Hospice Care

What is Hospice?

Hospice is a special way of caring for people who have a limited life expectancy and for their families.

A common misconception about hospice is that hospice is a place where people go to die. The modern hospice is not a place, but a program that provides a bundle of services to those in need and their families. Hospice services are provided to patients at any location they call home, whether it is in the patient’s actual home, nursing facility, a board and care home, assisted living facility or at any other place of residence.

Hospice meets the patient and family wherever they are in the disease process and adjusts its services to the patient’s and family’s needs. While family involvement is encouraged, it is not required. Hospice does not impose its array of services, but instead allows the patient and family to customize services as needed.

Hospice offers benefits that other types of healthcare providers may not, and hospice encourages family involvement in the care of a loved one and in the decision making process.

Medical equipment, supplies and medications needed for the comfort of the patient are covered by the hospice program.

When Is It Time?

It is common for family members to worry that they may be giving up on their loved one by considering hospice care. But hospice is not about giving up. It is about living the way you want and focusing on comfort and quality when a cure is no longer likely. Hospice often becomes a choice when you or a loved one are seeking relief from frequent emergency room visits or are physically or emotionally tired of challenging treatments that have no positive impact on life expectancy or quality. Hospice makes sense when your focus turns from seeking a cure to seeking quality of days for the time that remains. It is important to realize hospice is not just for the last days of life. In fact, hospice works best when chosen early, allowing you and your family to benefit from the extra layer of care hospice brings.

So how do you know when it is time for hospice? Here are some examples of when your loved one would benefit from our care.

  • Are you calling your loved one’s physician more often?
  • Does your loved one seem more stressed, anxious or depressed?
  • Are they sleeping more?
  • Are they spending more time in their favorite chair?
  • Have you noticed that they are losing weight?
  • Are their symptoms becoming more difficult to control?
  • Are you, as their caregiver, feeling more overwhelmed?
Call us at 877-783-0072 today to find support, comfort and care.

Hospice Frequently Asked Questions

Hospice care is provided to patients with a limited life expectancy. A physician must certify that a patient is hospice appropriate based on the patient’s prognosis. You can speak with our team or your physicians at any time to learn more about hospice services and to determine when it is appropriate to start hospice care.

Hospice care alleviates pain and suffering and treats symptoms rather than focus on curative treatments for a specific hospice diagnosis. This does not mean that a patient cannot continue certain treatments for other unrelated diagnoses. Services are directed toward the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of the patient and family members. Hospice services are designed for the patient’s comfort. Our team can further explain how hospice services can support your individual needs and goals.

Medicare, Medi-Cal and private insurance plans pay for hospice care. Medicare and Medi-Cal cover hospice services fully, so there is no out-of-pocket cost to the patient or family. Private health insurance plans and health maintenance organizations also offer hospice care as a benefit and usually cover a substantial portion of hospice services. Contact us or your private insurance provider to learn about more about your hospice coverage.

Hospice services are coordinated and delivered by a team of healthcare professionals of various disciplines, including physicians, registered nurses, social workers, home health aides, spiritual counselors, therapists, dietitians and volunteers. This team is known as the “interdisciplinary team.” The interdisciplinary team customizes a plan of care which aims to manage the patient’s pain and meet the patient’s and family’s needs.

Family members are encouraged to participate in the patient’s care as much as possible. Hospice views the patient and family as the unit of care. If patient has no family members to assist in care giving, hospice will work with a caregiver or willing friends or neighbors of the patient.

Yes. Most primary physicians continue to plan most of the patient’s care in coordination with the hospice team and the hospice physician.

Medications necessary for pain relief and symptom management related to the hospice diagnosis are provided by hospice.

Medical supplies ( e.g. diapers, chux, gloves), and medical equipment (e.g. hospital bed, wheelchair, oxygen) necessary for comfort and symptom management related to the hospice diagnosis are provided by Roze Room.

Yes. You can call on Roze Room Hospice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

After a patient dies, bereavement counseling is available to assist the family with the grieving process.

A patient can discontinue hospice services at any time.

What to Expect Before Beginning Hospice and During The First Week of Care

As we prepare to offer medical care at home, you can expect the following:

  • Hospice Consultation – Available in-person or by phone/email to learn all about Roze Room services and coordinate consents
  • Medical Equipment Delivery – Our durable medical equipment partner, will call to schedule delivery of necessary medical equipment to ensure safety and comfort at home.
  • Access & Availability – Prior to starting hospice care, our referral center (877-783-0072) and your liaison, remain available to answer any questions that may arise.
  • If you or your loved one require discharge from a nursing home or hospital, we will work with your current facility and keep you informed of the expected discharge date and estimated times of arrivals/deliveries and of any additional arrangements.
  • Start of Hospice Care – On the first day home (or the first day of care if already residing at home), hospice medications will be delivered, and a nurse will visit to assess needs, educate on what to expect while on hospice care and train patient, family and caregivers. Throughout the first week of care, you will encounter additional hospice team members and a schedule of visits will be provided.

Once home, you can reach your local hospice team 24/7 for assistance with medical care, medications, supplies, equipment, questions or concerns. Do not hesitate to call. We are here to help.

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