Hospice Level 1: Routine Home Care
Routine home care is known as the most common form of hospice care provided. It is the foundation and base care plan that teams use to address patients’ needs.
Routine home care is known as the most common form of hospice care provided. It is the foundation and base care plan that teams use to address patients’ needs. As hospice care progresses, this level of hospice can be fine-tuned or elevated as required. On the whole, routine home care is best for stable patients who have their symptoms and pain relatively under control.
What Happens During Routine Home Care?
As the name suggests, during routine home care the patient remains in their residence. Wherever home is for them, that is where these hospice services are provided. This may be their actual home, the home of a family caregiver, an assisted living facility, or another senior living facility. All hospice services come directly to the patient, enabling the patient to stay in an environment they’re comfortable with for as long as possible.
Often, a caregiver remains with the patient at all times as other members of the hospice care team visit throughout the week to provide extra services. The care team will also train caregivers to provide hands-on care.
Caregiving can be challenging to learn quickly. Learn how to provide the best care you can for your dying loved one.
What Can You Expect From Routine Home Care?
Exact routine home care services can vary, depending on your hospice care plan. However, it’s common for your plan to include the following services:
- Nursing
- Visits from social workers and hospice volunteers
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy
- Assistance with daily activities of living
- Spiritual support
- Nutrition counseling
- Grief counseling for the patient and their loved ones
Your hospice care team will also set you up with all of the durable medical equipment, medications, and personal supplies that you need.
How Does It Differ From Other Levels of Hospice Care?
Patients typically start with routine home care. As mentioned earlier, patients who receive routine care are stable enough to remain in their homes and are generally not experiencing a medical crisis.
Who Qualifies to Receive Routine Home Care?
All hospice patients qualify for routine home care as it is the most basic level of hospice care. The only times you may end up moving to a different level of hospice care is if you experience a medical crisis, an escalation of pain or symptoms, or your caregivers need a break. Even then, you continue to receive many of the services that fall under routine home care.
When routine home care isn’t enough, continuous home care can provide extra attention to keep your loved one comfortable. Does your loved one need that extra care? . →link to Level 2 hospice care article
Sources
- “Hospice Levels of Care.” Medicare.gov, https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/resources/hospice/levels-of-care.
- “Update to Hospice Payment Rates, Hospice Cap, Hospice Wage Index and Hospice Pricer for FY 2022.” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 4 August 2021, www.cms.gov/files/document/r10929CP.pdf#page=7.
