Hospice care can be described as palliative care at the end of life. Hospice is a Medicare covered benefit. Many insurance companies also provide reimbursement for hospice care. Hospice care is instituted by a physician order. The terminal span of life is expected to be six (6) months or less. Often physicians are hesitant to commit to a life span. If your physician or healthcare provider is uncomfortable with this designation, you may ask for a consult from a hospice agency to assist the physician in with the assessment. Patients may live longer or shorter than six (6) months, but that usually does not impact coverage is the patient’s condition remains terminal.
Hospice not only makes the end of life journey peaceful for the senior or patient, but it also provides the family and caregivers with support and closure. We are never ready to tell a loved one good bye, but hospice can help lessen the emotional and physical pain for the family and the senior.
Ask about hospice early in the disease process and repeat the conversation as the disease reaches its terminal phase. Speaking to professionals with hospice expertise can help move the senior and their family closer to each other and fill the end of life journey with compassion and love. If you physician is not speaking to you or your family about hospice, ask. Do not wait until the end of the journey is days or hours away to embrace this valuable set of resources.