Hospice care and help for caregivers
Thinking and talking about end-of-life care can be hard. But offering the best possible care during difficult times may help bring you and your family comfort.
It may help to know that patients and families who have participated in hospice report wishing they had gotten care sooner, according to the Hospice Foundation of America. Read on to learn more about hospice care, so you can be more prepared if the time comes to choose this kind of care for you or a loved one.
What is hospice care?
Hospice is a type of medical care that helps increase the quality of life of someone living with a terminal illness. Hospice typically provides support and care during the final stages of a health condition that will likely cause death, like cancer, heart disease, emphysema and advanced dementia. Many are surprised to learn that some hospice patients who show improvement (like cancer remission) can stop hospice care and go back to treatment in another medical setting.
How is hospice care different than other types of care?
With hospice care, a patient’s emotional and even spiritual needs get attention, along with their physical needs. Physical needs might include helping to manage nausea, pain or shortness of breath. A hospice team, which typically includes nurses, social workers, physicians and possibly chaplains or other religious officiants, work together to provide care. Family caregivers often remain at the center of this team.
It’s easy to get confused about the difference between hospice care and palliative care. Hospice care is only available toward the end of someone’s life, while palliative care — special care focused on providing relief from symptoms, pain and stress — is available to anyone with a serious illness. While palliative care might be provided as part of hospice care, the opposite isn’t always the case. To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must:
- Stop curative or life-prolonging treatments
- Have a terminal or life-limiting condition (with 6 months or less to live)
If a hospice agency is Medicare-certified, you can expect the following hospice services to be available:
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Nursing care
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Hospice aide and homemaker services
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Social worker services
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Medical equipment and supplies
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Durable medical equipment such as mobility devices and hospital beds
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Doctor/physician assistant services
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Prescription drugs for symptom control
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Dietary counseling
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Physical and occupational therapy
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Speech-language pathology services
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Grief and loss counseling — even after the death of your loved one
Keep in mind, hospice benefits doesn’t usually cover things like room and board at senior living facilities.
Hospice care can usually be delivered in the patient’s own home, even if their care needs escalate. If the patient or family have needs that can’t be met at home, the hospice service can work with the family to find ways to support a patient’s needs in another setting, if needed.
A patient can stay on hospice care for up to 180 days (2 90-day benefit periods, which is right around 6 months). After that, they can contiue to get hospice care as long as their hospice doctor and primary care doctor certify that they’re still terminally ill. This check-in happens every 60 days (at the beginning of a new 60-day benefit period).1
A wonderful aspect of most hospice care is that it provides support for caregivers and other family members throughout a loved one’s hospice care experience. Caregivers get information, practical tips and strategies to help them manage both the rewards and the hardships of caregiving.
Hospice care can also connect families with volunteers who can perform many non-medical tasks, from sitting with a patient to read aloud or play music to grocery shopping and other errands. If you’re currently the primary caregiver, hospice may help lower the stress you might be feeling from caregiver burnout.
Choosing the right hospice care may feel overwhelming. This list of questions can help guide you through the process of finding the right hospice for your loved one. Consider the following:
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Does the hospice accept my care recipient’s insurance?
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What services and treatments are covered and where are they provided?
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Who will be part of the hospice team?
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Does the hospice have help after business hours? Nights? Weekends? Holidays?
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If I call with an urgent need, how long will it take for someone from the hospice team to respond?
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How will the hospice team keep me and my family informed and part of the decision-making process?
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Can my care recipient still see their regular doctor on hospice?
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What are our options if we need a break from providing care?
Hospice care is most often covered by insurance, whether that’s through the government or a private plan. Check with your health care benefit plan to learn about exactly what’s covered for you or your family.
If you don’t have health insurance, some hospice organizations are able to offer care at no cost or a reduced rate based on your ability to pay. It’s okay to call and ask financial questions. The staff at hospice facilities are there to help you get the care you need and answer your questions.2
Who can I talk to about hospice care?
If you have more questions about hospice or if it may be time to explore hospice as an option for your loved one, talk to their medical team or contact a local hospice. The more you know about the benefits of hospice, the more you can help your loved one take advantage of this compassionate, high-quality care when the time is right.
