Hospice
Locate and List Providers
Find a list of potential hospice providers, depending on the criteria you find most important — from location to services required. Then be sure each offers the care and services needed.
This Web site allows searching for providers by: location, agency name, whether Medi-Cal is accepted, and any specialized services, such as AIDS/HIV care or palliative care.
Then find out whether the hospice organization:
- Provides service in the geographic area needed;
- Can begin giving service when the client needs it; and
- Is Medicare-certified if the client is eligible for Medicare or Medi-Cal.
Next, ask the hospice about specific needs that you have and whether it will be able to meet them, including those outlined below.
Personal Care Services
Medicare-certified hospices are required to provide patients with home health aides to assist with personal care needs such as bathing, dressing, or eating. Also, hospices can differ greatly in the number of hours of personal care services they provide — and it is important to be clear on the maximum number of hours per week it can deliver.
Inpatient Services
Sometimes, because of changes in a patient’s condition or attitude, it becomes impossible to remain at home under the care of a hospice. The client and other caregivers should know what facilities and services the hospice makes available if inpatient care should become necessary.
Some hospices have their own inpatient facility where they care for their clients; others put their clients into skilled nursing facilities in the community. If a hospice has its own facility, check to see whether tours of the facility are available. If the hospice sends clients to other places for care, find out which facilities it contracts with and use this Web site to investigate the quality of care given in them. With either type of facility, find out how long a client is able to stay in inpatient care.
Training Other Caregivers
Any family members or friends who will be involved in the care need to know what will be required and expected of them — and must be able to do it competently. Hospice organizations should provide family or other volunteer caregivers with training and support.
Emotional and Spiritual Support
For many people, an essential part of hospice care is help with preparing the client and those around him or her for the approaching death. Find out how the organization handles this aspect of hospice care — for example, whether it has trained counselors or clergy on staff or refers clients out to other agencies.
Medicare-certified hospices are required to provide a client’s family with bereavement services for at least one year following the client’s death. But hospices vary in the services they provide. Find out whether an individual hospice provides support groups, counseling, memorial services, or other types of bereavement services — and whether there is a cost or they are free of charge.
Understand Costs and Payments
When researching a potential hospice provider, request an explanation of exactly what is included in its charges. Those who ask should be offered a breakdown of what insurance providers pay and what costs the individual will be responsible for covering, including whether there are likely to be additional out-of-pocket expenses. Finally, ask about its billing procedures including how often you are likely to receive bills and whether any insurer will be billed directly.
