What is hospice care?
Hospice Care is a compassionate form of care that is designed to provide non-curative treatment and comfort for those who are facing a life-limiting illness. It offers a support system of medical, social, psychological, and spiritual services that promotes dignity and affirms quality of life. This comprehensive and specialized care allows the patient, family, and other loved ones to make choices about what is important to them.
How does hospice care work?
In most cases, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and helps make decisions for a loved one. The caregiver works with the hospice care team to develop a plan to provide treatment, support, personal care and a number of specialized services for both the patient and family. At Affinity, our hospice care team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide assistance in managing your individual needs.
Who is eligible for hospice care?
The hospice care benefit is intended primarily for any individual with a terminal illness whose life expectancy is six months or less, should the illness run its usual course. However, the Medicare program recognizes that not all terminal illnesses have a predictable course; therefore, the benefit is available for extended periods of time beyond six months.
How can I arrange for hospice care services?
Anyone can make a referral for hospice care services. You should talk with your doctor, your minister, or a trusted friend when making this decision. You also may choose to contact us to learn more about our services and to arrange for a meeting in your home to discuss the program. We are also available to meet with you and provide care in local hospitals, or in extended-stay facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living centers.
When should a decision about choosing hospice care be made, and who should make it?
The best time to discuss hospice care is before an illness strikes. By law, the decision to elect hospice care belongs to the patient and/or his or her legal guardian. If you are not comfortable discussing this decision with a loved one, contact your physician or contact us. We are always available to assist you in discussing your options and helping with your advance care planning.
What does the hospice care admission process involve?
Once you have made a decision to select hospice care, an Affinity representative will contact you to discuss the program and to determine your eligibility. Your physician will then be contacted to discuss your decision. Finally, you will be asked to sign forms that are similar to the ones that you would sign before receiving any other special medical treatments or services.
What hospice services does Affinity provide?
Provided wherever a patient calls home, Affinity is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at no cost to eligible patients with Medicare, Medicaid or most commercial insurance providers. These services include:
- All medicines, medical equipment and supplies related to the hospice care diagnosis
- Medication management to control pain and symptoms
- Physician services to manage medications
- Nursing and home health aide visits to provide direct care
- Support through social work, counseling and chaplain services
- Volunteer services to provide companionship
- Bereavement services for a minimum of 13 months after a loss
What are the different levels of hospice care?
Hospice care recognizes that different patients require different levels of care, and we respond by offering the category of care that meets the individual patient’s needs – in the location that is most appropriate and comfortable. These categories of hospice care include:
- Routine Home Care - At Affinty, we believe in bringing care to wherever you call home, and we strive to provide an environment of care that is comfortable for our patients and their families. Our team of professionals schedule regular home visits to ensure that the medical, social and emotional needs of our patients are met.
- Inpatient Care - If pain or symptoms cannot be controlled at home, the patient might be taken to a hospital or other inpatient care center. When the symptoms are under control, the patient can return home.
- Respite Care - Many patients have their own caregivers, often family members. When caregivers need a rest from their care giving responsibilities, patients can stay in a hospital or other inpatient care center for up to five days, subject to any restrictions imposed by the patient’s insurance coverage.
- Continuous Care - Sometimes a patient has a medical crisis that needs close medical attention. When this happens, we can arrange for inpatient care, or the Affinity Home Hospice team can provide around-the-clock care in the home. When the crisis is over, the patient can return to routine care in the home.
Can I be cared for by hospice care if I live in a nursing home or another type of long-term care facility?
Yes. All hospice care can be provided in a nursing home, if the facility has a written agreement to provide these services to their residents. In addition to the standard services provided by the nursing home or another care facility, residents will receive specialized visits from our Hospice Care team, including nurses, home health aides, chaplains, social workers and volunteers.
How does hospice care “manage pain”?
Our hospice care nurses and doctors use the latest and most effective medications and devices to treat all forms of pain and to relieve symptoms. At Affinity, we believe that emotional and spiritual pain is just as real as physical pain. As needed, we bring in specialists who are trained in physical therapy, music therapy, art therapy, massage therapy and nutritional counseling to help maintain comfort. Various counselors, including clergy, also are available to assist family members and patients in dealing with their illness. Our hospice care specialists work as an integrated team with the patient and family in managing pain and symptoms in a way that brings more life and greater quality to each and every day.
Do Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurance programs cover hospice care?
Hospice care is widely available and covered by Medicare Part A. It is also covered by Medicaid in most states, as well as by many other private or managed care insurance providers, usually with no out-of-pocket costs, deductibles, or co-pays. Services covered by Medicare include:
- Medications for symptom management and pain relief
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Physician services
- Nursing care
- Home health aide and homemaker services
- Social worker services
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy
- Nutritional, spiritual and grief counseling
- Short-term general inpatient care and respite care
Can I keep my personal physician if I choose hospice care?
Yes. Hospice care reinforces the primary physician/patient relationship and considers this bond to be a high priority.
If a patient is not covered by Medicare or any other health insurance, will hospice still provide care?
Yes. The first thing hospice care will do is assist you in finding out whether you are eligible for any coverage. If not, the Affinity Hospice Charity Foundation will be approached to help cover the cost to care for patients who need our services but who have no means to pay for them.
What do Hospice Volunteers do?
Hospice Volunteers are a special group of people that give of their time and talents to help address the greatest needs of our patients and their families. They are available to visit with you, provide support and help run errands. They also can assist with daily activities, and they may read, write letters, or reminisce with you and your loved ones about life’s many experiences. Their support both enhances the quality of life for patients and helps to relieve some of the demands that are often placed on caregivers.
Does hospice care provide any help to the family after a patient dies?
Yes. Affinity Home Hospice provides continuing contact and support for caregivers and families for up to 13 months following the death of a loved one.
