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FAQ
How does hospice care work?
Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make decisions for the terminally ill individual. Members of the hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care and other services. The hospice team develops a care plan that meets each patient’s individual needs for pain management and symptom control. Support for family caregivers is also assessed throughout the care period. While the range of services provided will vary depending on each individual situation and the specific needs, hospice staff are available by phone 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Who makes up the hospice team?
The interdisciplinary team usually consists of:
• The patient’s personal physician;
• Hospice physician (or medical director);
• Nurses (Registered and Vocational);
• Home health aides;
• Social workers;
• Spiritual care providers or other counselors;
• Bereavement professionals;
• Community and clinical liaisons
• Trained volunteers.
What services are provided?
Among its major responsibilities, the interdisciplinary hospice team:
• Manages the patient’s pain and symptoms;
• Assists the patient with the emotional and psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying;
• Provides needed drugs, medical supplies, and medical equipment;
• Coaches the family on how to care for the patient, and provides social service consultations and counseling to maintain optimal psychosocial well-being, as well as access community resources at the time of need;
• Makes short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, or the caregiver needs respite time; and
• Provides bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends.
What role do volunteers play in hospice care?
Hospice provides trained volunteers to aid the family and patients. Most hospice volunteers are trained to relieve the primary caregivers, providing respite, and vital companionship for the patients. Perhaps the most important task, however, is their ability to be “good listeners.”
Volunteers also support the work of the hospice program that might not involve patient or family interaction through administrative experience. This can be a great way to learn, gain experience, and network, all while making a difference.
Who qualifies for hospice care?
Hospice care is for any person who has a life-threatening or terminal illness. Most reimbursement sources require a prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. All hospices consider the patient and family together as the unit of care.
How is hospice care paid for?
The vast majority of people receiving hospice care are covered by the Medicare hospice benefit. This benefit covers virtually all aspects of hospice care with no out-of-pocket expense to the patient or family for the hospice care service. As a result, the financial burdens usually associated with caring for a terminally ill patient are alleviated in many cases. In addition, most private health plans and Medicaid in most states cover hospice services.
Where does hospice care take place?
The majority of hospice patients are cared for in their own homes or the homes of a loved one. “Home” may also be broadly construed to include services provided in nursing homes, assisted living centers, hospitals…wherever the patient considers to be home.