A common question asked by those considering hospice care for a loved one is, “When is the right time?”

A growing number of caregivers are finding the correct answer to this question to be “as early as possible.” Choosing hospice care is not giving up, it’s redefining hope and focusing on peace and comfort instead of a cure.

The Hinds LifeCare professionals specialize in end-of-life care, and should be called upon during the first stages of a terminal illness to ensure that you and your family members can benefit from all the services hospice has to offer.

If you’re not ready for hospice care, you may benefit from Hinds Palliative Care for pain and symptom management.

Hospice Eligibility Criteria

A person of any age is eligible for hospice care after being certified by a physician as having a life expectancy that may be six months or less, depending on the course of their disease. Another requirement is that patients who elect hospice must forgo curative treatment, either because they no longer wish to receive it or because it’s no longer effective. Of course, even terminal health conditions do not progress in a predictable manner. If a patient lives beyond six months is on hospice care beyond six months, they can continue receiving services as long as a physician continues to document their eligibility. In some cases, individuals have remained eligible for and received hospice care for a year or longer. This type of care enables families to navigate the end of life together, in the setting that is most comfortable for them. In most cases, our patients remain at home, close to family and friends while under professional medical supervision. An interdisciplinary care team is assigned to each hospice patient. Each team member is entirely focused on the person, not their illness. Their goal is to make sure that all physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met.

When Hinds LifeCare began in 1981, there were only two options for hospice care in Fresno. Today, there are over 20 hospice providers in the Central Valley. With so many possibilities, it can be difficult to choose the best hospice for you.

The majority of agencies are for-profit. Although both nonprofits and for-profits provide patients and families with an interdisciplinary team that provides pain management and symptom relief, there are still differences to consider when choosing a hospice provider.

Hinds LifeCare offers a higher level of medical care: As a nonprofit, Hinds LifeCare routinely admits patients in need of more complex medical care. We also operate a six-bed hospice home that is available when pain and symptoms cannot be managed in a home setting, thereby providing a continuum of care that no other hospice in our region can match.

Hinds LifeCare offers expanded grief programs: Because of our community support, Hinds LifeCare is able to use donations to ensure we are able to provide expanded grief care services, including specific children’s grief programs, special recognition of veterans, the fulfillment of end of life wishes, education opportunities for caregivers and the public, and much more. For us, the care and support of those in the community is heavily embedded in our mission.

Hospice Compare: Regardless of nonprofit or for-profit status, Medicare provides a way for patients and families to directly compare hospice providers on their Hospice Compare website. Ratings are based on the opinions and experiences of caregivers and will give you an idea of how each provider ranks in multiple categories, including the willingness to recommend, responsiveness, communication with family, dignity provided to patients, spiritual care, and more.

There is no reason to defer hospice care due to financial concerns. The Medicare Hospice Benefit’s an inclusive benefit, in which all services that are related to the terminal illness are covered up to 100 percent by Medicare Part A. Care that is unrelated to the terminal illness continues to be covered by Medicare Parts A and B, with all normal rules applicable (e.g., co-payments, coverage guidelines and deductibles).

Coverage includes everything involved in hospice care, from visits by a nurse, physician, and other healthcare professionals to therapy, medication, and supplies.

For those not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, payment for hospice can come from private insurance or an HMO, since these also include a hospice benefit. Facing a terminal illness brings with it many concerns. Paying for end-of-life care shouldn’t be one of them.

The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers end-of-life services related to a patient’s terminal diagnosis in whatever setting the patient calls home, whether that is a traditional residence, an assisted living facility, or nursing home. Wherever hospice occurs, all services related to the terminal diagnosis are covered up to 100% by Medicare Part A.

If the patient’s symptoms cannot be managed by the routine level of hospice care, additional levels of service, such as 24/7 continuous care or inpatient hospice care, will also be financed through Medicare Part A at no additional expense to the patient or family.

Yes, hospice services provided in a nursing facility are covered by Medicare. In a nursing home setting, hospice helps patients, families, and nursing home staff by providing end-of-life resources and support. The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers services, medications, supplies, and equipment that are related to the life-limiting illness. It does not, however, cover expenses associated with room and board. These skilled nursing facility room-and-board expenses are often covered by Medicaid when the patient meets the state’s financial eligibility requirements. The Medicare and Medicaid Hospice benefit also includes a provision for respite care and inpatient care, which can be provided in a nursing facility for short stays. When the need for respite or inpatient hospice care is identified by the hospice team, the total costs associated with the care are covered under the hospice benefit.

• An interdisciplinary team of hospice professionals
• Home medical equipment
• Medication
• Respite care
• Continuous care
• Inpatient care
• Routine home care
• Bereavement support

Source: NHPCO’s Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America