Is a hospice an actual place where patients are sent, like a hospital?
Hospice is specialized care provided to patients wherever they live. This may be in a private home, a skilled nursing facility, an assisted living setting or even a hospital.
Back to Top
|
Is hospice care only for cancer patients?
Hospice is helpful for patients and families coping with any life-limiting illness.
Back to Top
|
Would I qualify for hospice care if I expect to live longer than a few months?
Hospice is a comprehensive care program that is most effective and beneficial during a patient’s final six months of life. Any patient who meets the hospice criteria can remain on hospice for the remainder of his or her life, regardless of the six-month guideline.
Back to Top
|
How can a doctor know if a patient will live only six months?
No one can be certain how long a person will live. The doctor can only say that if the patient’s disease follows its expected progression, his or her prognosis is six months or less. Patients and families can continue to benefit from hospice services -- even if longer than six months -- as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
Back to Top
|
Does hospice mean you can’t have any medical treatment?
No, you continue to receive treatment, but the goal shifts from curing the illness to improving your quality of life by managing your symptoms and keeping you comfortable.
Back to Top
|
I always thought hospice was a place to send people to die. Is that true?
On the contrary, hospice is a way of helping people to live out the remaining time of their lives with as much comfort and dignity as possible. Hospice deals humanely and realistically with this great challenge in life, and offers new perspectives on hope and support to patients and their families. Hospice is a service, not a place, and the hospice team will help with any requested transfer to an alternative care setting.
Back to Top
|
Does hospice care substitute for my own family’s care?
Hospice enhances family care by showing families different ways they can care for their loved ones. Our philosophy is that every family member or caregiver is affected by the patient’s illness and needs education, support and care. We are also committed to providing culturally competent care to members of our communities from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Back to Top
|
Is hospice care expensive?
Hospice care is a benefit under Medicare, Medicaid (in some states) and many private insurance companies. As such, the patient or family will see cost savings on certain medications and equipment related to the terminal illness. Regardless of the family’s ability to pay for hospice, no patient is ever denied services because of an inability to pay for them.
Back to Top
|
Is it true that hospice patients cannot use IV therapy or feeding tubes?
Intravenous (IV) therapy and/or feeding tubes may be appropriate for a hospice patient. Patients are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We do not rule in or out any specific treatments; rather, we consider the goal of any individual treatment, and work with the patient, family and physician to determine how that treatment fits into a palliative care plan.
Back to Top
|
Do all hospice patients have a “Do Not Resuscitate” or “Do Not Intubate” order on file?
This is a common misconception about hospice care. It is not necessary for hospice patients to have signed a DNR/DNI order prior to admission. The hospice team will continue to educate the patient and/or provide them resources regarding advance directives and end-of-life decisions.
Back to Top
|