What is hospice care?
Hospice care is comfort care for patients with a prognosis of six months or less if their disease runs its natural course, as certified by a physician.
What does hospice really do?
American River Hospice Services provides specialized care services (patient care including symptom management, emotional support, spiritual support and psychosocial intervention), addressing issues most important to the patient’s needs and wants at the end of their life focusing on improving the individual’s quality of life.
Who pays for hospice care?
Hospice is covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal at 100% for all care, services, medication and equipment that is related to comfort and the patient’s terminal condition. Most private insurances also cover hospice care at 100%, check with your insurance provider to ensure there are no additional cost.
Can I keep my physician while on hospice care?
Yes. The patient and or decision maker always has the right to ask that their physician to be involved in hospice care. American River Hospice Services has a Medical Director and other hospice physicians available 24/7 for symptom management and patient care. You can also choose for the hospice medical director to be the overseeing physician. Both options are appropriate and up to the patient and or decision maker to make the decision that is best for their wishes and situation.
How do I know when it is time for end-of-life care?
Patients are eligible for hospice care when they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness with a prognosis of 6 months or less. At that time, comfort, care, and symptom management become the primary focus, and curative treatment is no longer pursued as an option of care.
When should hospice be called?
Hospice should be called at any time the patient has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. However, it is appropriate to discuss all the patient’s care options, including hospice with your provider. It is always beneficial to speak to a hospice agency to truly understand the benefits hospice can provide to you or your loved one at the end of life.
Where is hospice care provided?
Hospice care is provided in a setting that best meets the needs of each patient and family. The most common setting is the patient’s home. Hospice care is also provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care facilities and in some cases, in a hospital according to patient care needs.
Can my pain and symptoms be controlled at home?
Yes. Pain and other symptoms can usually be controlled in the patient’s home. If a symptom (i.e. pain, nausea or vomiting, or difficulty breathing) becomes a problem, an American River Hospice Services nurse can be reached 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. There have been great advances in pain and symptom control in the past few years. Most symptoms can be controlled without the use of injection or IV medication. American River Hospice Services nurses assess each patients’ symptoms each visit. Hospice medical directors are always available to initiate or adjust medications.
When is Morphine used in hospice?
Morphine is used for management of Acute and Severe pain and at the end of life to manage pain and shortness of breath. Morphine is very effective as it works quickly and doses can be varied to give the right amount of pain relief and not leave the patient sedated. At the end of life, it allows the body to rest and be at peace so when the time come for the patient to pass, it is peaceful and dignified. It is the patient and or decision makers right to accept or refuse the medication and treatments. Hospice will always recommend the best treatment regimen but the patient is never required to receive any care or medication against their wishes.
Does Hospice provide 24-hour in-home care?
No. Hospice provides intermittent nursing visits to assess, monitor and treat symptoms, as well as teach family and caregivers the skills they need to care for the patient. American River Hospice Services nurses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions or visit anytime the need for support arises.
Can I live alone and still receive Hospice services?
Yes. American River Hospice Services accepts patients who live alone, however, part of the admission and ongoing care process is to plan and prepare for the time in a patient’s illness when 24-hour a day care will be necessary.
Can a hospice patient choose to return to curative treatment?
This is a common question- Yes. Receiving hospice care is always a choice. A patient may leave hospice and return to curative treatment if that is their choice. If the patient later chooses to return to hospice care, Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies permit re-activation of the hospice benefit.
Can I go back to the hospital while receiving hospice care?
Yes. However, many symptoms that would normally require hospitalization or an emergency room visit can be successfully managed at home by the hospice team, thus preventing the stress of hospitalization. Hospice patients generally only have the need for short hospital stays to stabilize a symptom and then can return home.
Who will be on my care team and when will they do my visits?
Every hospice patient will see out Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) which consist of a registered nurse, social worker, home health aide, and chaplain. The interdisciplinary team works with the patient and family to develop a plan of care and address any symptom management issues or emotional or spiritual needs that arise.
All visits, however, are based on the patient and family needs and are very fluid to ensure we meet all the needs of the patient and family. Our staff will do their best to schedule visits that work for all parties involved but at times they may change due to factors outside the clinician’s control. We promise to be communicative and work together to make all patient and family needs are met in a timely manner and satisfactory to the patient and caregiver.
Is the decision for hospice care giving up hope or waiting to die?
No. Hospice is about living. American River Hospice Services strives to bring quality of life and comfort to each patient and their family. Our success is in helping patients and their families live fully until the end. Often patients will feel better with good pain and symptom management. Hospice is an experience of care and support, different from any other type of care.
Does hospice do anything to bring death sooner?
No. Our goal is always to alleviate suffering and manage symptoms. Hospice does nothing to accelerate the dying process. Our role is to lend support and allow the disease process to unfold as naturally and comfortably as possible.
Do I have to be homebound to receive hospice services?
No. Hospice is about living fully. We encourage patients to do what they enjoy as they are able. The hospice team assists patients and families in achieving their goals and dreams as much as possible.
Does hospice provide support to the family after the patient dies?
Yes. Bereavement Services follow family and caregivers for up to 1 year following the patient’s death. These services may include personal visits, providing information concerning the grief process and offering periodic opportunities for group support. Bereavement Services provides information and referral to other area resources when needed.