What is Senior Hospice Care?

Senior hospice care is a bit of a mystery to many, but it is an underused - and undervalued - part of our healthcare system. It is not a place where people go, rather, it is a service that combines a multitude of different forms of care. In the case of senior hospice care, the overarching goal of hospice is to provide the highest level of comfort, basic medical care, and support as a loved one passes from life into death, allowing him/her to live their remaining days with as much dignity as possible.

Hospice is a type of in-home or residential care for patients with life ending illnesses. Hospice care seeks to support the patient and family through this difficult time while keeping the patient comfortable and managing his or her pain. Hospice care is patient and family oriented and uses a different approach than traditional medical care. The goal of hospice care is to provide a pain free and dignified death while minimizing symptoms of illness. Hospice care does not try to extend or shorten life, but to make what is left of it pleasant and livable.

In this blog, we will discuss some of the common questions and concerns surrounding hospice care for seniors.

What qualifies a senior for hospice care and how is it paid for?

In most cases, a doctor must certify that a patient has an end-of-life diagnosis and the prognosis is usually 6-months or less. When patients meet the qualifying criteria, hospice is covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal, and most private health insurance policies. Once hospice care begins, the services run indefinitely, or until a doctor no longer feels the situation is terminal. If you or a loved one is considering enrolling in a hospice care program, contact your insurance providers to discuss the financial details so there are no surprises.

Please note: Hospice does not provide full-time care. It does provide daily check-ins from a medical professional and access to 24/7 hotlines. However, the bulk of the caregiving is expected to come from a spouse, family members or professional caregivers. In some cases, hospice programs will not enroll a patient without proof of full-time care provision.

How does a patient get hospice care?

Hospice care is designed or patients who have six months or less to live. A patient must be referred to hospice by a doctor for the care to be covered by insurance. Once a referral is made, most hospice programs are able to make contact with the patient and family and can begin to provide a full range of services.

Isn't hospice care a death sentence, or a form of giving up?

No and no. Firstly, hospice care isn't the cause of death. The conditions leading up to the end of one's life can be very simple or very complex, ranging from an acute illness or a slow decline from Alzheimer's disease. There is a multitude of treatments, medications, procedures, and machines that can prolong an individual's life, but there comes a point where the individual and/or family members must determine that the quality of life is now more valuable than the number of days remaining.

As soon as this point is reached, hospice is a wonderful option because it alleviates much of the stress of the clinical medical world, and prioritizes the comfort and desires of the patient. Although hospice usually is considered a form of palliative (end of life) care, there are situations where patients improve so much with hospice care that they are removed from hospice. However, this is less common in the case of senior hospice care.

Is hospice care always provided at home?

These types of programs where created to allow patients to live their last days at home, in comfort, with their family present. Specially trained hospice workers visit the home on a regular basis and immediate support and advice is always available by phone. Even though the care is based out of the home, hospice programs maintain relationships with hospitals so that a patient who needs temporary hospital care can be transferred to a hospital and then returned home while under hospice care.

All though hospice programs started out being mainly in the home, they have expanded and can usually provide care in a nursing home, hospital or other facility. Some hospices maintain their own residential facilities for patents that can’t be cared for at home.

Who is the Hospice Team?

Hospice works as a team to provide care. A family member is designated as the team leader and works with doctors, nurses, aides, therapists, counselors and other health care workers to provide well-rounded care and support. Hospice workers seek to care for the patient and the family as one unit. Hospice care does not end with the death of the patient. Bereavement counseling is provided for at least one year after the death. Hospice programs also offer respite care, allowing family caregivers free time, while the patient is cared for by other team members.

Who pays for hospice care?

Private insurance and Medicaid cover hospice care. Medicare offers some coverage. To be eligible for Medicare coverage, a patient must be certified as terminally ill with six or less months to live. A Medicare approved hospice program must provide care. The coverage includes medical staff care, medication, brief hospital stays, in home health aides, social workers and family therapists. While receiving hospice care, the patent cannot receive treatment for the disease.

What types of services does hospice provide?

Hospice care is provided by a team of professionals including:

• Your primary physicians and medical specialists
• Family, friends, and volunteer caregivers
• Professional caregivers
• Social worker
• Spiritual/religious counsel
• Bereavement counselors
• Palliative care specialists
• Physical therapists

Together, they form a strong support network for both the patient and the patient's immediate family.

Where can I get more information?

Start with the National Hospice Foundation’s website at nationalhospicefoundation.org. There you’ll find information about programs, tips for caregivers and resources for dealing with end of life situations.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization can be found at nhpco.org, and provides extensive articles and planning worksheets to help you make the best of your hospice care program.

Need Non-Medical Support from HomeAide Home Care?

One of the largest complaints we hear from seniors and their families is that they didn't enroll in hospice care soon enough. Contact HomeAide Home Care, Inc. to learn more about our home care services.