Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hospice Services
Our hospice care services are for adult and pediatric patients with a wide range of life-limiting illnesses. Below are some of the most common questions people ask us about our hospice services.
- What is hospice? Hospice is a way to care for people who are terminally ill by focusing on pain relief and symptom management.
- What does it mean when it’s time to call hospice? Calling hospice means deciding that the patient and family no longer want to pursue curative care.
- What’s the first step to getting started with hospice care? Anyone can request a hospice evaluation at no cost. Sometimes the physician makes the referral or provides several options and lets the patient/family decide.
- Who is on the hospice team? Who is responsible for care? Hospice patients receive services from an “interdisciplinary” team, meaning members come from different disciplines or fields.
- Where do patients receive hospice services? Hospice services are typically brought to wherever the patient calls home.
- What are hospice “levels of care?” Levels of care are specific types of hospice care to address different needs of patients and families.
- If hospice is for dying, does choosing a hospice mean giving up on my loved one? No. When treatment options for a disease have been exhausted or no longer work, hospice provides a way for people to live in comfort, peace and dignity without curative care.
- When is it time for hospice? Hospice services can begin when a doctor determines the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less.
- What is the difference between diagnosis and prognosis? A diagnosis is when the cause of the illness is identified (e.g., the common cold, pneumonia, lung cancer, etc.). A prognosis is a prediction about how the illness will develop.
- Are there signs that a patient might be ready for hospice services? When the burden of treatment outweighs the benefits and/or the patient has had multiple hospitalizations over the last several months, he or she might be ready for hospice.
- What are the qualifications for hospice care? A patient is eligible to receive hospice services when their illness is terminal, meaning a physician has determined that they could die within six months if the disease continues as expected.
- How often does the hospice nurse or doctor visit? The hospice nurse creates a plan of care with the patient’s and family’s input, designed to meet the patient’s needs.
- Can my doctor still be my doctor if I go on hospice? Yes.
- Will our family still have a say about our mother’s care if she’s on hospice? Yes.
- What if the hospice patient has special needs? The hospice plan of care is individualized to meet each patient’s needs.
- What if my family member needs special equipment? Hospice can provide the necessary equipment for the patient's care plan.
- Who will talk to me about my loved one once we have hospice? Who will keep us informed? You will always be kept up-to-date on your loved one’s condition.
- If I have home health, why do I need hospice care? Hospice offers many services home health care does not, such as prescriptions, medical equipment and visits from an interdisciplinary healthcare staff.
- My mother is already in a nursing home. Why would she need hospice services there? Hospice can provide additional support.
- Why would I put my child in hospice? Isn’t hospice for the very old? Hospice is for anyone with a terminal disease.
- Will hospice care for my dad 24/7? Will I still need to take care of him? Yes, you will always be his primary caregiver.
- What is end-of-life care? Care near the end of life focuses on comfort rather than cure.
- What is “comfort care?" Comfort care focuses on comfort and relief from symptoms as opposed to curing or treating the disease.
- What is palliative care? Palliative care is supportive care that provides relief from the symptoms, physical stress and mental stress of a serious or life-limiting illness at any stage of the illness.
- What is respite care? Respite care gives a break, or “respite,” to family members and caregivers who are caring for a loved one receiving hospice services.
- Can you come to talk to my sister about hospice but not mention cancer, death or dying? She doesn’t know. Hospice professionals are specially trained to discuss sensitive matters with patients and their loved ones.
- What if a patient’s health improves while on hospice care? A hospice must discharge a patient whose underlying disease or condition is no longer considered terminal.
- What is an advance directive? An advance directive is a legal document that lets you direct in advance the care you will receive at some future time.
- What happens after my loved one dies? A member of your hospice team will answer questions and help make arrangements.
- What about grief and other emotions? Does hospice address those? Hospices employ bereavement specialists to address all aspects of grief.