What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is palliative care that is provided at the end of life. It is both a plan of care, and a method of payment or insurance benefit. The goal of hospice care is to improve a patient’s quality of life and relieve symptoms as the patient nears the end of their natural life. The purpose of this type of care is to match the patient’s goals of care to the type of treatment that they receive. Patients receive the kind of care that they want or is possible in the setting that is suits them best.

Medicare established the Hospice Benefit in 1982 which provides for care in the last 6 months of life if the disease runs its usual course. (Other insurance plans have adopted this as well-see your benefit package) Many hospices accept patients regardless of their ability to pay.

This care must include (according to the patient’s plan of care and level of needs):

• Skilled nurse visits 1 to 7 times per week
• Medications related to terminal illness
• Durable medical equipment
• Home care aides 1 to 7 times per week
• Chaplain visits at least monthly
• Social worker visits at least monthly
• Volunteers as necessary and available
• Physician or nurse practitioner visits
• Bereavement coordination and care for the family for 12 months after the patient’s death

Resources include: www.palliativedoctors.org, www.aahpm.org, www.hpna.org, www.nhpco.org, www.lmhpco.org, www.compassionandsupport.org, www.supportivecarecoalition.org.