Who uses Hospice?

More than a million patients and their families have utilized the services of hospice (pronounced “HOS-pis”).

Some 60 percent of all hospice patients have cancer, and many of the rest have either heart disease or AIDS. However, regardless of a patient’s condition – or age – hospices open their doors and their hearts to all terminally ill persons.

Many surviving family members say, “I do not know what I would have done without hospice.” And many credit it with helping to make their final days with their loved ones warm and memorable.

What services does a Hospice provide?

No job is too big or too small for the hospice team – it helps in every way it can.

This may include:

Pain relief through medication
Back rubs and foot massages
Matters of personal cleanliness and coordination of necessary medical equipment
“Being there” – to let the patient know he or she is not alone
Talking openly about feelings assisting with household chores and helping to put financial matters in order
Providing favorite foods or music
Joining in favorite pastimes

Though hospice professionals and volunteers are there to help, they encourage patients to be as active and to do as much for themselves as possible.

20 Commonly Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions most often asked about hospice. We hope they can help you better understand the hospice concept. Because individual hospices can differ, we urge you to contact your local hospice provider to find out about the program in your area.

When should a decision about entering a hospice program be made – and who should make it?
At any time during a life-limiting illness, it’s appropriate to discuss all of the patient’s care options, including hospice. By law the decision belongs to the patient. Understandably, most people are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping an all-out effort to “beat” their disease. Hospice staff members are highly sensitive to these concerns and are always available to discuss them with the patient, family and physician.

Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of hospice, or should I raise it first?
The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their physician, other healthcare professionals, clergy or friends.

What if our physician doesn’t know about hospice?
Most physicians know about hospice. If your physician wants more information, it is available from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, medical societies, state hospice organizations, local hospices, or the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Helpline, 1-800-658-8898. In addition, physicians and all others can also obtain information on hospice from the American Cancer Society, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the Social Security Administration.

Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to regular medical treatment?
Certainly. If improvement in the condition occurs and the disease seems to be in remission, the patient can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about his or her daily life.If a discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose.

What does the hospice admission process involve?
One of the first things hospice will do is contact the patient’s physician to make sure he or she agrees that hospice care is appropriate for this patient at this time. (Hospices may have medical staff available to help patients who have no physician.) The patient will also be asked to sign consent and insurance forms. These are similar to the forms patients sign when they enter a hospital.The so-called “hospice election form” says that the patient understands that the care is palliative (tat is, aimed at pain relief and symptom control) rather than curative. It also outlines the services available. The form Medicare patients sign also tells how electing the Medicare hospice benefit affects other Medicare coverage for a terminal illness.

Is there any special equipment or changes I have to make in my home before hospice care begins?
Your hospice provider will assist your needs, recommend any necessary equipment, and help make arrangements to obtain it. Often the need for equipment is minimal at first and increases as the disease progresses.In general, hospice will assist in any way it can to make home care as convenient, clean and safe as possible.

How many family members or friends does it take to care for a patient at home?
There’s no set number. One of the first things a hospice team will do is prepare an individualized care plan that will, among other things, address the amount of caregiving a patient needs. Hospice staff visit regularly and are always accessible to answer questions and provide support.

Must someone be with the patient at all times?
In the early weeks of care, it’s usually not necessary for someone to be with the patient all the time. Later, however, since one of the most common fears of patients is the fear of dying alone, hospice generally recommends someone be there continuously.While family and friends must be relied on to give most of the care, hospices do provide volunteers to assist and with errands and to provide a break and time away for major caregivers.

How difficult is caring for dying loved one at home?I
t’s never easy and sometimes can be quite hard. At the end of a long, progressive illness, nights especially can be very long, lonely and scary. So, hospices have staff available around the clock to consult with the family and to make night visits as appropriate.

What specific assistance does hospice provide home-based patients?
Hospice patients are cared for by a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aides, clergy, therapists, and volunteers – and each provides assistance based on his or her area of expertise. In addition, hospices help provide medications, supplies, equipment, hospital services, and additional helpers in the home, as appropriate.

Does hospice do anything to make death come sooner?
Hospices do nothing either to speed up or to slow down the dying process. Just as doctors and midwives lend support and expertise during the time of childbirth, so hospice provides its presence and specialized knowledge during the dying process.

Is the home the only place hospice care can be delivered?
No. Although most hospice services are delivered in a personal residence, some patients live in nursing homes or hospice centers.

How does hospice “manage pain”?
Hospice nurses and doctors are up-to-date on the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. In addition, physical and occupational therapists assist patients to be as mobile and self-sufficient as possible, and they are often joined by specialists schooled in music therapy, art therapy, diet counseling, and other therapies.

What is hospice success rate in battling pain?
Very high. Using some combination of medications, counseling and therapies, most
patients can attain a level of comfort that is acceptable to them.

Will medication prevent the patient from being able to talk or know what’s happening?
Usually not. It is the goal of hospice to help patients be as comfortable and alert as they desire. By constantly consulting with the patient, hospices have been very successful in reaching this goal.

Is hospice affiliated with any religious organization?
Hospice care is not an off-shoot of any religion. While some religious organizations have started hospices (sometimes in connection with their hospitals), these hospices serve a broad community and do not require patients to adhere to any particular set of beliefs.

Is hospice care covered by insurance?
Hospice coverage is widely available. It is provided by Medicare nationwide, by Medicaid in some 42 states, and by most private health insurance policies. To be sure of coverage, families should, of course, check with their employer or health insurance provider.

If the patient is not covered by Medicare or any other health insurance, will hospice still provide care?
The first thing hospice will do is assist families in finding out whether the patient is eligible for any coverage they may not be aware of. Barring this, most hospices will provide care for those who cannot pay, using money raised from the community or from memorial or foundation gifts.

Does hospice provide any help to the family after the patient dies?
Hospice provides continuing contact and support for family and friends for a least a year following the death of loved one. Most hospices also sponsor bereavement and support groups for anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a family member, a friend, or a loved one.

If the patient is eligible for Medicare, will there be any additional expenses to be paid?
Medicare covers all services and supplies related to the terminal illness for the hospice patient. In some hospices, the patient may be required to pay a 5% or $5 “co-payment” on medication and a 5% co-payment for respite care. You should find out about any co-payment when choosing a hospice.
What Does Medicare Cover?
When a Medicare-eligible patient receives services from a Medicare-approved hospice, Medicare pays almost the entire cost.

In general, coverage includes:

Physician services
Nursing care
Medical appliances and supplies as appropriate
Drugs for symptom management and pain relief
Short-term inpatient and respite care
Homemaker services and home health aid
Physical and other therapies
Counseling