What is Hospice?

Hospice is a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when a life-limiting illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments.

Hospice care neither prolongs life nor hastens death. Hospice staff and volunteers offer a specialized knowledge of medical care, including pain management.

The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of a patient's last days by offering comfort and dignity.

Hospice care is provided by a team-oriented group of specially trained professionals, volunteers and family members.

Hospice addresses all symptoms of a disease, with a special emphasis on controlling a patient's pain and discomfort.

Hospice deals with the emotional, social and spiritual impact of the disease on the patient and the patient's family and friends.

Hospice offers a variety of bereavement and counseling services to families during and after the patient's hospice journey.

What Are the Advantages of Hospice?

Hospice treats the person, instead of the disease; focuses on the family, instead of just the individual; and emphasizes the quality of life, instead of its duration.

Hospice care allows terminally ill patients and their families to experience the end of life together, in the comfort and security of home or a home-like setting.

Hospice uses the combined knowledge and skills of an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including physicians, nurses, home care aides, social workers, spiritual caregivers, counselors, and volunteers.

Hospice care is a cost-effective alternative to services provided in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutional settings.

What Services Does Hospices Provide?

Medicare-certified hospices provide nursing care; social services; physician services; counseling services (including spiritual and dietary); Certified home health aide and homemaker services; volunteers; bereavement services; physical,  occupational and speech therapies. Short-term, in-patient care (for respite, pain control, and symptom management), continuous care in the home, and medical equipment and supplies (including drugs and biologicals) are also available. Additional services can be offered. Therefore, the range of hospice services may vary from program to program. Care is structured to keep families together in the most comfortable environment possible.

Who Pays for Hospice Care?

Hospice services are covered by Medicare, the Medicaid program, and most private insurance and managed care plans. Hospices heavily rely on grants and community support to fund services for patients with little or no insurance.

Click Here For information on becoming a Hospice Volunteer.