Hospice Care
What is Hospice:
An assisted living and senior living option is known as Hospice care which focuses on the quality of life for people who are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness. It provides compassionate care for people in the last phases of an incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.
The hospice philosophy accepts death as the final stage of life: it affirms life but does not try to hasten or postpone death. Hospice care treats the person and symptoms of the disease, rather than treating the disease itself.
A team of professionals works together to manage symptoms so that a person's last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice care is also family-centered, including the patient and the family in making decisions.
A person in admitted to hospice care when the life expectancy is about 6 months allowing the illness to run its usual course.
Hospice care may be beneficial for patients who have specific characteristics including:
Limited ability to care for themselves
Curative treatment no longer benefits
Does not qualify for an appropriate clinical trial
No evidence that further treatment would be effective
What is Hospice:
Respite Care
Assisted Living
Home Health
Nursing Home
Types of Hospice:
Hospice Care
Hospice care provides service during the last phase of an incurable illness. Treatment during hospice care involves managing symptoms and side effects. Skilled caregivers coordinate the majority of care for a patient, and communicate with the patient's medical care team.
Palliative Care
Palliative care may be provided at any stage of a serious illness, including during active treatment. Its care team is separate from the patient's medical care team, which gives and manages treatment for the illness but keeps communication. Its goal focuses on managing the pain, symptoms, and stress of a serious illness for patients of any age at any stage of the disease.
Examples of Hospice:
Hospice Care may include:
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Home care and inpatient hospice care
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Spiritual care
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Family meetings
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Coordination of care
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Respite care
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Bereavement care
Palliative Care may include:
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Symptom management
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Pain management
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Help to navigate treatment options
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Advance care planning
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Comfort measures that support quality of life and referrals to community resources
Examples of Hospice:
Hospice Care services:
Hospice care services may be privately paid through long-term insurance plans, other sources of funding may include:
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Medicare
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Medicaid
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Health Insurance Plans
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Veteran Benefits
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Private pay
Palliative Care services:
Coverage may vary from provider and insurance plan and they might require co-pays for some treatments and medications. They are typically paid by:
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Medicare Part B
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Medicaid
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Private Insurance Plans
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Private pay
How Is Care Provided:
Hospice Care services:
Hospice eligibility requires two physicians to certify the patient has less than six months to live if the disease follows its usual course.
Palliative Care services:
Palliative care services begin at the physician's and patient's discretion at any time, at any stage of illness, terminal or not.