1.
What is Hospice?
Hospice
care provides medical, emotional
and spiritual
comfort and support to patients and their family
when a life-limiting illness no longer responds to cure-oriented
treatments. Hospice care stresses quality of life, while
controlling the symptoms that can cause pain and discomfort.
2.
Who qualifies for hospice?
Anyone
who is facing a life-limiting or terminal illness with
a life expectancy of six months or less to live.
3.
Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility
of hospice, or should I raise it first?
Patients
and families should always feel free to discuss all
available treatment options throughout the course of
their illness, including hospice
care. If a patient or family member feels
their physician is reluctant to discuss hospice care,
it is appropriate to address concerns or questions about
the subject.
4.
Is all hospice care the same?
No.
Many communities have more than one hospice,
some operating as for-profit agencies and some as non-profit
agencies. The quantity and quality
of all services can vary significantly from one hospice
to another; however, Medicare requires all certified
hospices to provide a basic level of care. When choosing
a hospice, ask specific questions such as if their medical
staff members are certified in hospice and palliative
care; how many years of experience do their nurses have
in caring for the terminally ill; do they use certified
home health aides or nurses' assistants and do their
social workers hold masters of social work degrees?
5.
Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be
returned to regular medical treatment?
Most
definitely—the decision to continue hospice services
lies with the patient. If a patient's condition improves,
the disease appears to go in to remission or new curative
treatments become available, patients can be discharged
from hospice at any time. Medicare and most private
insurance will allow additional coverage for hospice
services if the discharged patient should later need
to return to hospice care.
6.
How do I refer someone to Hospice Brazos Valley?
A
referral begins with a phone call to any of our offices.
It can come from a family member, friend, healthcare
provider, or even from the patient.
7.
What does the hospice admission process involve?
One
of the first things we will do is contact the patient's
personal physician to make sure hospice care is appropriate
for the patient. Once
the referral is made, we
will respond within a few hours or at least, within
24 hours. The admissions process
involves an interview with an admissions nurse and sometimes
a social worker as well, to discuss what the patient
and family can expect.
8.
Is there any special equipment or change I have to make
in my home before hospice care begins?
Hospice
Brazos Valley staff will assess your needs, recommends
any equipment they feel is necessary at the time, and
helps make arrangements to obtain that equipment.
9.
Must someone be with the patient at all times?
In
the early stages of care, it is usually not necessary
for someone to be with the patient at all times. As
the disease progresses and changes are noted by family
members and hospice staff, it will become necessary
for round-the-clock care. Since one of the most common
fears of terminally-ill patients is dying alone, we
will generally recommend someone be there continuously
when these changes begin. Family, friends or hired caregivers
can provide most of the care, but we also have a staff
of willing volunteers
to assist with running everyday errands or to provide
a break or time away for the primary caregivers.
10.
Does hospice do anything to make death come sooner?
Hospice
neither hastens nor postpones dying,
but sees it as a natural process. HBV team provides
the presence and specialized knowledge during the dying
process, and are honored and humbled to share this most
challenging part of a patient's life.
11.
Is caring for the patient at home the only place hospice
care can be delivered?
No.
Hospice patients can receive care in their own homes,
nursing homes or assisted living facilities, hospital
hospice units and inpatient hospice centers.
12.
How does hospice “manage pain”?
HBV
doctors and nurses are well educated on the latest medications
and devices for pain and symptom control. We also believe
that emotional
issues and spiritual
concerns need as much attention as physical pain, so
address each.
13.
Will medications prevent the patient from being able
to talk or know what's happening?
It
is the goal
of HBVl to relieve the patient's pain but
to keep them as alert as possible. Frequent consultations
with the patient, family and physician help us be very
successful in reaching this important goal.
14.
Is hospice affiliated with any religious organization?
While
some hospices were established by churches or religious
groups, these hospices serve a broad community and do
not require patients to adhere to any particular set
of beliefs. HBV chaplains
serve in a non-denominational capacity, and are trained
to honor the beliefs and rituals of each patient's spiritual
beliefs.
15.
Who pays for hospice care?
Medicare,
Medicaid in most states, The Department of Veterans
Affairs, most private insurance plans, HMO's and other
managed care organizations pay
for hospice care. Along with this, community
contributions, memorials, donations
and foundation support
allow HBV to provide care to patients who can't afford
payment. HBV will not deny access to care or limit the
care you recive due to your ability to pay for hospice
services. HBV will not engage in any collection
procedures or place undue financial hardship upon you
during this very difficult time.
16.
If the patient is eligible for Medicare, will there
be any additional expense to be paid?
The
Medicare Hospice Benefit
covers the full scope of medical and support services
for a life-limiting illness.
17.
If the patient is not covered by Medicare or any other
health insurance, will hospice still provide care?
The
first thing HBV will do is assist families in finding
out whether the patient is eligible
for
any coverage
they may not be aware of. Yes, HBV provides care
to all people who qualify for service without regard
to race, age, faith, diagnosis or ablity to pay for
services.
18.
Does hospice provide any help to the family after the
patient dies?
HBV
provides continuing contact and support
to caregivers for at least a year following the death
of a loved one. We also sponsor bereavement
groups and support for anyone in the community
who has experienced a death of a family member, a friend,
or similar losses.
For more information regarding Hospice Brazos Valley,
please
call 1-800-824-2326
