Hospice is a service provided for people at the end of life. It is designed for comfort rather than a cure; it provides comprehensive and compassionate care for patients and their families. Hospice is offered in more than 3,000 programs across the country.

Hospice is the only licensed health agency that focuses on the end-of-life care. Unlike most home health care providers, hospice recognizes that the patient will not get well and provides comfort and support, rather than a cure. Hospice care is provided by a team of interdisciplinary care givers. These professionals and specially trained volunteers attend to a wide range of physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Hospice care focuses on the entire family, and educates loved ones about caring for the patient. Hospice care does not end when the patient dies. Bereavement services are provided for family members for up to 13 months after the patient's death.

Hospice care is often appropriate when a patient has reached the final phases of a terminal illness, but this option may be discussed at any time during the illness. When patients choose hospice, they are making the decision to forego extreme curative measures in favor of comfort care, pain management and support for both patient and family.

Hospice is covered by most major insurers, including, Medicare, Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, HMO's and other private insurers. They cover hospice services including medical equipment and illness-related medications. When insurance does not cover hospice care, Hospice Care offers many services regardless of the ability to pay.

Choosing hospice does not mean that you are giving up hope. It means that you have opted for treatments that will help manage various medical symptoms. Hospice allows you to feel comfortable and provides support in order for you to have control over your life.

When the patient is referred to hospice care, a referral nurse will collect the information necessary and contact the patient's physician. The patient's physician must assure that hospice care is appropriate for the patient. The patients will be asked to sign a consent form, which confirms the patient's understanding that the hospice care provides comfort and support, rather than a cure. The nurse will meet with the patient and family to assess needs, make arrangements for services and equipment and will develop a care plan.

Occasionally, hospice care can lead to improved life expectancy. When this happens we will transfer care to a non-hospice care provider. Later, when patients become eligible for hospice again, they can re-elect the hospice benefit.

Hospice is a choice, so a patient may choose to leave at any time.

The patient may receive hospice care indefinitely if the patient's condition remains appropriate for care.

The hospice team is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. If necessary a nurse is one call away any day, at any hour, including holidays if necessary.

Yes

Yes, the interdisciplinary team discusses the patient’s plan of care on a weekly basis.

We recognize that not all pain is physical. We have chaplains, social workers and bereavement counselors to address spiritual and emotional distress, not only with patients but also with their families and loved ones.

Yes, spiritual and emotional support is provided for family and loved ones and can continue for up to one year following the death of the patient.

NO

Our hospice team, along with the patient and family, will develop a plan of care to best fit the needs of the patient.

We provide a written care plan and depend on the family to tell us how often to visit, and what information they want provided. Our focus is on meeting the needs of everyone involved.

Yes, we deliver to the home, nursing and long-term care facilities, or wherever the patient resides.

We encourage patients to do all that they can to live life to the fullest and according to their wishes.