home hospice

WHAT IS HOSPICE CARE?

WHO PAYS FOR HOSPICE CARE?

Hospice is a philosophy of care. The hospice philosophy or viewpoint accepts death as the final state of life. The goal of hospice is to enable patients to continue an alert, pain-free life and to manage other symptoms so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their love ones. Hospice affirms life and does not hasten or postpone death. Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease; it focuses on quality rather than length of life. Hospice care is family-centered care -- it involves the patient and the family in making decisions. Care is provided for the patient and family 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hospice care can be given in the patient’s home, a hospital, nursing home, or private hospice facility.

Hospice care is meant for the time when cancer treatment can no longer help you, and you are expected to live 6 months or less. Hospice gives you palliative care, which is treatment to help relieve disease-related symptoms, nut not cure the disease; its main purpose is to improve your quality of life. You, your family, and your doctors decide together when hospice care should begin.

One of the problems with hospice is that it is often not started soon enough. Sometimes the doctor, patient, or family member will resist hospice because he or she thinks it means you’re giving up, or that there’s no hope. This is not true. If you get better or the cancer goes into remission, you can be taken out of the hospice program and go into active cancer treatment. You can go back to hospice care at a later time, it needed. The hope that hospice brings is the hope of a quality life, making the best of each day during the last stages of advanced illness.

Spiritual Care

Hospice coverage is widely available. It is provided by Medicare nationwide, by Medicaid in 47 states, and by most private insurance providers. To be sure of coverage, families should, of course, check with their employer or health insurance provider.

The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers the full scope of medical and support services for a life-limiting illness. Hospice care also supports the family and loved lone of the person through a variety of services. This benefit covers almost all aspect of hospice care with little expense to the patient or family.

If insurance coverage is not available or is not enough to cover all costs, the patient and the family can hire hospice providers and pay for services out of pocket. Some hospices are able to provide services without charge if a patient has limited or no financial resources.

QUOTES:

If you want to leave footprints in the sand, don’t drag your feet.
-A. Shephard

Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.
-Mia Hamm

Preconceived notions are the locks on the door to wisdom.
-Merry Browne

Imagination is more important than knowledge.
-Albert Einstein

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.
-Lorraine Hansberry

Be sure you put your feet in the right place and stand firm.
-Abraham Lincoln