1. Understand What Hospice Care Entails
Hospice care is not for everybody. Even elderly people who can no longer care for themselves may not make good candidates for hospice care if they have special medical issues or lack the funds for permanent care. When somebody enters hospice care, relatives often relinquish complete responsibility to the institution, including the right to make general health decisions for the resident.
Hospice care is usually done in a medical setting, such as a retirement home or a specialized hospital. However, people also may receive around-the-clock hospice care in their homes, usually at the hands of a nurse or a health specialist who lives in the patient’s home. Hospice care entails taking care of the person in every way, including personal issues like bathing, providing medication and helping with toilet visits.
2. Learn Prices in Advance
Hospice care is expensive. If you are hiring a full-time nurse to take care of an elderly person at his home, you probably will pay for the care from your own pocket. Medical facilities may take insurance or co-payments from organizations or government institutions, such as Medicaid or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Certain private insurances and HMOs also may pay for hospice care, but since this is not the standard, ask your provider what your policy covers. Most providers will only pay for hospice care for patients who have less than 6 months to live. Those who have been diagnosed with a fatal disease but don’t have a firm prognosis may not qualify for government help. In that case, it’s usually up to family members to provide care until the benefits are approved.
3. Be Involved in Every Stage
When choosing hospice care, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Even when care is fully paid for by your HMO or Medicaid, you should still question and be involved to ensure that your elderly relative is getting everything he’s entitled to. Your first step should be verifying that the institution or person providing hospice care is certified to do so. There are several organizations that provide hospice-care certification, such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). If no certifications are available, the place still needs to be approved as a hospice-care center by the state.
Other questions to keep in mind have to do with how much involvement you are allowed (for example, will you be consulted if complications arise and a medical decision has to be made, or are you relinquishing full control?) and who exactly will care for the patient (is it a specific person, a team, or rotating workers?). You should also ask for references from former clients.
About this Author
Diana Bocco is an award-winning health writer with credits in “Marie Claire,” “Woman’s Day” and “Men’s Health.” A certified Nutrition Consultant and master personal trainer, Bocco is the health columnist for “North Valley Magazine” and a contributor to the bestselling book “Vegetarian New York,” with a foreword by Paul McCartney.
