Frequently Asked Questions
1
When To Consider Hospice
Hospice may be the right time if you or a loved one is experiencing frequent hospitalizations, ongoing weight loss, increasing difficulty with daily activities, recurrent infections, or a noticeable decline from a serious illness. It may also be appropriate for individuals with advanced cancer no longer responding to treatment, advanced heart or lung disease causing shortness of breath at rest, advanced dementia, progressive neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, or for those who have chosen to stop dialysis. If you're unsure whether hospice is the right choice, our compassionate team is here to answer your questions and provide guidance every step of the way.
2
Hospice Eligible or Hospice Appropriate?
What is the difference?
A person may meet the medical guidelines to be eligible for hospice, but being appropriate for hospice also means that the goals of care are centered on comfort, dignity, and quality of life rather than curative treatment. If there are questions about treatment preferences or whether hospice is the right next step, our team will take the time to listen, answer your questions, and help you make an informed decision that reflects your loved one's wishes and values.
3
Understanding Important Care Decisions
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
As part of hospice care, families are often asked to consider important decisions about end-of-life care, including whether CPR is appropriate. CPR was originally developed to save otherwise healthy individuals experiencing sudden medical emergencies, such as a heart attack or drowning. For people with a life-limiting illness, however, CPR is rarely successful and may cause additional pain or suffering without improving quality of life. Our team is here to provide compassionate guidance, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions that honor your loved one's wishes and goals of care.
Additional Hospice FAQs
Helpful Hospice Facts
-
Hospice is designed for individuals with a life-limiting illness whose physician believes they may have a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness follows its natural course.
-
A physician must certify that a patient meets the medical guidelines for hospice care before services can begin.
-
Choosing hospice is always the patient's decision. Patients may stop hospice care at any time and return to curative treatment if their goals or needs change.
-
Some patients improve or stabilize and may no longer qualify for hospice. If this happens, they can be discharged from hospice and resume services later if needed.
-
Not everyone who is evaluated will qualify for hospice care. If a patient is not eligible, it often means they are doing better than expected, which is encouraging news.
-
Hospice care is provided wherever the patient calls home, including private residences, assisted living communities, and skilled nursing facilities.
-
Family members and loved ones remain the primary caregivers, while the hospice team provides expert medical care, education, emotional support, and guidance every step of the way.
-
There is no time limit on hospice care. Patients may continue receiving hospice services as long as they remain medically eligible.
-
Hospice provides medically necessary equipment, supplies, and medications related to the terminal diagnosis, including items such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, oxygen, walkers, and other comfort-focused equipment.
-
Most patients have little to no out-of-pocket cost for hospice care. Medicare Part A typically covers 100% of hospice services, while coverage through private insurance or employer-sponsored plans may vary.
Artificial Nutrition and Hydration
Families and friends gather for meals for many occasions. In some cultures, it is customary to offer food to anyone walking into their home. When a patient can no longer take food or fluid by mouth, the immediate reaction for some is putting in a feeding tube or giving intravenous fluids. Families feel they are starving their loved ones by not “feeding them.” That is not the case at all, and it is a natural part of the dying process to stop eating. Here are some facts about artificial feeding and fluids.
Facts About Tube Feeding
It places the patient at risk for aspiration pneumonia.It does not prolong survival. It does not prevent bedsores. It does not provide comfort nor improve quality of life.
Should we stop the medications?
There comes a time when the medications people take are no longer of benefit or may even cause harm. Research has shown that stopping certain medications such as cholesterol medications did not affect life expectancy. When the focus has changed to quality of life in the terminally ill, limiting the medications to those that are truly beneficial is the best thing to do for yourself or your loved one.
Do I have to use the hospice associated with the assisted living facility, hospital or my physician?
No. You have the right to choose and we encourage you to choose. And we want you to pick the hospice that best meets your needs, even if it is not us.
Benefits of NOT using feeding tubes or I.V. Fluids
Less fluid in the lungs therefore, less congestion making breathing easier. Less fluid in the throat. Less pressure around tumors, therefore less pain. Less urination, therefore, less need to move the patient. A natural release of pain-relieving chemicals occurs when the body is dehydrated, resulting in a sense of well-being.
Why Choose Neighborhood Hospice Out of the Many Options Available?
1. We understand that having a hospice conversation can be difficult. We take time to educate patients and their families so they are comfortable with their decision to accept our services.
2. We are straightforward and honest about the services we offer. Hospice is for those who have a terminal illness, and if you are told otherwise, you have been misinformed.
3. We do not offer monetary incentives to our staff or anyone else to find patients. For this reason we do NOT employ marketers or liaisons to sell hospice.
4. We will not waste your hospice benefits as we only have the best interest of our patients in mind.
5. We focus on providing excellent care to our patients and their loved ones. Our team only takes care of a few patients (below the industry standard) so they can spend time with you instead of rushing off to see the next patient.