N E W S L E T T E R
February 2008
What is Hospice?
Hospice is a compassionate method of caring for
terminally ill people. Hospice is a medically directed, interdisciplinary
team-managed program of services that focuses on the patient/family as the unit
of care. Hospice care is palliative rather than curative, with an emphasis on
pain and symptom control, so that a person may live the last days of life
fully, with dignity and comfort, at home or in a home-like setting.
Who makes the decision to enter a hospice
program?
The law leaves the final decision up to the patient.
However, the decision is usually made after discussion with the members of the
family, the physician, clergy and others.
How does hospice work?
Hospice
is for those persons who have a life expectancy of six months or less and can
no longer benefit from curative treatment. Most hospice patients receive care
at home and an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, counselors,
therapists, social workers, aides and volunteers provides treatment. The
hospice team provides medical care to the patient and support services to the
patient and to the patient’s family and friends. Hospice does not attempt to
cure, but rather to control pain and other symptoms in order to enable the
patient to live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice addresses the
medical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the patients and their
loved ones. Hospice is provided seven days a week. Patients routinely receive
periodic in-home services of a nurse, home health aide, social worker,
volunteer and other members of the hospice team.
Where can I get information about hospice?
Information
on hospice is available from your physician, medical societies, the American
Cancer Society, the Social Security Administration, the American Association of
Retired Persons (AARP), the National Hospice Organization and Hope Hospice in
Is hospice expensive?
Studies
have shown hospice care to be cost effective. As a not-for-profit organization,
we never bill our patients or their families for our services. Hospice care is
covered by Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance companies, and donations.
No one is ever denied hospice services because of inability to pay or limited
reimbursement.
What does Medicare provide?
The Hospice
Medicare Benefit provides:
* Nursing
care on an intermittent basis
* Physician services
* Drugs; including outpatient drugs for pain relief
& symptom management
* Home health aide services
* Medical supplies & appliances
* Short term inpatient care, including respite
services when appropriate
* Medical social services
* Spiritual, dietary & other counseling,
* Continuous care at home during periods of crisis
* Trained volunteers & bereavement services
What does Medicare not cover?
The
Medicare Hospice Benefit does not pay for treatments or services unrelated to
the terminal illness. Any attending physician charges would continue to be paid
through Medicare Part B coverage. However, the standard Medicare benefit still
helps pay covered costs necessary to treat an unrelated condition.
Will I lose my Social Security benefits if I
enter hospice?
Absolutely
not. Medicare pays for the cost of hospice and Social Security payments are not
affected.
What happens if I belong to an HMO?
HMO’s
are not required to provide hospice care though many of them do. Any HMO
receiving monthly payments from Medicare must inform Medicare recipients of
Medicare certified hospice programs in the area. A hospice patient does not
have to leave the HMO, and may continue to receive other HMO benefits not
covered by Medicare.
How does hospice care for the patient?
Hospice
offers palliative rather than curative care, with an emphasis on pain and
symptom management through an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses,
social workers, bereavement counselors, clergy, physical and speech therapists
and volunteers who address the medical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological
needs of the patient and their loved ones. Hospice is usually provided in the
home, but it can be provided in a nursing home or inpatient facility if
available. Upon entrance to a hospice, the hospice team will assess the
patient’s needs and prepare an individualized care plan. The care plan will address
medication and equipment needs and outline the care to be provided by the
family and the hospice. This plan is updated periodically to allow for
increased care as the patient’s condition changes. Care giving at home is not
always easy and hospice provides telephone consultation on a 24-hour basis and
night visits, when appropriate. In addition, hospice volunteers can be provided
to run errands or provided needed “respite” care to give family members a break
and/or provide companionship to the patient.
Does hospice do anything to make death come
sooner?
Hospice
neither hastens nor delays the process of dying. Hospice affirms life and
regards dying as a natural part of life. It uses sophisticated methods of pain and
symptom control to enable the patient to live as fully and comfortably as
possible. Hospice is concerned with the patient’s quality of life up to the
time of death.
What happens if I
change my mind about hospice?
A patient may elect to be discharged from
hospice at any time. In addition, if a patient’s condition should improve to
the point that they no longer need hospice, they will be discharged. Later, if
appropriate, the patient may again elect hospice care.
If you
would like to learn more about Hope Hospice, how the hospice program may serve
you, how you may volunteer, or how you may make a donation, please contact:
H O P E H O S P I C
E
Brenda Purkey, RN, CHPN