Hospice Facts
What does it mean when
it’s time to call hospice?
Calling hospice means deciding that the patient and family no longer want to pursue curative care.
What’s the first step to getting started with hospice care?
Anyone can request a hospice evaluation at no cost. Sometimes the physician makes the referral or provides several options and lets the patient/family decide.
Who is on the hospice team? Who is responsible for the care?
Hospice patients receive services from an “interdisciplinary” team, meaning members come from different disciplines or fields.
Where do patients receive hospice services?
Hospice services are typically brought to wherever the patient calls home.
If hospice is for dying, does choosing hospice mean giving up on my loved one?
No. When treatment options for a disease have been exhausted or no longer work, hospice provides a way for people to live in comfort, peace and dignity without curative care.
When is it time for hospice?
Hospice services can begin when a doctor decides the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less.
What are the qualifications for hospice care?
A patient is eligible to receive hospice services when their illness is terminal, meaning a physician has determined that they could die within six months if the disease continues as expected.
How often does the hospice Nurse or Doctor visit?
The hospice nurse creates a plan of care with the patient’s and family’s input, designed to meet the patient’s needs.
Will my doctor still be my doctor if I go on hospice?
Yes.
Who will keep us informed?
You will always be kept up-to-date on your loved ones condition.
My mother is already in a nursing home. Why would she need hospice services there?
Hospice can provide additional support.
Will hospice care for my dad 24/7? Will I still need to take care of him?
Yes, you will always be the primary care giver.
What is end of life care?
Care near the end of life focuses on comfort rather than a cure.
What is comfort care?
Comfort care focuses on comfort and relief from symptoms as opposed to curing or treating the disease.
What is respite care?
Respite care gives a break, or “respite,” to family members and caregivers who are caring for a loved one receiving hospice services.
What if a patient’s health improves while on hospice care?
A hospice must discharge a patients whose underlying disease or condition is no longer considered terminal.
What is an Advanced Directive?
An advance directive is a legal document that lets you direct in advance the care you will receive at some future time.
What happens after my loved one dies?
A member of your hospice team will answer questions and help make arrangements.
What about grief and other emotions? Does the hospice team address those?
Hospice employs bereavement specialists to address all aspects of grief.