As you consider the next steps in your care of your loved one, it’s likely you will have many questions about hospice care. What does hospice care involve? Who is eligible for hospice care? How will we know when it is time?

There are many factors involved in deciding the right time and team to care for your loved one. This page answers some basic questions. Please feel free to call us at any time with questions, whether you feel your family is ready for hospice care or not. We are here to help! (833) 888-7222.

What Is Hospice All About?

The primary goal of hospice care is simple: to ensure the highest quality of life possible in the last six months of life. For terminally ill patients, pain, nausea, fatigue, or anxiety is often a central concern. At Suburban Hospice, Inc.—formerly Hancock Regional Hospital Hospice—our goal is to make our patients as comfortable as possible, but excellent hospice services go much further than that; the “little things” count, too.

For example, a patient’s day at home can be made easier by a volunteer dropping by to help with cleaning and tidying, to have a chat, or just check in and make sure everything is okay. Being able to call a registered nurse and ask a question is always beneficial; sometimes just knowing that an expert is always there with support and advice can reduce caregiver stress and help patients feel calmer, safer, and more comfortable.

During the last few months of life, physical well-being is only one aspect of care. Terminally ill patients also have emotional and spiritual needs that need to be met, and that’s where our team of counselors and spiritual care providers come in.
Caregivers can also need support during and after the hospice process. Making sure that those caring for a hospice patient are informed, supported, and listened to is crucial to helping families, and loved ones get as much as possible out of the time they have left together.

Bereavement support is essential, too. Suburban Hospice offers a range of grief support programs, from traditional support groups to pet and yoga therapy.

Who Is Eligible for Hospice Care?

Hospice care is provided to patients with a life expectancy of six months or less. Rather than seeking a cure or aggressive treatment for a terminal illness, hospice care aims to make their remaining time as comfortable and as meaningful as possible.

This may mean pain relief and nursing care, but also includes emotional support and help with everyday tasks.

My Family Needs Help, Too.

The needs of family, friends, and caregivers are also taken into account. Suburban Hospice recognizes that loved ones are also on a difficult journey and may benefit from support, expert advice, and someone to talk to.

Understandably, providing care to a terminally ill person can be emotionally exhausting and physically stressful. Hospice services can include respite care, where we offer caregivers a short break to rest and recharge.

We stay in touch with your family for at least a year after services end. Our bereavement staff can help them adjust to life without you.

Do I Have to Go to Hospice?

When most people think of hospice care, they think of an inpatient facility or hospital. Hospice can provide inpatient care for those in nursing or other facilities, but most of our patients want to remain in their own homes. We believe hospice care should be available where the patient lives, no matter where that is.

Does My Insurance Cover Hospice?

Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance pay for hospice care. At Suburban Hospice, care is always provided without regard to ability to pay.

When Is It Time for Hospice?

Our patients and their families often say that they wish they’d called us sooner. In fact, so often with hospice, sooner is better. Here’s why:

• You live longer. Studies show that people in hospice care live longer than patients getting curative treatment for the same illness. Treatment is time out of your life. Our attention can add quality time to your life.
• You feel better. The side effects of aggressive treatments for the cure of life-limiting illnesses frequently make you feel sicker. Our care provides you comfort and quality of life. By choosing to stop treatment and start hospice or palliative care, our patients feel better and gain quality time.
• You regain control of your life. In hospice care, you can socialize and focus on living. Your energy is spent in ways you choose, not on the never-ending visits to the doctor or hospital. By managing your symptoms, our care will keep you out of the hospital.
• You don’t have to stay in hospice care. If you get better, you can leave hospice care, no problem. And you can re-enter hospice whenever you need us – simple as that.
  We share the care. It’s difficult for your family to be your full-time caregivers – difficult for you and them. We manage and coordinate your care, which means that your loved ones get to be your family again, instead of your exclusive caregivers. We provide you the expert care you need; they give you the love you deserve.

If you have a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of six months or less and meet criteria for care, you and your family can immediately begin to see the benefits of hospice.