What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a philosophy of care focused on comfort, quality of life, and assisting those nearing the end of life. It is a system of care oriented towards treating pain and other symptoms without curing the illness.
Hospice is a unique type of care, offering individuals with life-limiting illnesses a choice to live as fully as possible in the comfort of their own home. Patients can choose to remain in an environment that is familiar to them, surrounded by family, friends and loved ones. Hospice gives individuals the ability to be in control of all aspects of their care when they can no longer benefit from curative treatment.
Hospice is a concept of care that affirms life and regards dying as a natural process in the life cycle. It helps prepare individuals and family members for a peaceful death while preserving dignity.
Who is Hospice for?
Hospice care is a special kind of care that focuses on the quality of life for people and their caregivers who are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness. Hospice care provides compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible. The emphasis of hospice care is providing comfort and relief of pain, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. When a cure is no longer possible, the emphasis of care changes from hope for a cure to hope for quality of life, dignity and purpose in the time remaining, and a peaceful, comfortable death at the end.
We help families and patients experience the end of life together, maintaining focus on the quality of life instead of its duration.
Who Pays for Hospice Care?
The costs associated with hospice care are generally covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers the range of medical and supportive services that are deemed reasonable and necessary for managing a person’s illness. Most state Medicaid programs offer hospice coverage, as do most private health insurance plans. Our knowledgeable staff can help patients and families apply for hospice coverage. If the patient meets eligibility requirements, then the Medicare Hospice Benefit may pay up to 100% of the cost with no deductible or co-payment. Additionally, prescription medications and medical supplies may also be covered.
Medicare Hospice Benefit The federal Medicare Hospice Benefit is covered under Medicare Part A. The Benefit covers virtually all aspects of hospice care with very little, if any, out-of-pocket expenses to the patient or family.
Aligned Hospice is fully certified by Medicare.
The following is a list of coverages from Medicare for hospice services:
• Hospice physician services
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment (including hospital beds, wheelchairs and walkers)
• Medical supplies (including oxygen, bandages or catheters)
• Drugs for managing symptoms and controlling pain
• Home health aide services
• Social worker services
• Spiritual support and counselling
• Dietary counselling
• Grief support for patients and loved ones
The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers the range of medical and supportive services that are deemed reasonable and necessary for managing a person’s illness. Most state Medicaid programs offer hospice coverage, as do most private health insurance plans. Our knowledgeable staff can help patients and families apply for hospice coverage. If the patient meets eligibility requirements, then the Medicare Hospice Benefit may pay up to 100% of the cost with no deductible or co-payment. Additionally, prescription medications and medical supplies may also be covered.
Medicare Hospice Benefit The federal Medicare Hospice Benefit is covered under Medicare Part A. The Benefit covers virtually all aspects of hospice care with very little, if any, out-of-pocket expenses to the patient or family.
Aligned Hospice is fully certified by Medicare.
The following is a list of coverages from Medicare for hospice services:
• Hospice physician services
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment (including hospital beds, wheelchairs and walkers)
• Medical supplies (including oxygen, bandages or catheters)
• Drugs for managing symptoms and controlling pain
• Home health aide services
• Social worker services
• Spiritual support and counselling
• Dietary counselling
• Grief support for patients and loved ones
Why Choose Hospice Care?
• Hospice care allows the patient to receive end-of-life care in his or her own home or in a familiar environment that is called home
• Hospice care surrounds the patient, caregivers and loved ones with a team of professionals offering physical, emotional and spiritual support
• Hospice care includes pain control, keeping the patient comfortable and improving the patient’s quality of life for whatever time he or she has left
• Hospice care is a Medicare benefit that includes medications, medical supplies and medical equipment that is at minimum or no cost to the patient and his or her loved ones
• Hospice care can be provided at a nursing home, a residential facility or an assisted living center
• Hospice provides access to a member of the hospice team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Hospice care may include volunteer support to provide meal preparation, running errands, patient support and caregiver support
• Hospice care provides grief support prior to and after death
When patients decide to be cared for by a hospice program, they acknowledge that treatment goals will shift from doing everything possible to cure their condition to helping make the rest of their life as comfortable and high-quality as possible.
• Hospice care surrounds the patient, caregivers and loved ones with a team of professionals offering physical, emotional and spiritual support
• Hospice care includes pain control, keeping the patient comfortable and improving the patient’s quality of life for whatever time he or she has left
• Hospice care is a Medicare benefit that includes medications, medical supplies and medical equipment that is at minimum or no cost to the patient and his or her loved ones
• Hospice care can be provided at a nursing home, a residential facility or an assisted living center
• Hospice provides access to a member of the hospice team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Hospice care may include volunteer support to provide meal preparation, running errands, patient support and caregiver support
• Hospice care provides grief support prior to and after death
When patients decide to be cared for by a hospice program, they acknowledge that treatment goals will shift from doing everything possible to cure their condition to helping make the rest of their life as comfortable and high-quality as possible.
