1. When should a decision about entering a hospice program be made and who should make it?
At any time during a life-limiting illness it is appropriate to discuss all of a patient’s care options, including hospice care. By law the decision belongs to the patient. Understandably, many people are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping aggressive efforts toward curing their disease. Hospice of the Shoals staff members are very sensitive to these concerns and always available to discuss them with the patient and family.
2. Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of hospice or should I approach them with the idea?
The patient and family should feel free to discuss the concept of hospice care at any time with their physician, other health care professionals, clergy, or friends.
3. What if our physician doesn’t know much about hospice care?
Most physicians are well acquainted with hospice care in general and Hospice of the Shoals specifically. If you find that is not the case feel free to encourage your physician to contact Hospice of the Shoals at 256-767-6699 and one of our staff members will be happy to provide him with all the information he needs. Other information sources include, the National Council of Hospice Professionals Physician Section, the National Hospice Helpline (800-658-8898), the American Cancer Society, AARP, and the Social Security Administration.
4. Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to regular medical treatment?
Certainly. If the patient’s condition improves and the disease seems to be in remission, patients can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about their daily life. If the discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose.
5. What is involved in the hospice admission process?
First an admitting nurse will contact the patient’s physician (if, of course, the physician is not the one making the initial contact) to make sure they agree that hospice care is appropriate for the patient at this time. Following this, an evaluation assessment will be completed. The patient will then be asked to sign consent and insurance forms similar to those they would sign when being admitted to a hospital.
6. Will I have to buy any special equipment or make any changes at my home in order to have hospice care provided?
The clinical staff at Hospice of the Shoals will assess your needs, recommend any equipment, and help make arrangements to obtain all necessary equipment. They will also assist in making the home as convenient and safe as possible.
7. How many family members or friends does it take to care for a patient at home?
It varies. A “Plan of Care” specific to the individual patient will be prepared by staff members along with the patient and their family upon admission. This plan will address, among other things, the amount of caregiving needed by the patient. Members of the nursing staff will visit regularly and are always available to answer questions, provide support, and educate caregivers. Home-health aides, volunteers, and a chaplain are available as needed according to the family’s preference.
8. Must someone be with the patient at all times?
In the early stages, usually not. However, one of many patient’s most common fears is dying alone. Therefore, we generally recommend that someone be there continuously. While family and friends most often provide the bulk of the care, we do have volunteers available to assist with errands and provide a break for a primary caregiver to have some time away.
9. What specific assistance will be provided?
At Hospice of the Shoals patients are cared for by a team of physicians, registered nurses, social workers, home health aides, a full-time chaplain, and a team of volunteers each providing assistance based on their own area of expertise. Medications, supplies, equipment, and hospital services related to the terminal illness are also provided.
10. Does hospice care hasten death?
No! We are simply available, when a patient decides to cease with aggressive curative treatments, go home, and be in their own comfortable environment, to help make them comfortable in that environment. We focus on quality-of-life instead of quantity-of-life.
11. Is the patient’s home the only place hospice care can be delivered?
No. Although 90% of hospice patient time is spent in a personal residence, some patients live in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
12. How does hospice care help manage pain?
At Hospice of the Shoals, our clinical staff is completely up to date on the latest medications, devices, and procedures designed to aid in pain and symptom relief. Our success rate in battling pain is very high. Most patients are able to attain a level of comfort that is acceptable to them and their loved ones. We also pride ourselves in treating the person as a whole. If ordered by a physician, physical and occupational therapists are available to help patients be as mobile and self suffcient as they are able and music therapy as well as nutritional and spiritual counseling are also available dependent upon patient preference.
13. Is Hospice of the Shoals affiliated with any religious organization?
No. We are an independent not-for-profit agency. We are, however, spiritually-based. Thus, we believe that physical death is not so much an end as it is a transition. Our goal is to help terminally-ill patients make that transition in as comfortable a manner as possible. We certainly do not require that our patients adhere to any particular set of beliefs.
14. Is hospice care covered by insurance?
Hospice coverage is provided nationwide by Medicare, by Medicaid in Alabama, and by most insurance providers.
15. Are there any non-covered expenses related to hospice care?
Medicare and Medicaid cover all services and supplies related to a patient’s temminal illness. Some hospice care providers will require a patient to pay a co-payment for medications and respite care. Hospice of the Shoals never requires such payments.
16. If the patient is not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance can they still receive hospice care?
Hospice of the Shoals is able to provide care for terminally-ill patients regardless of their ability to pay using money raised through community efforts as well as memorial gifts.
17. Does the patient’s family receive any help after the completion of the patient’s life?
Bereavement counseling is available to family members for thirteen months after the patient’s life is completed if desired. Hospice of the Shoals also memorializes our patients twice annually with a “Service of Remembrance” ceremony to which all family members and friends are invited.