People live in fear of the word hospice. Which is sad, because it is the single best thing you can do to give the latter months of life some real quality.

Hospice Care
Taped at the KEOM studios
May 28, 2002


Q: Today's topic is about hospice: what it means, who qualifies to receive hospice services, and how it can help people who are terminally ill, as well as their families. What do we need to know about hospice care, Barb?

A: Let's start with what hospice means - this can be confusing because some people think that hospice is a place and others believe it is a way of caring for people who are dying - and both groups are right! Specifically, hospice is a philosophy of care for terminally ill people. When a terminally ill person chooses hospice care, it means that they have chosen not to pursue further aggressive health care treatments to simply prolong life. They do not want to receive heroic� medical treatments that can no longer offer a cure or healing. Instead, they prefer a health care specialty called palliative care that helps make a dying person's remaining days as pain-free and comfortable as possible, while offering social, emotional, and spiritual support to the patient and family. Hospice care can be offered in the patient's home, or nursing home, hospital or hospice facility. Therefore, hospice can be a philosophy of care and a place!

Q: So, what specific services does hospice provide?

A: Hospices offer an inter-disciplinary team of professionals who address the many and varied needs of a terminally ill patient and family. This team generally includes a physician, nurse, an aide, social worker, chaplain, as well as bereavement and volunteer professionals. So, for example, a terminally-ill patient with cancer living at home with his wife and teenage children, may have a nurse visit at their home to address any pain or other related concerns; An aide will come to help with bed baths or other personal care; A chaplain may stop by to offer a prayer or help the patient or family understand and cope with the enormous changes; The social worker may visit to answer questions about community resources. The patient has a team assigned to him. Hospices may also assist the family by offering the services of a volunteer who may be able to provide a respite for the caregiver by staying with the patient for a few hours. Following the death of the patient, the patient care team may assist with specific grieving needs or offer information about support groups in the area. In review, hospice services help to keep the terminally ill person as comfortable and supported as possible while helping the family members during the difficult transitions related to the dying process.

Q: How does a terminally ill person find out about whether they qualify for hospice care and how is a hospice reimbursed for their services?

A: As mentioned earlier, a physician, usually at the request of a facility or the family, will write an order for a hospice provider to evaluate the patient. If the patient meets the qualifications, they are admitted. In almost all cases, the physician must certify that he or she expects the patient to live longer than six months. Many health insurance plans cover hospice care, while most hospice reimbursement is handled through Medicare and Medicaid. Some hospice patients who do not qualify for medicare, medicaid or health insurance coverage, pay for hospice services out-of-pocket. Most hospice care is offered in the patient's home, nursing home or the hospital. The most important part of hospice is that it helps a patient through the final days and hours of life to be as comfortable and supported as possible while offering care, information, and nurturance to the family during a very difficult time.

Q: Where can our listeners find out more about hospice?

A: Listeners can find a hospice in their area through the yellow pages under hospice,� calling the Hospice Foundation of America at 800-854-3402, or talking with their doctor, or through the internet at ElderHope's website at www.elderhope.com.