Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for hospice?
A patient who has been certified by their doctor and the hospice medical director that they have a life expectancy of six months or less, if the disease were to run its normal course.
Are there warning signs we should be watching for?
Some or all of the following symptoms could be exhibited by a hospice appropriate patient: frequent urination, progressive weight loss, deteriorating mental abilities, recurrent infections, or an overall decline in condition.
If you are in hospice, does everyone give up on you?
To the contrary, if you are in hospice, you can get more attention and care in your own home than ever before. Although there is nothing we can do to change the progress of the disease, hospice never gives up on the person.
Once you are in Hospice, you can’t get out of it.
Hospice is completely revocable. If you change your mind, or are displeased with hospice care, you may revoke (or stop) hospice care at any time with no hard feelings. If your condition improves or you become a candidate for curative treatments again, hospice may discharge you until you need hospice care again.
When you are in hospice you can’t go to the doctor anymore.
You may continue to see your primary physician as long as you are able to get there. This physician can make home visits if time permits them. If you are on Medicare or Medicaid, you are required to get permission from Hospice to see any other specialist (besides the primary physician) for your terminal condition.
Hospice staff talks about death and dying all the time.
Although hospice staff members are comfortable discussing death and dying, we let you talk about whatever is important to you. We encourage patients to live fully one day at a time, and to discuss whatever feelings and situations they want to discuss. We appreciate silence.
Hospice doesn’t give medical care, only emotional support.
Hospice gives PALLIATIVE treatment for the terminal illness. This treatment is symptom control, pain control, physical therapies, respiratory therapies, oxygen, medications, wound care, nutrition counseling, and any other care ordered by the physician to keep the patient comfortable.
If you are in hospice you can’t get any treatments or care for ANY illness or condition.
If you get a cold, flu, or have an accident of any kind, you will be able to get full medical treatment with expected recovery from them. If you have a co-existing illness (such as diabetes) along with the terminal diagnosis, you can get complete curative treatments for this condition while getting hospice care for the terminal illness.
The hospice social worker will sign you up for welfare.
If you have major financial limitations, the social worker may assist you in applying for public benefits, but she will not sign you up for welfare.
Hospice social workers just visit, they don’t do anything for you.
The main purpose of the social worker’s visit is to assess the emotional and social needs of the patient and family caregivers, and help them identify options for problem solving. Also, many times the patient or caregiver finds it beneficial to openly discuss their feelings, fears, etc. with someone who is not as directly involved in their care as a family member is. Social workers are active listeners. Anything said to them is confidential.
The home health aides will clean your whole house for you.
Home health aides are allowed to tidy up the patient’s bedroom or can wash dishes after preparing a meal, but housecleaning services are not a part of their job.
Hospice chaplains will push their religion on you.
The hospice chaplain’s goal is for the patient and family to be spiritually peaceful in however THEY define it. The hospice chaplain will not push any kind of religious preference on our patients and families, and will try to help the patient connect with his or her own religion of choice if possible.
You only need a hospice chaplain if you have no church support.
Families who are going through major life crises often have questions or concerns that disturb their spiritual base. These questions are often best answered by a chaplain who deals with these types of crises daily. Our chaplain does not replace your personal minister, but is often a welcome addition to the families’ own pastor.
Medicare only allows patients to have 6 months of hospice care.
The Medicare benefit is divided into sections or benefit periods. This is so that the hospice team and your physician can re-evaluate your need for hospice care. There are, at this time, unlimited numbers of hospice benefit periods.
Hospice will help you commit suicide.
Hospice will not help you commit suicide or administer any type of lethal treatment or injection. Hospice staff members are trained in talking with you about your concerns and fears, but we are committed to providing the support and the care to allow a peaceful natural death to occur.
Hospice pays for all your medicines and your families’ medicines.
Hospice pays only for medications related to the terminal illness, and to keeping the patient comfortable. We do not supervise or provide medical care to our patient’s families. If you have private insurance, it may continue to pay for your other medications as before.
You can’t leave your home if you are in Hospice, and you can’t go to the hospital.
There is no homebound rule for hospice patients. They are encouraged to travel outside the home as much as they are able. If you have an emergency unrelated to the hospice terminal diagnosis, you will have regular medical benefits for hospitalizations. If you think you need to go to the hospital for symptom control related to your terminal condition, YOU MUST CALL THE HOSPICE NURSE TO ARRANGE IT. Short-term hospitalizations are available under the hospice Medicare benefit.
Hospice is an all volunteer agency.
Volunteers are an important part of our hospice services. Volunteers can provide services such as running errands or sitting and visiting with the patient. The staff members providing professional services, including the chaplain, are all paid staff.
Hospice nurses will give 24 hour care and administer all your medicine.
Hospice nurses are on call 24 hours a day and can provide care in an emergency situation. The Primary Caregiver is responsible for providing or obtaining 24-hour care for a patient if it is needed. Volunteers cannot administer medication, and staff does not make visits to give routine medications.
You can’t have hospice if you are in a nursing home.
Hospice can provide the same services to nursing home patients as they do for others. Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurance will pay for routine hospice care to patients with a terminal diagnosis who happen to reside in a nursing home.