Benefits of Hospice
There are many benefits to choosing hospice care, both for our patients and their loved ones.
Hospice Respects Individual Goals and Priorities
People have priorities and goals aside from living longer. Consider this: if your time is limited, what is most important to you? The goal of the hospice team is to support the wishes of the patient. Choosing hospice can also mean avoiding unwanted hospitalizations, medical treatments and procedures. Hospice care may not help people live longer; rather it can help people live better.
Hospice Offers a Familiar Environment
When you don’t feel well, you want to be at home. No matter where you reside, the hospice team comes to you; hospice is provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, apartments, shelters and private residences—wherever you call “home.”
Hospice Includes a Team of Specialists
HIA Hospice’s team of experts will help you feel better. Hospice care offers a thorough approach to comfort with specially trained professionals who address not just an individual’s disease, but the individual as a whole person. The hospice team provides medical, personal, emotional and spiritual care and comfort, as well as grief support.
The team includes a hospice physician, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, certified nursing assistant, social worker, chaplain, bereavement specialist and volunteer coordinator. This team is trained to help navigate and support you through the journey. When physical, emotional and spiritual concerns are addressed, patients and their loved ones can spend the precious time that remains concentrating on the things that matter most to them.
Hospice Support is Available 24 Hours a Day
With hospice care, help is just a phone call away. Hospice care helps ease anxiety with on-call, 24-hour support, even on weekends and holidays. As one’s symptoms and illness changes, hospice adapts and responds to provide different levels of care. Every person’s disease process is different, and hospice is prepared to care for your loved one no matter his/her level of need.
Hospice Care Maintains and Promotes Dignity
Hospice care offers a chance for people to live as normally as possible with dignity until the end. Hospice patients aren’t hooked up to loud machines, are not poked or prodded hourly by medical personnel and do not endure invasive procedures. Hospice care neither hastens death nor prolongs life; rather, hospice celebrates life and allows an individual to live well until a natural end.
Hospice Lessens the Financial Burden
Cost is not a barrier to comfort. Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans cover the cost of medications for the terminal diagnosis and related conditions, and durable medical equipment and supplies. This usually results in a reduction in out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, families no longer experience unexpected trips to the emergency room, hospital stays, ambulance rides or frequent visits to the clinic, which can result in significant expenses. HIA Hospice provides care even if you have no insurance coverage or ability to pay thanks to the generosity of many donors.
Hospice Supports Family and Caregivers
As a caregiver, you want to do the best you can for your loved one. Hospice can help you. Hospice relieves family members’ concerns by educating them on what to expect and how to care for their loved one. Hospice teaches caregiving techniques and empowers loved ones to be the best caregivers they can be. As an individual’s health declines and needs increase, the hospice team helps monitor these changes and provides the necessary care. Hospice professionals offer guidance and support to help families deal with the range of emotions that surround this difficult time. After the death of a loved one, Hospice provides grief support for 13 months and can help with some of the tasks that may need to be completed after someone has passed away.
Our patients and their family members often tell us, “We had no idea how much hospice could do.” Contact us to learn how we can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you or a loved one is seriously ill, you likely have many questions. Making a decision about hospice care is never easy, but finding answers can help you feel more comfortable with the options available and confident in your final decision. Below are frequently asked questions about hospice care; click each question for its answer.
What is hospice care?
Hospice is care that provides comfort and support for those with advanced illnesses and their families by attending to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Each family benefits from a team of professionals, including doctors, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and grief specialists. Care is coordinated between the patient, team members, facility staff and family members to best meet your needs.
How do I know if I am ready, or my loved one is ready, for hospice? When is the right time for hospice care?
Hospice is a concept of care that focuses on quality of life for those with a life expectancy of six months or less if an illness runs its normal course. Many people are surprised to learn hospice is available for weeks and months of care, not just for the last days of life. Hospice benefits you and your loved one most when the care is for weeks or months rather than the last few hours. The HIA Hospice team is there with you, supporting and guiding you and your caregivers through this chapter of life. You are not alone.
There is not always a specific point during an illness when a person should ask about hospice care. However, if you were to ask ‘would I be surprised if in the next 12-24 months my loved one or I may pass away’, that is a good indicator to call and learn more about hospice care. Don’t wait for a medical crisis. Considering hospice as an option early on can help ease the decision-making process later on and help you live according to your choices.
Each person and diagnosis is different, but there are general signs that may indicate an individual may meet the medical guidelines for hospice care:
- Unintentional and progressive weight loss
- A decline in the ability to perform routine daily activities, such as eating, bathing or dressing
- Frequent infections or non-healing wounds
- Frequent hospitalizations or emergency department visits
- Increased weakness and/or fatigue
- A progressive decline, even with the use of curative medical therapies
If you see these signs in yourself or your loved one, it may be time to contact HIA Hospice for more information. Knowing about all the health care options available can help you live according to your priorities. There are many benefits to hospice care. Choosing hospice before a crisis gives you more control for how you want to live throughout your lifetime.
Where is hospice care provided?
We are privileged to care for people in their own homes, nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, shelters and many other places they consider “home.” Your Hospice team comes to you no matter where you are.
Can I pick my hospice provider?
Yes. Every hospice is different and this is an important choice with lasting impact. With HIA Hospice, how, when, and where we serve is special. Ask for HIA Hospice by name.
Who can receive hospice care?
Care is for anyone who has a life expectancy of six months or less based on a physician’s best judgment. This includes Alzheimer’s, heart and liver diseases, cancer, COPD, ALS, Parkinson’s and other conditions.
Can hospice care continue after six months?
Yes. Some people live longer than their original prognosis once their pain and symptoms are under control. We continue to provide care as long as you meet the conditions for hospice services.
If I have pain, how can you help?
Our nurses specialize in pain control and symptom management and will promptly address your comfort needs. Certified nursing assistants help with bathing, grooming and other personal cares and help people feel like themselves.
How does hospice care improve quality of life for me and my family?
Your Hospice team comes to you, providing everything you need to be comfortable, which may include a hospital bed and other equipment. This allows you to focus on valuable time with your loved ones. Hospice care may also improve quality of life by:
- Reducing the time spent in the clinic and the emergency room
- Decreasing your out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Having a Hospice nurse available any time, day or night, by calling (800) 237-4629
How is hospice care paid for?
Our care and services are available to anyone who needs them, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. Hospice services, including medical equipment and medications for your terminal diagnosis and related conditions, are covered under the Medicare and Medicaid Hospice Benefits. Most private insurance plans also offer a hospice benefit.
What if no one has mentioned hospice care to me?
If you’re living with a life-limiting illness, HIA Hospice can help. It’s never too early to reach out to learn how hospice may help when the time is right for you. We’ll visit with you at a time convenient for you, at no cost. If hospice care is right for you, we will do the follow-up work, including contacting your doctor, starting the necessary paperwork and arranging a visit with a hospice nurse.
Will I still be able to make my own decisions regarding my care?
Absolutely! Time with hospice care is time that is centered around your preferences. You and your family are in charge as we provide the support according to your priorities.
What if I live alone?
Many people, especially if they are receiving hospice care early in their illnesses, are able to continue to live independently. We are there to guide you, helping with a transition plan if needed.
How can I learn more about hospice care?
If you’re living with a serious illness, HIA Hospice can help. Contact us and we’ll visit with you at a time convenient for you, free of charge. If hospice care is right for you, we will do the follow-up work, including contacting your doctor, starting the necessary paperwork and arranging a visit with a hospice nurse.
If you have additional questions or would like more information, please contact us. It’s never too early to learn about your options for care.