You are not alone in this. The hospice team will be there to help so one can focus on life’s most precious moments.
Hospice Care is specialized medical care that focuses on treating the physical, emotional, social, psychosocial and spiritual needs of a patient and their family at the end stage of an illness when cure is no longer possible or the patient has decided to forgo curative treatment. The goal of hospice is to help people live as well as possible until they die by providing comfort and dignity based on the patient’s values, preferences and needs.
Hospice care is provided by a specially trained interdisciplinary team that includes a physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain, home care aids, volunteers and bereavement support. It may include other disciplines like an advanced practice provider, pharmacist, mental health counselor or even a music therapist.
Most people receiving hospice care are covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Private insurance and Medicaid in most states also cover hospice care. Most reimbursement sources require a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.