Hospice Questions
Is hospice just for people with cancer?
No, hospice care is available to anyone who has been certified by a physician as having a life-limiting illness (usually six months or less if the disease follows its normal course.) Examples of other illnesses that may result in a recommendation to hospice include lung disease, cardiac disease, renal failure or dementia.
Are hospice and palliative care the same thing?
These types of care are similar; like palliative care, hospice provides comfort measures to the patient as well as the family. However with hospice, treatments aimed at curing the person’s illness are stopped and the focus of care is on managing pain and other symptoms.
Is hospice delivered only at home?
VNA Plus provides hospice care in patients’ homes, in long-term care facilities, and for those that meet eligibility criteria, in the John and Betty Charlier Hospice Center, an inpatient facility located in the VNA Plus building in Evansville, Indiana.
What if I change my mind about hospice?
Making the decision to receive hospice care does not have to be permanent. If you change your mind and wish to pursue treatment, you will be discharged from our hospice service. You may resume your hospice care at a later time if your physician certifies that this care is appropriate.
Is hospice 24-hour care?
Hospice in the home or long-term care facility does not include a nurse present 24 hours a day. Members of the hospice team will visit the patient according to the established care plan and are available 24 hours a day for emergencies. Volunteers may be available to assist families and provide respite.
The John and Betty Charlier Hospice Center is staffed with registered nurses 24 hours a day for inpatients who require around-the-clock care.
Is hospice care expensive?
Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurance provide a benefit for hospice that covers the cost of medications, medical equipment and services provided by the hospice team in various care settings. VNA Plus also has staff that can coordinate insurance, payment and related paperwork so that patients and families can focus on more important matters during this time.
Isn’t hospice just for the last few days of life?
Many patients and families express the wish that they had known about hospice sooner in order to receive the support and guidance needed during the dying process. Experts agree that at least two to three months of hospice care is optimal for the patient and family.
If your physician does not suggest hospice, you may have to initiate the conversation. VNA Plus offers a helpful guide published by the National Institute on Aging that answers many of the initial questions about hospice; please email us and type “hospice guide” in the subject line to request your free copy.
Does hospice speed up death?
Hospice neither hastens nor postpones dying. It is a philosophy of care that focuses on meeting physical, psychological and spiritual needs; emphasizes symptom control, pain management and support for the patient and family as they transition from life to death; and encourages living life to the fullest in ways that are personal and meaningful.
To refer someone to VNA Plus Hospice, please call the office nearest you or use our online referral form.