Hospice care is a philosophy of medical care focused on providing comfort, dignity, and support to people with terminal illnesses or nearing the end of life.
Hospice care is not curative. When a cure is no longer an option, the hospice team provides relief of physical symptoms—including managing pain—as well as emotional and spiritual support for the patient, family, and
caregiver(s).
Hospice care is delivered wherever the patient is—home, nursing home, or other residence. A patient on hospice never needs to go to a medical office, clinic, or pharmacy to receive care or medications. Services are provided by a team of specially trained professionals and volunteers, and assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Hospice also offers a variety of counseling and bereavement services to families before and after a loved one’s passing.
The criteria for hospice eligibility are: the patient has a terminal illness (or has a terminal condition as a result of a chronic illness) and has a life expectancy shorter than six months.
Two physicians (the hospice physician and, usually, the patient’s personal physician) must certify that the patient is no longer responding to aggressive treatment and has a life expectancy shorter than six months if the disease runs its normal course.
Hospice care can be paid for from a variety of sources, including Medicare and others (the Medicare Hospice Benefit is covered under Medicare Part A insurance). We’re here to help you get clarity on your insurance benefits – click here to schedule a free consultation.
The hospice care team is made up of a wide range of specialists – including physicians, nurses, chaplains, social workers, home assistants, and companions – who attend to the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of the patient and their family. The team works together with the patient and family to create a plan outlining the steps and objectives of the patient’s individualized care.
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