it?
At any time during a life-limiting illness,
it's appropriate to discuss all of a patient's care options,
including hospice. By law the decision belongs to the
patient. Understandably, most people are uncomfortable with
the idea of stopping an all-out effort to "beat" their disease.
Our hospice staff members are highly sensitive to these concerns
and are always available to discuss them with the patient, family,
and physician. Generally speaking, anyone who is within the
last six months of expected life span is eligible for hospice
benefits. The best outcome are always realized when patients
elect hospice care having months, not weeks or days, to live.
That being said, hospice can be a benefit to anyone facing
life-limiting illness, regardless of how long they may have to
live.
Should I wait for our
physician to raise the possibility of hospice, or should I raise
it first?
The patient and family should feel free to
discuss hospice care at any time with their physician, other
healthcare professionals, clergy, or friends.
Most physicians know about
hospice. If your physician wants more information, he or she
can call us at anytime. In addition, it is available from
the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, medical
societies, or the National Hospice and Palliative Care
Organization Helpline,
1-800-658-8898. Also, physicians and all others
can also obtain information on hospice from the American Cancer
Society, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the
Social Security Administration.
Certainly. If improvement in the
condition occurs and the disease seems to be in remission, the
patient can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive
therapy or go on about his or her daily life. If a
discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care,
Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage
for this purpose.
One of the first things we will do is contact
the patient's physician to make sure he or she agrees that hospice
care is appropriate for this patient at this time. (We have
medical staff available to help patients who have no physician.)
The patient will also be asked to sign consent and insurance
forms. These are similar to the forms patients sign when
they enter a hospital. The so-called "hospice election form"
says that the patient understands that the care is palliative
(that is, aimed at pain relief and symptom control) rather than
curative. It also outlines the services available. The
form Medicare patients sign also tells how electing the Medicare
hospice benefit affects other Medicare coverage for a terminal
illness.
We will assess your needs, recommend any
necessary equipment, and help make arrangements to obtain it.
Often the need for equipment is minimal at first and increases as
the disease progresses. In general, hospice will assist in
any way it can to make home care as convenient, clean, and safe as
possible.
There's no set number. One of the first
things our hospice team will do is prepare an individualized care
plan that will, among other things, address the amount of
caregiving a patient needs. Hospice staff visit regularly
and are always accessible to answer questions and provide support.
Must someone be
with the patient at all times?
In the early weeks of care, it's usually not
necessary for someone to be with the patient all the time.
Later, however, since one of the most common fears of patients is
the fear of dying alone, hospice generally recommends someone to
be there continuously. While family and friends must be
relied on to give most of the care, we do provide volunteers to
assist with errands and to provide a break and time away for major
caregivers.
How difficult
is caring for a dying loved one at home?
It's never easy and sometimes can be quite
hard. At the end of a long, progressive illness, nights
especially can be very long, lonely and scary. So, we have
staff available around the clock to consult with the family and to
make night visits as appropriate.
What
specific assistance does hospice provide home-based patients?
Hospice patients are cared for by a team of
doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aides,
clergy, therapists, and volunteers--and each provides assistance
based on his or her area of expertise. In addition, we help
provide medications, supplies, equipment, hospital services, and
additional helpers in the home, as appropriate.
Does hospice do
anything to make death come sooner?
We do nothing either to speed up or to slow
down the dying process. Just as doctors and midwives lend
their support and expertise during the time of child birth, so
hospice provides its presence and specialized knowledge during the
dying process.
Is the home the
only place hospice care can be delivered?
No. Although most hospice services are
delivered in a personal residence, some patients live in nursing
homes or assisted living centers.
How does
hospice "manage pain"?
Our nurses and doctors are up-to-date on the
latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief.
In addition, physical and occupational therapists assist patients
to be as mobile and self-sufficient as possible. Hospice
believes that emotional and spiritual pain are just as real and in
need of attention as physical pain, so it addresses these,
as well. Counselors, including clergy, are available to
assist family members as well as patients.
What is
hospice's success rate in battling pain?
Very high. Using some combination of
medications, counseling and therapies, most patients can attain a
level of comfort that is acceptable to them.
Will
medications prevent the patient from being able to talk or know
what's happening?
Usually not. It is the goal of hospice to
help patients be as comfortable and alert as they desire. By
constantly consulting with the patient, we have been very
successful in reaching this goal.
Is
hospice affiliated with any religious organization?
Hospice care is not an off-shoot of any
religion. While some religious organizations have started
hospices (sometimes in connection with their hospitals), we serve
a broad community and do not require patients to adhere to any
particular set of beliefs.
Is hospice care
covered by insurance?
Hospice coverage is widely available. It
is provided by Medicare, by Medicaid, and by most private health
insurance policies. To be sure of coverage, families should,
of course, check with their employer or health insurance provider.
If the patient
is not covered by Medicare or any other health insurance, will
hospice still provide care?
The first thing hospice will do is assist
families in finding out whether the patient is eligible for any
coverage they may not be aware of. Barring this, we will
help to locate services for those who cannot pay. No one
will be denied care.
Does
hospice provide any help to the family after the patient dies?
Hospice provides continuing contact and support
for family and friends for at least a year following the death of
a loved one. We also sponsor bereavement and support groups
for anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a
family member, a friend, or a loved one.
If
the patient is eligible for Medicare, will there be any additional
expenses to be paid?
Medicare covers 100% of the cost of all
services and supplies related to the terminal illness for the
hospice patient.
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