Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Hospice

1. What is Hospice?
   Hospice is an approach to care designed to provide pain and symptom management for terminally ill individuals and supportive services for their families.
    
2. How does hospice work?
   Hospice services are available to persons who have a limited life expectancy of 6 months or less and the patient and family has elected to no longer seek curative treatment.
    
3. Who makes the decision about entering hospice and when?
   Ultimately the decision belongs to the patient. At any time during a life-limiting illness, it is appropriate to discuss all available medical options, including hospice. Hospice services are most effective when chosen in the early stages of an illness.
    
4. How are hospice referrals made?
   The doctor’s office or hospital discharge planners may contact us with a referral. Other health care professionals or family members can also make referrals. When we receive the referral for hospice, we will schedule an appointment with you to explain the services that we are able to provide.
    
5. If the patient lives in a nursing home, assisted living, or independent living facility, can they obtain benefits from hospice care?
   Yes. When a nursing home, assisted living or independent living facility is the home, the patient may choose to have hospice services at that location. The care received from our hospice professionals will be in addition to the care received from the nursing home or assisted living facility.
    
6. Who will provide the care?
   Hospice utilizes a team of professionally trained nurses, social workers, home health aides, spiritual support counselor, volunteers and grief counselors to provide comfort care in the home environment.  
    
7. Are family members involved in hospice care?
   Hospice views the patient and family as a unit of care. Family members and friends are encouraged to participate in the patients care as much as possible.
    
8. What if the patient has no primary family caregiver?
   In this situation the hospice team attempts to identify a neighbor or friend, who they can train to work with the team.
    
9. Is there any specific equipment or supplies needed in the home before care begins?
   Willowbrook will assess and recommend any needed equipment and/or supplies. Our care team will assist as necessary to procure them for the patient.
    
10. Does the patient’s primary physician work with the hospice team?
    The patient’s personal physician often makes the referral to hospice and continues to oversee the patient’s plan of care. They work in coordination with the hospice team.
     
11. How does Hospice manage pain?
    Our team is current on the latest medication for pain and symptom relief. By working with the patient’s physician, we are able to help control the patient’s pain.
     
12. If the patient shows signs of recovery, can they return to regular medical treatment?
    Certainly. If the patient’s condition improves or the disease seems to be in remission, they can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive treatment. They may elect to return to hospice later, should they choose to do so.
     
13. Can the patient keep their traditional Medicare Health Plan?
    Yes. Hospice is a separate benefit under Medicare Part A. The hospice Medicare benefit covers all services and costs caring for the patient's terminal illness. The patient will continue to use their traditional Medicare Health Plan to obtain care for any health problems that are not related to their terminal illness.
     
14. What is respite care?
    Respite care is part of the Hospice benefit. This service is offered to give the primary caregiver a rest from the physical and emotional stress of providing daily care. During a period of respite care, the patient will receive care in a Medicare-approved facility such as a nursing home.
     
15. Does hospice do anything to make death come sooner?
    No. Hospice neither hastens death nor postpones it. It allows death to come naturally. Hospice also helps patients and their families understand the dying process and try to ensure that no one dies alone.
     
16. Is hospice care covered by insurance?
    Medicare nationwide covers hospice services. Most private insurance companies also provide hospice benefits. Willowbrook will verify insurance benefits when a referral is received.