Keep in mind that hospice care doesn’t provide interventions that prolong life, such as feeding tubes, unless the patient already has a feeding tube before entering hospice care. It can be difficult to have this conversation. You have to open it up with sensitivity and care. It can also be helpful for you to involve health care providers because they have lots of experience having this conversation. Plus, they know all about the benefits of hospice. If you choose to have the conversation alone, start by saying what kind of care hospice offers. You could say, “We may need to start thinking about hospice. Hospice covers pain management, medication coordination, and daily care. Just because you accept hospice doesn’t mean you can’t go back to treatment later. ” You might also mention that Hospice workers are kind, caring, and experienced in all aspects
However, if you aren’t covered by Medicaid, Medicare, veteran’s insurance like TRICARE, or private insurance usually cover hospice care. However, you may need to pay for hospice out of pocket if it is not covered. Many nonprofits will provide some relief for people who must pay out of pocket, such as paying on a sliding scale. [7] X Research source Though hospice is cheaper than hospital care, it can still be expensive, running as much as $600 or more per day, though it can be as little as $150 per day, depending on what services the patient is receiving. This amount is usually subsidized (partially covered) by your insurance company. However, you should still check with your provider to see what you might owe out-of-pocket.
Usually, your doctor will recommend a hospice center. Generally, a nonprofit hospice is recommended. However, you can call any hospice center in your area that you feel is appropriate for you. You can also find local hospices through organizations like the American Cancer Society, United Way, or the Agency on Aging. These organizations often provide referrals to local hospices. Another way to pick a hospice is to ask friends and family for recommendations. Many people have been in the same place you have, and they can offer guidance about the agencies in town. Often, a hospice nurse will come to the hospital, house, or nursing home where the patient is staying at the time to discuss hospice care.
When meeting with the agency, you can ask about their accreditation, certification, and licensing, or you can look the information up online. Don’t be afraid to go to another agency if you’re not comfortable with what one is telling you. It is fine to shop around with other agencies to see what they offer, but keep in mind that all of the nurses will be through hospice. The Joint Commission is a national accrediting agency that provides accreditation for approximately 21,000 health organizations in the United States. [8] X Research source
Ask about things like how soon care can be started (right away is best), what requirements the agency has for in-patient care, whether the patient can continue on certain treatments (such as dialysis), and exactly what kinds of care hospice provides for the patient. Also ask if the caregivers are on-call anytime (24 hours a day) and whether they personalize care plans for each patient. You can also ask about who will be providing care and what you’ll be expected to do. If you don’t get all your questions answered in the first meeting, you’ll have a chance to talk again. Most hospice centers welcome calls, and many will send someone out to meet with you more than once.
Other services may include diabetes counseling, physical therapy, spiritual guidance (from a chaplain), and nutritional advice. For the family, hospice can provide short-term and long-term respite care, meaning hospice can care for the patient 24-hours a day for a period (usually up to 5 days) if the primary caregiver needs a break. Keep in mind that hospice covers in home care and hospital care as needed. A hospice nurse will visit the patient at home, and the nurse may also recommend that the patience be admitted to the hospital. Hospice does not cover medications intended to cure the disease rather than manage pain.
Basically, all you need to get ready is to make space available for what hospice will bring in, such as a hospital bed. The patient doesn’t need to be home-bound to receive hospice care. In other words, the patient can still receive hospice care even if they are still able to get out and about.
The hospice team will be composed of many members, which can include a registered nurse, doctors, nursing aids, therapists, nutritionists, social workers, and trained volunteers, all ready to help provide care to your loved one. When the time does come, the team will also assist with connecting you to the funeral home of your choice, and they can do so at any time to help you make arrangements.
When the patient needs to go to the hospital for something non-illness related, you usually need to inform hospice of what is happening.
However, the person cannot be pushed off hospice by the provider or by Medicare. Once the person is in hospice, they’ll remain, even if they live beyond the “6 months” certified by the doctor.
