Hospice care is a compassionate approach to easing the pain and discomfort an aging loved one might feel when living with a terminal illness. Entering hospice care does not mean the senior will die; in fact, the individual may feel so comforted that they are well enough to leave hospice.

In the United States, hospice is often associated with imminent death. However, the reality is far from this expectation. Rather, hospice care promotes the well-being of the seniors, helping them live their lives to the fullest for as long as possible. Hospice care centers around the quality of life.

The high level of care and attention provided by hospice care staff lengthens a senior’s life by an average of 29 days. These patients live longer than those who do not enter hospice care. This may be due to pain management, spiritual care, counseling, therapies, dietitians, and medication management.

About 6.3 percent of hospice patients return home after recovering in hospice. This small percentage equates to a whopping 104,000 patients per year. Their illness goes into remission, and the physician determines they no longer have a terminally ill diagnosis.

What is non-medical hospice home care vs. hospice care?

Hospice care can take either of two different forms. One is palliative care, otherwise known as non-medical hospice home care. The senior receives non-medical care at home to relieve pain, discomfort, stress, and symptoms of disease. The caregiver utilizes a holistic, comprehensive approach.

Non-medical hospice home care includes helping with sitting up in bed to reduce shortness of breath and preparing healthy meals according to dietary needs. These caregivers provide transport so patients can attend spiritual services and serve as companions to ease loneliness and social isolation.

Alternately, hospice care may be provided in a facility when pain symptoms cannot be managed at home. The older adult is attended by the hospice team made up of doctors, nurses, and social workers. These professionals provide the essential medical care to reduce discomfort rather than aim for a cure.

Aging individuals with cancer, heart disease, or kidney disease, for instance, benefit from hospice care as their health gradually declines, eventually becoming untreatable. While the doctors tend to the senior’s physical needs, the spiritual counselors and social workers fulfill their emotional needs.

Who pays for hospice care at home?

Medicare offers a hospice benefit, which covers most or all of the costs of receiving hospice care at home. The hospice provider, however, must be Medicare-approved. Medicare covers costs for equipment, like wheelchairs, prescription drugs for pain management, and nutrition counseling.

Medicaid provides financial support for hospice patients whose income is low. The Veteran’s Health Administration covers hospice care for eligible veterans. Qualified veterans who are in the last phase of their lives pay zero copays and may receive hospice care at home or an inpatient or outpatient facility.

Private insurance is another option. Most policies offer some degree of hospice care coverage. Hospices accept private payments from seniors who are uninsured but have the ability to self-pay. Those who do not have the ability to self-pay may receive care free of charge from donations or grants.

Medicare and most private insurers cover hospice care for as long as the senior is certified by a physician that they will pass within six months. If the senior passes the six-month mark and the doctor recertifies them as terminal, insurance will continue coverage without issue.

Does hospice care cover 24-hour care at home?

Seniors with acute symptoms that cannot be managed by a primary caregiver may receive 24-hour care at home. Hospice care staff work in multiple shifts to give the aging hospice patient around-the-clock supervision and care. Temporary 24-hour hospice care is appropriate for numerous conditions.

Health crises include uncontrolled pain, trouble breathing, severe nausea or diarrhea, or seizures. Seniors whose level of consciousness changes or who experience restlessness and agitation can also benefit from 24-hour hospice care supported by a hospice nurse or hospice physician.

Any acute symptom management services received in the elderly hospice patient’s private residence must meet Medicare guidelines. Hospice caregivers working in shifts remain at the senior’s bedside for up to 24 hours per day to deliver the necessary care and comfort.

When a senior’s illness does not respond to treatment or is incurable, hospice care may be the best choice. It is also an option when the older adult refuses to undergo certain treatments. It’s important to begin hospice care soon enough to fully benefit from its months of meaningful care.

Families seeking quality hospice care for an elderly loved one at home can take advantage of all that Assisting Hands Home Care has to offer. We provide supplemental hospice care to increase the senior’s comfort and promote their dignity in the familiarity of home.

Licensed, bonded, and insured caregivers are tasked with delivering compassionate non-medical personal care. We work alongside medical hospice care providers to give the senior comprehensive care. Our in-home care services include meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, help with hygiene tasks, and companionship.

Our caregivers tend to a senior’s emotional health by reducing agitation or easing anxieties, especially in patients with dementia. With our overnight care, we are a comforting presence at night. Caregivers also drive care recipients to faith-based services so that their spiritual needs are fulfilled.

While your aging loved one receives medical hospice care, Assisting Hands Home Care provides the essential non-medical hospice care. By incorporating both forms of hospice care into a care plan, the senior and their families have more opportunities to spend quality time with each other.

Once a senior is diagnosed with a terminal illness, hospice care should be considered. Make the transition smooth by choosing Assisting Hands Home Care for all hospice home care needs. We serve aging adults in Westlake, Ohio, and the neighboring areas. Call today to schedule a free in-home consult at 440-517-4623.