The biggest myth about Hospice care is that it means end of life, but the goal of Hospice care is to make the senior’s life as comfortable as possible.
So, what does Hospice do?
Hospice is a program of care and support for people who are terminally ill and their families. Hospice has trained teams of professionals who come into the home, so the family doesn’t have to worry about taking the older adult to the doctor’s offices, unless necessary. Hospice also provides pain management services, palliative care, and emotional support for the seniors and their family.
To qualify for hospice under Medicare, a doctor must certify that you may pass within six months. You must accept palliative care instead of care to cure your illness and you will need to sign a statement choosing Hospice over Medicare treatments for your illness. After six months, should your health get better, you can transition to a lower level of care; should your health have declined, you will have to be recertified to continue your hospice care through Medicare.
You do not have to be in a nursing home or a hospice care center to receive hospice care. Hospice care can happen anywhere, at any time. If you live in an assisted living community, they can come in there to see you. If you still live in your home, they can come there to see you. Hospice goes to you; you do not go to them.
Hospice care doesn’t cost as much as you probably think. If you have Medicare, you are usually covered for most of it. Also, most insurance plans, and HMOs have hospice coverage. You may pay very little for hospice care. You will still pay your Medicare .
How do you choose the right hospice provider?
Ask around, check with your doctor, the nurses, and family and friends. Word of mouth has always been the best advertising and it can work well in this situation also. Always a great person to have in your corner is a geriatric care manager, they work for YOU and have your best interest in mind.
Take notes about your first impression of the company. Schedule a consultation and take notes on how well informed they are. Ask plenty of questions and make sure they know the answers. Find out how long they have been in business and at that location. Also, ask for references; you are placing your life of the life of a loved one in their hands, you can’t be too careful.
Ensure you have Medicare approval before signing anything. Also, make sure this includes any necessary medical equipment, home health nurses, any therapy that may be needed, and grief support for the family.
Make sure you know what you will be responsible for paying for, such as any equipment that isn’t covered, any medication they don’t provide, and any services you will need they don’t cover. Get all this information up front so there aren’t any surprises later.
The truth about hospice is that it’s a type of medical care where the goal is to maintain or improve quality of life for someone whose condition is likely terminal.
Hospice has a special focus on controlling pain and discomfort, but also addresses all symptoms of a disease while providing comfort and support to the patients and their families.
So, to sum up, the biggest myth about Hospice care is that it means end of life, but the goal of Hospice care is to make the senior’s life as comfortable as possible.
