Hospice is an option of care that allows people with a terminal illness to remain at home having their pain and symptoms managed while receiving other valuable services for emotional support. Additionally, hospice provides bereavement support to the family and caregivers for up to 13 months after your loved one has passed away.

When an illness no longer responds to curative treatment, or your loved one no longer wishes frequent hospitalizations from his or her condition, hospice helps a person live comfortably at home with family and friends nearby.

To qualify for hospice, a physician must certify that if the disease runs its normal course, your loved one would only have months to live. However, please know that this is only a guideline for eligibility. It is not uncommon for a person's condition to stabilize once their pain and symptoms are controlled and live beyond the estimated guideline.

What Services are Available?
Hospice services may be a little different at each hospice, but all hospices will provide:

• A social worker to help provide emotional support and guidance
• A nurse who comes regularly to check on medications, help achieve pain and symptom relief and answer any of your questions
• Volunteers to sit with your loved one while you run errands or just get some rest
• Home health aides who will assist with bathing, dressing and grooming
• Bereavement support

Some hospices may provide additional services such as:

• Alternative therapies (music, art, pet)
• Massage therapy, Reiki or Healing Touch
• Life-review programs
• Regular grief support groups

Who Pays for Hospice Care?
Hospice care is usually covered through Medicare or private insurance. When you call your local hospice agency, a home health coordinator will work with you to arrive at the best combination of services for your individual situation. Hospice care is also provided at no cost to people without insurance.

Hospice can also help ease financial burdens of the family. Once the patient is enrolled, hospice covers the cost of all medications related to his or her diagnosis. Hospice also pays for other medically necessary supplies that support comfort measures like hospital beds and bed-side commodes.

Where is Hospice Care Provided?
While hospice can be a place, most hospice care is delivered in an individual's home or home-like setting, such as a nursing home.

When to Consider Hospice Care
It is never too soon to learn more about hospice care--even if your loved isn't yet feeling that sick.  Feel free to ask your doctor about hospice rather than waiting for him or her to bring up the subject. Studies show that the earlier someone is enrolled in hospice, the better able both the patient and family are able to take full advantage of the services that are offered. 

Although end-of-life care may be difficult to discuss, it is best for loved ones and family members to share their wishes long before it becomes a concern. This can greatly reduce stress when the time for hospice becomes apparent.
 
By having these discussions in advance, uncomfortable situations can be avoided. Instead, educated decisions can be made that include the advice and input of loved ones. Learn more about End-of-Life Planning

Is Hospice Available 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week?
If you are receiving hospice care at home, your team of professionals will make regularly scheduled visits, but they will not be with you 24 hours a day. However, help is always available by phone at any time.

Most hospices have nurses available to respond to a call for help within minutes, if necessary. Some hospice programs have chaplains and social workers on call as well.

What Do Hospice Volunteers Do?
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to individuals and their loved ones including running errands, preparing light meals, staying with a person to give loved ones a break and lending emotional support and companionship.

What Happens If I Can't Be Cared For at Home?
Some hospice programs have their own hospice facilities or have arrangements with nursing homes, hospitals or inpatient residential centers to care for people who cannot be cared for at home.

The cost to live in these settings may not be covered by your insurance, so it is best to find out if your insurance covers this type of care before you call hospice.

How Do I Learn About the Quality of Care Provided by a Hospice?
Many hospices use tools to let them see how well they are doing in relation to quality hospice standards.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has developed recommended standards entitled "Standards of Practice for Hospice Programs" as one way of ensuring quality.

Most programs use family satisfaction surveys to receive feedback on their services and make improvements. Ask the hospice to share a summary of their family satisfaction scores for the last several months with you.

Many resources for caregivers regarding hospice may be found on the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's website at www.nhpco.org.