What Is Hospice?

Hospice is both a service and a philosophy. The primary goal of hospice is to provide comprehensive care to terminally ill patients and their families (or significant others), helping them to continue life as normally as possible. The program encompasses the physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of the patient. The person who is dying has the right to the highest possible quality of life in a manner that is consistent with the individual’s life-style and value system. Hospice care should allow the patient to die peacefully and with dignity.

Who Is Eligible for Hospice Care?

• Life expectancy is six months or less if the disease follows its normal course.
• The patient is no longer seeking active treatment for their disease. No more invasive or curative measures are planned.
• There is a willing and able caregiver for the patient.
• Hospice care can be provided wherever a patient resides:
  • Private Home
  • Skilled Nursing Facility
  • Assisted Living Facility
  • Retirement Home
  • Board and Care Home

How Does Hospice Work?

Your physician and the hospice will work with you to set up a plan of care that meets your needs. The care that the hospice gives you is meant to help you make the most of the last months of life by giving you comfort and relief from pain. The focus is on care, not cure. As a hospice patient, there is a team of people that will help take care of you - your family, a physician, a nurse, clergy or other counselors, a social worker, and trained volunteers.

The Hospice Team Approach to Patient Care

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How Long Can I Get Hospice Care?

You can get hospice care as long as your doctor certifies that you are terminally ill and probably have less than six months to live. Even if you live longer than six months, you can get hospice care as long as your physician recertifies that you are terminally ill.

What Does Hospice Cover?

• Physician
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment - e.g., wheelchairs or bedside commodes
• Medical supplies - e.g., catheters and bandages
• Medications for symptom control and pain relief
• Short term care in the hospital for symptom relief when necessary
• Short term care in a care facility for family respite when necessary
• Home health aide and homemaker services
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy when necessary for symptom relief
• Social worker services
• Clergy
• Visits by hospice volunteers
• Dietary consultation
• Counseling to assist you and your family address issues of grief and loss

Once I Start Hospice, Can I Stop?

Hospice patients always have the right to stop receiving hospice care, for whatever reason. You will return to your normal health insurance plan.

Sometimes, a terminally ill patient’s health actually improves while on hospice, or their disease goes into remission. If that happens, your doctor may feel that you no longer need hospice care and will not recertify you after six months have expired.

You can terminate hospice services if you wish to return to curative treatment.

You can return to hospice at any time if your health condition qualifies you for hospice care.

How Is it Reimbursed?

Hospice care is covered by Medicare Part A and Medi-Cal. Most private insurance policies cover home health care services as well. Assisted has contracts with most carriers. We will pre-verify your hospice benefits to ensure there are no surprises.