Hospice
Hospice provides comfort care for terminally ill patients. Hospice caregivers can help with the patient’s daily activities and medical needs and also help the patient and family deal with the psychological and spiritual needs when facing the end of life. Hospice care can be received at home or in a facility. Family and friends often provide what comfort care they are able, with skilled help from the hospice staff tailored to their needs. Hospice providers do not necessarily provide round-the-clock care and the length of time for services (for example nursing, social work, etc.) varies.
There are over 250 hospice programs in California. While the costs can run to thousands of dollars per month, the services are commonly covered by insurance. In addition, many hospice programs offer services to those in need regardless of their ability to pay.
To qualify for hospice services, a doctor must certify that a patient has a likely lifespan of six months or less. The goal of hospice is to control pain and symptoms, making the patient as comfortable and independent as possible, but not to cure the underlying illness, such as cancer, heart or lung disease, or dementia. Most people receive hospice care for less than one month; others may switch in and out of hospice as a medical condition improves or deteriorates.
