Hospice Care FAQs

Hospice care includes a range of comprehensive services, which are each tailored to fit a patient’s personalized care plan. These hospice services provide the medical, physical, emotional, and spiritual resources a patient needs to live life as comfortably as possible. Hospice services include (but aren’t limited to):

• Regular nurse visits
• Social work
• Physician services
• Spiritual care
• Volunteer services (e.g. household chores, grocery shopping, etc.)
• Personal care attendants
  Bereavement counseling
• Durable medical equipment (e.g. walkers, wheelchairs, beds, etc.)

When considering hospice care for a loved one, many families are concerned about cost. The good news is that most hospice patients are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, which will usually cover 100% of hospice care costs. This includes all in-home care services, medications, and durable medical equipment needed. 

However, all hospice cases do vary, so it’s best to speak directly with your hospice care provider for more detailed expense information.

Most hospice patients are initially seen 2-3 times per week. However, every medical condition is unique and requires a different level of care. Also, as your loved one’s health changes over time, nurse visits could become more or less frequent.

• The patient’s personal physician;
• Hospice physician (or medical director);
• Nurses;
• Home health aides;
• Social workers;
• Spiritual care providers or other counselors;
• Bereavement professionals;
• Speech, physical, and/or other occupational therapists; and
• Trained volunteers.

No! The “homebound” requirement is only for Medicare home health services We encourage your loved one to live life to the fullest—continue attending church, visiting family and even traveling out of town.

If your loved one is seriously ill and/or has been diagnosed with a chronic condition, it’s best to start hospice care as soon as possible — ideally before they get to the end-of-life stage. This way, they get the care they need, in a comfortable setting, and from medical professionals who prioritize their quality of life. While it is one of the toughest decisions for anyone to make, the sooner hospice care begins, the sooner your loved one will have access to the best quality of life in this difficult time.

Hospice nurses do not provide 24-hour in-home care. Instead, they usually visit a few times per week, for about an hour each time.

However, no matter your nurse’s visitation schedule, you always have 24/7 access to hospice support in the case of emergencies.

Choosing hospice is absolutely not giving up on your loved one. It’s common for doctors and families to put off hospice care because they see it as “giving up.” But with that perspective, they’re missing out on offering their loved one a better quality of life. 

With the help of a comprehensive hospice care team, your family can receive support during one of the most difficult stages of life. This helps you ensure your loved one has the best possible care, while you have more time to spend focusing on your relationships and creating beautiful memories together — truly cherishing the time you have left.

Hospice focuses on caring, not curing, and in most cases, care is provided in the patient’s home. Hospice care also is provided in freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.