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Questions About Hospice

 

When is the right time to ask about hospice?
 
Now is the best time to learn more about hospice and ask questions about what to expect from hospice services.  Although end-of-life care may be difficult to discuss, it is best for family members to share their wishes long before it becomes a concern.  This can greatly reduce stress when the time for hospice is needed.  By having these discussions in advance, patients are not forced into uncomfortable situations.  Instead, patients can make an educated decision that includes the advice and input of family members and loved ones

 
How does the hospice work to keep the patient comfortable?
 
Many patients may have pain and other serious symptoms as illness progresses.  Hospice staff receive special training to care for all types of physical and emotional symptoms that cause pain, discomfort and distress.  Because keeping the patient comfortable and pain-free is an important part of hospice care, many hospice programs have developed ways to measure how comfortable the patient is during the course of their stay in hospice.  Hospice staff works with the patient’s physician to make sure that medication, therapies, and procedures are designed to achieve the goals outlined in the patient’s care plan.  The care plan is reviewed frequently to make sure any changes and new goals are in the plan.


 

What happens if I cannot stay at home due to my increasing care need and require a different place to stay during my final phase of life?
 
Mesa View Hospice is contracted with the local skilled nursing facility for patients who may not be able to stay where they usually live.  These patients may require a different place to live during this phase of their life when they need extra care.  However, care in a setting outside the home may not be covered under the Medicare or Medicaid Hospice Benefit.  It is best to find out, well before hospice may be needed, if insurance or any other payer covers this type of care or if patients/families will be responsible for payment.

 

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