What is Hospice

If you or a loved one is on a journey planning for care and learning about available options, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions regarding hospice.

What is Hospice?

Hospice is a compassionate end-of-life care for people facing a terminal illness or injury with a focus on symptom management and quality of life. There is a variety of hospice care you can receive, including routine home care, respite care, general inpatient care, and continuous care. Patients in hospice receive care conducted by an interdisciplinary team of professionals trained to address their physical, spiritual, emotional, and social needs, as well as support their family and friends. This team of professionals often includes:

• Bereavement Counseling Professionals
• Board-certified Hospice and Palliative Care Workers
• Chaplains
• Hospice-certified Nurses
• Social Workers
• STNAs
• Volunteers

Who is Eligible for Hospice?

In order to be eligible for hospice care, the patient must meet qualifications such as:

• Being an adult (and child with different rules and regulations) with a terminal illness or lifelong prognosis of six months or less.
• A hospice physician and second physician, such as the patient’s specialist, must certify that the patient meets specific medical eligibility criteria, indicating a life expectancy of six months or less if their condition runs its typical course.
• Common diagnoses of those who receive hospice care, including Alzheimer’s or dementia, cancer, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, heart disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, lung disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.

What Services Does Hospice Provide?

There are many beneficial services from hospice care that people often don’t realize:

• Additional Medicare-covered services
• Dietary counseling
• Grief and loss counseling
• Medical equipment
• Medication for symptom control and pain relief
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Short-term inpatient care
• Short-term respite care for family members
• Speech-language pathology services
• Visits from the care team

When is it Time for Hospice?

Families and patients should consider receiving hospice care when:

• Life expectancy is less than six months, according to physicians.
• The patient has entered the end stage of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
• The patient wants to live more comfortably without the physically debilitating treatments that have unsuccessfully cured or prolonged the terminal illness.
• There is a significant decline in cognitive or physical abilities despite medical treatment.

The patient and family should receive hospice care as early as possible to take advantage of the benefits.

What is Routine Home Care in Hospice?

Routine home care focuses on increasing comfort and quality of life as much as possible when a patient is not in a medical crisis. Care is given as needed rather than around the clock, and family members often serve as primary caregivers. Hospice provides support for the patient and family as needed with support typically including:

• Pain and symptom management
• Emotional and spiritual counseling
• Assistance with daily tasks
• Nutritional guidance
• Therapeutic services

Indicators that may signal this type of hospice care would be beneficial include:

• The patient has recently received confirmation from a physician that their condition is in its final stages, and quality of life over cure should take precedence.
• A family member is the primary caregiver and now needs additional medical, emotional, and spiritual support.
• The patient is not in a medical crisis, and support services can be provided on a schedule or as needed to maintain comfort.

What is Respite Care?

You may hear about options for respite care when going through hospice. Respite care offers a caregiver up to five days to rest and recover from the demands of daily in-home care. An individual is transported to a facility for a short-term, inpatient stay and can receive additional medical services for pain or other symptoms that cannot be managed at home. Family members can use this time to recharge and often find they have more energy to devote to their loved ones after giving themselves a break. Respite care is often chosen when a family caregiver:

• Has a personal illness of their own that limits their caregiving
• Has an event or responsibility they need to attend outside of their caregiving duties
• Is physically or emotionally exhausted

What is General Inpatient Care?

When your or your loved one’s pain or chronic symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, you may elect inpatient hospice care at a hospital or skilled nursing facility. This type of hospice care aims to control severe pain and stabilize symptoms so an individual can eventually return home. Situations that may qualify for general inpatient care include when the patient:

• Requires more medical attention and clinical supervision than can be provided by family caregiver
• Needs a short-term higher level of medical attention
• Aims to return home after receiving inpatient care

Learn more about our individualized comprehensive care program designed to meet the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of our patients here.

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.