Hospice Care Frequently
Asked Questions
1. What is Hospice care? ^top
Hospice is a philosophy of comfort care designed
to control symptoms and improve quality of life
for the dying patient and his/her family.
CHANS Hospice is a medically supervised program
that offers medical, personal and spiritual care
to help the person with life threatening illness
to live well in his/her last days. CHANS Hospice
provides nurses, home care aides, social workers,
and spiritual supports in the home to monitor
symptoms, manage pain and discomfort, and provide
education and support. In addition CHANS Hospice
care includes bereavement services for family
and loved ones, which are available prior to the
impending death and continue for the 13 months
following death, to support the grieving.
CHANS Hospice is family- and person-centered.
Our staff strives to educate and assist everyone
involved in making decisions about living well
and fully, current care needs, and end of life
planning, care, and support.
CHANS Hospice provides a direct and easily accessible
link to 24 hour medical, spiritual and emotional
support, and establishes quick and clear communication
among the patient, the family, doctors and in-home
support personnel.
2. Why should, I, or a loved one, choose Hospice
care? ^top
Hospice care provided by CHANS Home Health Services
focuses on improving quality of life though pain
and symptom management, and providing support
for the patient and family, enabling the patient
to remain in the home. The Hospice philosophy
of care focuses on the patient’s quality-of-life
goals, and allows the patient and family to play
active roles in making decisions about care. Hospice
care neither shortens nor lengthens life, but
supports the emotional, spiritual, and physical
well-being of the patient and the needs of family
caregivers.
3. How do I qualify for Hospice care? ^top
Your doctor can help determine if you are medically
eligible for Hospice care. Typically, the person
qualifying for Hospice care has an illness that
is no longer curable, has decided against further
treatments, and instead, is focused on comfort
and quality of life. Most Hospice insurance benefits
require a projected life expectancy of between
6 and 12 months. The staff at CHANS Home Health
Services can work with the family and the insurance
company to provide in home care and services,
and related medications, equipment and medical
supplies.
4. How do I sign up for Hospice care? ^top
After you, your family and your doctor determine
that Hospice Care is the right choice for you,
your doctor will notify CHANS Home Health Care
that you would like to begin services. The doctor
will let CHANS know what kind of care you will
need. Then CHANS Home Health Care Hospice staff
will contact you to arrange a time to visit your
home and to begin services.
5. Do I need to sign up for Hospice care to find
out more about it? ^top
No. You or your family can contact CHANS Home
Health Care at any time. We are happy to answer
your questions, provide further information, and
problem-solve to determine if Hospice care is
the right choice for you, your family and your
medical situation. If you would like one of our
staff to visit you and your family in your home,
or in the hospital, free of change, to discuss
if Hospice Care is right for you, simply call
207-729-6782, and ask to speak to someone in the
Intake Department or in the Hospice Department.
6. How long can I receive Hospice care? ^top
Hospice care is not just for those who are in
the end stages of life, and are actively dying.
Hospice care is provided to any person who has
a life expectancy of about 6 months to 12 months.
Hospice care will support them in their goals
to remain home, and provide for medical and personal
needs. Coverage for Hospice care does not end
after a pre-determined number of months.
7. Where is Hospice care provided? ^top
CHANS Hospice care is provided in your home or
in a family member’s home, with as little
interruption to family routine as possible.
8. What if I don’t live at home? ^top
CHANS Home Health Hospice staff provides care
to those living in local nursing homes or assisted
living facilities, just as they would if you were
living at home. CHANS has strong, working relationships
with all of the nursing homes and assisted living
facilities in our catchment area; and works with
the staff at each facility to provide the best
coordinated care possible.
9. What if I can’t stay at home? ^top
If for some reason you or your loved one cannot
remain at home, CHANS Home Health Care Hospice
social workers will assist in finding accommodations
in a local assisted living facility or nursing
home. If the patient’s condition requires
more aggressive treatment to manage symptoms,
CHANS provides inpatient Hospice care at Mid Coast
Hospital and Parkview Adventist Medical Center.
Specialized private hospice rooms are also available
at the Mid Coast Senior Health Center to provide
for your comfort. In addition to private patient
rooms, the Mid Coast Senior Health Center has
a family suite for loved ones, with sleeping arrangements,
internet access, private bathroom, kitchenette,
television, phone and children’s area.
10. How will my Hospice care be paid for? ^top
Most insurance plans have a policy specifically
to cover end-of-life care. Medicare and Maine
Care pay for 100% of illness-related care, medicines,
supplies and equipment ordered by your doctor.
Most private insurance plans provide expanded
coverage as part of their hospice benefit. If
your coverage is limited, or you have no insurance,
CHANS Home Health Care Hospice social work staff
can assist you in applying for Maine Care (the
State of Maine’s Medicaid program) to provide
for your insurance needs.
11. Are there other expenses that I should expect? ^top
Since the Hospice benefit pays for expenses related
to the illness, you will still be expected to
pay for medicines and supplies for chronic conditions
that do not apply to your diagnosis. For example,
if you have high blood pressure, and have a cancer
diagnosis, you will still be expected to pay for
your high blood pressure medication.
If you or a loved one needs more care support
than can be provided through CHANS Home Health
Care Hospice, or through Hospice Volunteers of
Mid Coast Maine, our social work staff will help
identify other sources of support, such as other
family, close friends and neighbors, faith-based
supports, and private pay options for care.
12. Who directs my care? ^top
You do! And when you can no longer advocate for
yourself or your care needs, CHANS Home Health
Care Hospice staff will work closely with your
primary caregiver, and family, or implement your
living will or advanced directive to carry out
your wishes for your care.
13. What is a primary caregiver? ^top
A primary caregiver is the person who agrees
to provide for all of your care needs, or agrees
to coordinate services of those who will be providing
for your care needs. A primary caregiver is usually
a spouse or parent, but can be anyone who is willing
to commit to being your caregiver and advocate.
Towards the end of life you will need someone
to be available to tend to your pain management
and other needs around the clock. Your primary
caregiver is generally that someone. 24-hour care
ensures that you remain safe, and that all of
your needs are met.
14. I still have more questions ^top
Call CHANS Home Health Care during business hours,
and ask to speak with the Hospice Coordinator
at 207-729-6782.
Further information is available at the Maine
Hospice Counsel website, www.mainehospicecouncil.org.
Click on the “Links” option.
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