Hospice FAQ
Here are some answers to common questions about hospice care. If your question is not featured below, please contact your local hospice provider to learn more.
Q: What is the philosophy of hospice?
A: Hospice care provides compassionate care for individuals in the last phases
of an incurable illness or simply aging so that life may be lived as fully
and comfortably as possible. The hospice philosophy recognizes that death
is the final stage of life: it affirms life but does not try to hasten
death nor postpone death. The focus is on providing the individual and
the family with support and choices about what is most important in the
last months, days or hours of life.
“You matter because of who you are. You matter to the last moment
of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully,
but also to live until you die.” -- Dame Cicely Saunders
Q: Who can benefit from hospice care?
A: Given that we are all mortal, eventually most of us can benefit from hospice care. Hospice wraps itself around a patient and family to provide support during a very difficult and often confusing time. Most of us have never been in the presence of a person towards the end of life, much less when actually dying. Hospice staff are experts and can guide you in understanding what is going on, how to care for someone, and what to expect. Hospice provides access to a nurse 24/7 to help with questions or for support when a crisis arises so no one is alone.
Q: Is accepting hospice care giving up?
A: Choosing hospice is the opposite of giving up. Hospice care allows the individual and family to have a voice and maintain control during the last stages of one’s life. Instead of enduring endless procedures, treatments, hospital stays and emergency room visits, hospice allows the individual to choose care that is aligned with an individual's values and priorities. Some people do want every treatment and procedure done and can and should receive that type of care, but many people would choose a less aggressive approach to care and to focus on the quality of life.
Q: What does the hospice 6-month requirement mean?
A: Some think the suggestion of hospice means that death is very near. This is not always the case at all. In our experience, people often don’t begin hospice care soon enough to take full advantage of the help and support that hospice offers. Individuals enrolled in the Medicare program can receive hospice care if their doctor thinks they have fewer than 6 months to live should their disease take its usual course. Doctors have a hard time predicting how long a person will live. Sometimes health can decline suddenly and sometimes it changes very slowly. The hospice team can work with you and your physician to determine if it is the right time for hospice care.
Q: What happens if someone is receiving hospice care and lives longer than 6 months?
A: If the doctor continues to think that the individual still qualifies for hospice care, Medicare will continue to cover services. It is also possible to leave hospice care for a while if your illness stabilizes and return later if you and your doctor think that the time is right for hospice care again.
Q: How can I get started with hospice care?
A: It is important to your physician about your illness and treatment options. Evaluate what is most important to you and also talk with your family about your goals and wishes. You can also call our office and speak to our staff about hospice care to see if it is the right time for hospice care. If in the hospital for a serious illness, the hospital team may discuss hospice care as an option, or you can ask about hospice care.
