100% Covered In-Home Hospice Care

Though closely related, palliative care is not hospice care, but rather a component of it.

Palliative care is comfort care. It’s a type of care that aims to reduce or eliminate painful or uncomfortable symptoms. Palliative care can be administered beyond hospice care and is often given in tandem with curative treatments.

Hospice care includes palliative care as a foundational service to guarantee patient comfort. However, palliative care, when administered in hospice, is not given alongside curative treatments.

Ask the following questions to make sure the company you are considering will offer the highest level of professional care for your loved one:

1. Does the company have public reviews? If so, what do clients say?
2. Is the hospice state-licensed? Do they hold accreditations?
3. Does the company offer services that will meet your parent’s needs?
4. Does the company have experience working with patients who have a similar condition to your parent?
5. Are they fully staffed?
6. Can you meet the hospice care team before you hire them for extra peace of mind?
7. Are the nurses caring and compassionate? What is their bedside manner?
8. What reports or communication will family members receive? How often will these occur?

These questions are a great starting point for reviewing hospice care providers near you, but it’s important to also consider factors that are unique to your family. The impression you receive from the company is also important: how do they listen to your concerns? Do they seem empathetic and open? Ultimately, you want to feel comfortable and confident in your decision, which includes feeling at-ease with your chosen agency.

For terminally ill patients, hospice is anything but giving up. It is a way to help your parent live life to the fullest for as long as they can. Living in the comfort of home, close to family and friends is the best way to embrace the final stages of life. The families we have worked with agree that hospice was a gift they were glad to be able to give their parent. Many of them wish they reached out for hospice support even sooner.

Home hospice is beneficial for caregivers like you as well as your parent. Thanks to Medicare or Medicaid coverage, home hospice is a safe and affordable option that lifts the sole burden of care off your shoulders, while ensuring your parent is as comfortable as possible. Hospice helps both your family and your parent feel extra supported during this time.

Home health aides and nurses will be the most frequent visitors to your parent or loved one. Our nurses are the main point of contact for your family. They manage medication, supervise medical equipment use, dress wounds, administer IVs, and provide any other skilled care your parent needs. Home health aides manage your parent’s daily activities, from dressing and bathing to toileting and helping them move as they are able in a walker, wheelchair, or bed. The rest of our care team — including counselors, spiritual advisors, doctors, and volunteers — support our nurses and home health aides as needed. Our hospice care team understands the best ways to support seniors at the final stages of life and will offer invaluable hands-on help and knowledge to you and your parent.

Yes, there are many differences between these three similar terms. Home care, or “personal care” refers to non-medical caregiving, such as companionship, supervision, and support for daily living (such as meal prep, running errands, housekeeping, etc.). This type of care is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid and is usually an out-of-pocket cost. Home care services do not administer medications and are not medical professionals.

Home health care, however, refers to skilled health services as directed by a physician. Care may include medication management, palliative care, physical therapy, and more. The goal of home health care is for the patient to get better, gain strength, and seek recovery.

Hospice is comprehensive care that focuses on comfort, not a cure, at the final stage of life. Hospice is as much for the family and caregivers as it is for th patient. A hospice care team includes a support staff of medical professionals as well as counselors and advisors to offer emotional and bereavement support to the family.