What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is a form of care that follows the philosophy of providing ongoing, continuous support for those who are in the last stages of a terminal illness. These services can also often extend to the caregivers and immediate family of an ailing senior. A dying individual may be placed in a dedicated residency, but in-home hospice care services are also provided. The pain management techniques that are practiced by hospice care workers are often referred to as palliative care or comfort care. The goal of these practices is to allow a dying individual to live out their last days as comfortably as possible.

The other primary goal of in-home hospice care and other hospice care services is to allow an individual to die with dignity, in comfort, and surrounded by the faces of their loved ones. The staff of a hospice care agency is generally comprised of registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, volunteers, and spiritual advisors or pastors. The person in charge of a hospice care facility is generally a medical director, and it is their responsibility to collaborate with the ailing patient’s physician to ensure that proper medical care is provided, even in one’s home. More and more individuals are opting for in-home hospice care, because they find being in the presence of their own home to be more comfortable.

As aforementioned, hospice care is designed not only for the dying patient, but also for their family members. Staff members are trained to answer questions thoroughly, and in some instances, to provide counseling for family members.

When Should Hospice Care Be Sought Out?

Ideally, in-home hospice care or other hospice care services should be sought out immediately after a patient has received a diagnosis of a terminal or incurable illness. Medical studies have revealed that those who seek out hospice care services immediately live longer, and have a much higher quality of life, than those who do not. In almost all cases, the family members of a dying individual are grateful for the additional assistance they have received in the care of a loved one. The most common remarks made about hospice care are that the family members wish they had engaged the services of hospice care much sooner.

What Are the Costs Associated With Hospice Care?

In general, the costs associated with hospice care are paid for through private health insurance or through Medicare. Many in-home hospice care programs and other similar programs receive donations from the surrounding community, which are directed towards paying the costs of individuals who are underinsured or who do not have insurance. Most hospice care programs are not going to turn an individual away simply because they do not have the means to pay for their care.

Where Can My Family Find a Local Hospice Care Program?

To speak with a family advisor about local hospice programs, please call 1-760-218-5309.