Questions about Hospice

Isn't hospice giving up?
No. Hospice care is patient-centered care emphasizing comfort, peace and quality of life. Hospice care is built on the belief that every day of every life matters. We aim to help patients facing a life-limiting illness live in comfort and with dignity. Hospice care doesn't hasten or postpone dying. Just like an obstetrician provides specialized medical expertise and support when we enter the world, hospice provides expertise and support during the last phase of life.

When is the right time to consider getting palliative and/or hospice care?
Anyone facing a potentially life-limiting illness should be aware of all the care options, including palliative and hospice care. Palliative care can often be provided at the same time as curative treatments. Knowing when to consider hospice care is important for planning. Signs for serious consideration of hospice care are when the patient:

• No longer responds as expected to treatments for the disease.
• Expresses concern that the burden of treatment is outweighing the benefits.
• Is in persistent pain, or when other physical symptoms are not relieved.
• Makes repeated, short-term trips to the hospital and/or emergency room.
• Is despondent about his or her condition and quality of life.

Where can I get more information about hospice care?
You can always contact Hospice of the North Coast at 760.431.4100.

Do I have to check my loved one into the hospice facility?
No, in fact the majority of our patients receive hospice care in their very own homes. We also provide palliative consultation in hospitals and other care settings. We provide hospice care in assisted living and long-term care facilities.

Is the decision to seek hospice care permanent?
No. If a patient's condition improves or if the patient and family so choose they can be discharged from hospice care. If the discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, they can resume services.

Do I need a referral for hospice care?
Patients are admitted to Hospice of the North Coast with a physician referral. (We can help get this authorization if needed.)

What's involved with caring for a loved one receiving hospice care at home?
It varies from patient to patient, but we work with you to develop a personal care plan built around the patient's needs. Every patient of Hospice of the North Coast has an interdisciplinary team of experts assigned to his or her care. Care teams are made up of physicians, registered nurses and certified nursing assistances, counselors, chaplains and trained volunteers. Caregivers are taught to provide for patient needs. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide the support you need.

What is palliative care, and why can't my regular doctor provide it?
Where curative care works to treat a disease, palliative care works to relieve pain and other distressing symptoms. Our palliative care physicians are specially trained in the interventions that provide pain and symptom relief. Just as a cardiologist knows more about heart disease than a general practitioner, so too, is a palliative care physician specially trained in pain relief. Using a combination of medications, counseling and therapies specific to each individual patient, palliative care experts can help most patients find an optimal level of comfort.

Will palliative medicine leave my loved one incoherent or unable to talk?
We work to find the right balance for every patient, relieving pain without sacrificing alertness. This requires constant consultation with the patient and family, and sometimes regular adjustments to medication or other treatments.

Is hospice care covered by insurance?
Medicare and Medicaid both provide coverage for basic hospice services, and most private insurance policies have some hospice provision. Families should check with their health insurance provider specifically.

What kind of support is offered to patient families?
Hospice includes help for caregivers in the form of training and emotional support. In addition, Hospice of the North Coast provides 13 months of bereavement support following the death of a family member.

Is all hospice care the same?
No. Training, expertise, standards, level of personal attention, and availability of volunteers and complementary therapies can all vary widely. When you're considering hospice care, ask lots of questions and make sure you understand all your options, as well as the experience and reputation of the hospice providers available.

How is Hospice of the North Coast different?
We are a not-for-profit hospice and palliative care provider, and have been operating in the North County since 1980. We are here for and because of this community. We are not charged with providing a profit to shareholders, and pride ourselves on providing a deeper, more personal level of care to our patients, and to handle even the most complex cases.

Research shows there are 10 key things people want for a loved one facing a serious, life-limiting illness:

• Assurance that the patient's wishes are honored and respected.
• Choice among the types of treatments, care and services that are available.
• Pain and symptom control tailored to the patient's wishes.
• Emotional support for the patient and their loved ones.
• An opportunity for the patient to put his/her affairs and life in order.
• Spiritual support for the patient and family.
• The option to choose where the patient will be cared for, including being able to remain at home.
• A team of professionals to offer comprehensive care for the patient.
• Continuity of caregivers, no matter where a patient resides.
• Comfort, dignity and understanding are critical aspects of the services requested.

Source: National Hospice Foundation

The care we provide directly corresponds with these concerns.

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