Is Home Care & Hospice affordable?

Home Health and Hospice offer an affordable way to receive medical care at home. Many who access these benefits are over the age of 65 and are entitled to Medicare benefits which cover 100 percent of the cost of services and associated medication and supply costs. Medicaid and most commercial insurances also provide home health and hospice coverage.

If I start Home Health or Hospice do I have to give up my own physician?

Often, when patients elect home health or hospice it is their primary physician who authorizes, coordinates and follows their care from start to finish. Your agency should work closely with the physician of your choice as they provide care. If the patient does not have a primary care physician and needs to be seen by a doctor the Home Health and Hospice agency has Medical Directors who can visit the patient. Otherwise, recommendations can be made and the agency can assist the patient in visiting another physician of their choice.

Are Home Health and Hospice Care available even when family members aren’t always available to provide care?

Recognizing that some people may live alone, or with family members unable to provide care, many agencies coordinate community resources to make Home Health and Hospice care possible. Also, agency staff may help to find an alternative location where the patient can safely receive care.

Is hospice only for people who can accept death?

While those affected by illness may struggle to come to terms with death, hospice gently helps them find their way at their own speed. Hospices welcome inquiries from families who are unsure about their needs and preferences. Educators are readily available to discuss all options and to facilitate family decisions.

How do I qualify for Home Health or Hospice care?

To qualify for Home Health care services must be certified by a physician and the patient must have a skilled medical need and meet the homebound requirement. A patient is eligible for Hospice care when services are certified by a physician and the patient has a qualifying life-limiting condition or terminal diagnosis.

Is Hospice a place?

While hospice facilities do exist, hospice care takes place wherever the need exists – usually in the patient’s home. About 80% of hospice care takes place in the patient’s private residence.

Are Home Health and Hospice appropriate for people who need a high level of care?

Home Health and Hospice is serious medical care. Most agencies are Medicare-certified which requires them to employ experienced medical personnel specifically trained in modalities, techniques and treatments to help achieve the desired outcomes. Hospices offer state-­of-the-art palliative care using advanced technologies to prevent or alleviate distressing symptoms.

By choosing Hospice am I giving up hope?

When end of life decisions must be made, there are two options: submit without hope or live life as fully as ever until the end. The gift of hospice is its capacity to help families see how much can be shared at the end of life through personal and spiritual connections. It is no wonder that many family members can look back upon their hospice experience with gratitude, and with the knowledge that everything possible was done to help their loved one achieve a peaceful death.