Hospice use among Medicare beneficiaries has grown substantially, suggesting greater awareness of and access to hospice services. The Medicare hospice benefit covers palliative and support services for beneficiaries with a life expectancy of six months or less. Once hospice services are elected, the goals of care are to treat pain and other distressing symptoms, provide psychological and spiritual care, nurture and support the family, and help the patient live as comfortably, fully, and independently as possible.
To achieve these goals a broad set of services are included:
- Nursing care
- Physician services
- Counseling and social work services
- Hospice care aide
- Medications
- Supplies
- Home medical equipment
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Bereavement services
However, misconceptions regarding hospice prevents patients, families, and healthcare providers from accessing the full scope of services sooner. Once hospice is elected, Medicare continues to cover items and services unrelated to the terminal illness. After admission, a plan of care is established and maintained by an interdisciplinary group in consultation with the patient’s attending physician. The plan of care identifies the services, scope, and frequency of services needed to meet the patient’s and family’s needs.
Levels of care
There are four categories of care: routine home care, continuous home care, inpatient respite care, and general inpatient care. Routine home care accounts for about 97 percent of hospice care and is delivered wherever the patient lives — a private residence, assisted living community, or nursing facility. Continuous home care is delivered in the home during extended periods of patient crisis. Inpatient respite provides short term placement for the patient in a qualified facility. It allows the primary caregiver to have a break and catch up on rest and other household duties. General inpatient care treats symptoms that cannot be managed in the home. Inpatient care is delivered in a hospital or a specialized hospice inpatient facility.
How to Choose a Good Hospice Program
Many people are referred to hospice by their doctor. Patients, family members, even friends can make referrals. More than half of U.S. hospice programs are for-profit, according to Medicare figures, and several recent news reports have highlighted problems in some of those programs.
Here’s what “Consumer Reports Magazine” suggests you should look for in a hospice program:
- Not-for-profit status and 20 or more years of experience
- Hospice-certified nurses and doctors on staff and available 24 hours per day
- Palliative care consultants who can begin care if you’re not yet ready for hospice
- An inpatient facility
- Provide care in nursing homes and assisted living residences
- Medicare approval so that Medicare will cover services
Hospice Brazos Valley offers all criteria and welcomes the invitation to serve. Comfort is our specialty, trust is our promise.
by Rhonda Watson, Manager of Access & Marketing at Hospice Brazos Valley