How does hospice care work?

Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make decisions for the terminally ill individual. Members of the hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services. The hospice team develops a care plan that meets each patient’s individual needs for pain management and symptom control. Support for family caregivers is also assessed throughout the care period. While the range of services provided will vary depending on each individual situation and the specific needs, hospice staff are available by phone 24 hours a day/7 day a week.

Is hospice care expensive?

Hospice is covered by Medicare which covers all aspects of hospice care and services with no deductible required. In most states, Medicaid offers similar coverage. Many private insurance companies have a provision for hospice care, but the extent to which they cover hospice care and services may differ. Military families have hospice coverage through Tricare and the VA offers hospice contracts with local hospice providers for hospice services.

Where is hospice care provided?

Hospice is not a place, but rather a philosophy. The patient receives hospice care wherever they live. Whether it is at their home, a relative’s home, a nursing home, an assisted living community, or a hospital.

How do I know it’s time to consider hospice?

A patient is appropriate for hospice care when two physicians certify the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less. The individual displays signs of physical or functional decline such as increased shortness of breath, pain, weight loss, decreased ability to perform activities of daily living, inability to return to baseline functioning, and recurrent hospitalizations.

Does hospice mean that the individual will pass soon?

Not necessarily. It's never possible to know exactly how long someone has left. The focus of hospice is quality of life - making the remaining time as comfortable as possible. While in hospice, patients should continue to live their lives, doing the things they like most. Sometimes due to the care provided by TruHeart, a patient will actually get better and "graduate" from hospice.

What services are provided in hospice?

Hospice provides 24/7 access to medical care, medical equipment, medications, supplies, nursing visits, personal care, psychosocial support, pain management, short-term respite care, counseling and other therapies, and bereavement or grief support. Grief support is provided to family members for up to 13 months after death.

What’s not included in hospice care?

Treatment, including prescription drugs intended to cure a terminal illness or other illness unrelated to the terminal diagnosis unless the other illness is causing increased symptom burden. Room and board in a nursing home or residential facility, care in an emergency room, inpatient facility, or ambulance transportation unless it is ordered by or arranged by the hospice team.

Who will come to visit?

Hospice is unique as care is provided by an interdisciplinary team with the patient or legal representative guiding the goals of care. This expert team includes the patient’s primary physician, hospice physician, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, therapists, and volunteers.

How often do I get visits?

Care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The frequency and level of care vary depending on need. The hospice team works with you and your doctors to create a plan of care that adapts to your needs and priorities.

What if I change my mind and decide to seek curative treatment?

There may be times when hospice is no longer appropriate, your condition improves, or you change your mind and decide to restart treatments. If hospice care is no longer appropriate, you can revoke your participation at any time. You can also re-apply for hospice benefits if necessary. You may also change hospice providers with sufficient notice.

Can I still go to the hospital?

Our goal is to enable patients to be comfortable at home and to reduce the need for hospitalizations. However, a patient always has the right to go to the hospital if they choose. If the hospitalization is related to the hospice diagnosis, in some situations the patient would need to be discharged from TruHeart hospice care.

Do I need a DNR?

TruHeart Hospice does not require you to have a DNR (do-not-resuscitate) order. If your preference is for resuscitation to be performed if needed, your choice will be respected.