Hospice: What You Should Know
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
What is Hospice?
Hospice is a type of care for patients who are close to dying from an illness. The illness does not have to be cancer.
What does it do?
The goal of Hospice is for you to live your life as fully as possible and be more comfortable in the time that you have left. Hospice will not cure your illness, but it also will not cause you to die sooner. Instead, you can die more naturally and in your own time and many times in your own home.
Your Hospice care team may include doctors, nurses, social workers, home health aides, occupational therapists, and volunteers. This team has special training to help you and your family make the most of the last months of your life. They will work with your family and your doctor to make sure that you get the best care.
Hospice can also help your family and loved ones to cope. They can get mental and spiritual support and grief counseling for at least a year after your death.
How can I obtain Hospice care?
You can get Hospice care if your doctor decides that you probably have less than six months to live because of your illness. If you live longer than six months, you can stay in Hospice care if your doctor confirms that you are not expected to get better.
You can choose to stop Hospice care at any time. If you leave, you can go back at any time as long as you qualify for the program. You may no longer be able to get Hospice care if your health improves or if your illness starts to get better.
Where can I get Hospice care?
You can receive Hospice care in your home or in the home of a family member or friend, a care facility (such as a nursing home) or a hospital. If you want to stay at home, there will be someone that you can call at anytime if you have questions or concerns. You can also have regular visits from nurses. Most Hospice programs will want to know if you have someone who will help care for you if you are not able to care for yourself.
Respite care is when another Hospice caregiver takes care of you. You can get respite care from a Hospice inpatient facility, hospital, or a nursing home. This gives your caregiver a break. Respite care is available when your caregiver can’t care for you at home for any reason (illness, vacation, fatigue). The Hospice benefit allows you to receive respite for up to five nights at time as often as you and your caregiver need it.
Who pays for Hospice care?
Medicare will pay for Hospice services if you have Medicare Part A or have been disabled for more than two years. Most private insurance companies will also pay for it. If you do not have medical insurance, some Hospice programs will enroll you at no cost. Your doctor or social worker can help you find a Hospice that may do this.
Where can I get more information?
Obviously your primary care provider may be able to help.
The National Hospice and Palliative Organization can be called at 1-703-837-1500, their website is
www.nhpco.org.
The Hospice Association of America is another excellent source of information. They can be reached at 1-202-546-4759 or on the web at
www.nahc.org/haa/Dr. Peterson is a doctor of Family and Community Medicine at the Walter L. Aument Family Health Center, 317 S. Chestnut St., Quarryville.