What is Hospice Care at Home? Understanding In-Home Hospice
In-home hospice care lets you and your loved one get support from the comfort of home. But what is hospice care at home and what does it entail?
It’s not unusual for many people to think of hospice as a place. But hospice care isn't limited to a specific location. In fact, hospice can be given in the comfort of a patient’s own home. This is known as in-home hospice care.
But what is hospice care at home and how does it work? Hospice provides comfort and support to those facing a life-limiting illness. It’s focused on pain management, symptom control, and emotional support for the patient and their family. The goal of hospice is to provide compassionate, specialized care that helps patients live as fully and comfortably as possible in the place of their choosing (for the most part).
What Does it Mean When Someone is in Hospice Care at Home?
Getting hospice care at home means that you or your loved one has access to the best care and support without having to move into a nursing home, assisted living facility, or a continuing retirement community. It’s about providing comfort and well-being for the patient in their own space surrounded by those who love them most.
Hospice care is personalized to the needs and wishes of a patient and provides support for physical, physiological, and emotional needs. The ultimate goal of hospice care at home is to ensure that the patient’s last days are as peaceful and comfortable as possible. It’s a way to make sure that they have the care and support they need while living out their life.
How Long Do People Live in Hospice at Home?
The length of time for hospice care at home depends on the patient’s condition. Generally, patients tend to stay in hospice for anywhere from a few weeks up to six months. However, it is not uncommon for some people to stay in care longer than six months. Each patient is different, and their needs should be taken into consideration.
The hospice team will work with the family to ensure that the care plan meets the patient’s needs and wishes. They will also talk to the family about any changes that may be needed as the patient’s condition changes.
How Hospice is Delivered at Home: 8 Steps of Hospice at Home
What is hospice care at home and what does it entail? Hospice care at home is typically delivered by a team of professionals who work closely with the patient and their family. This includes nurses, doctors, social workers, counselors, spiritual advisors, and volunteers who offer physical and emotional support. The team will make regular visits to evaluate symptoms, provide treatments (if needed), answer questions or address concerns, and provide emotional support.
In addition to regular visits from the team, hospice care at home also includes round-the-clock access to a hospice hotline where patients and families can get help whenever they need it. The hospice team may also be able to coordinate home health aides or other services if needed.
Hospice care is tailored to meet each patient’s specific needs. While every case is different, the following process is typical:
1. Make sure that your doctor agrees that hospice care is appropriate for your lifestyle, medical needs, and prognosis.
To qualify for hospice, a physician must certify that your loved one has a terminal condition likely to end their life in six months. It’s good to note that some people live longer than six months and others less, depending on when they start hospice and their medical condition.
2. Choose the right in-home hospice provider to meet YOUR specific needs.
Find out what services are covered by your in-home hospice provider, and what may not be. A hospice care team typically includes the medical director, nursing services, spiritual counsel, pain management, and aides. Aides can assist caregivers with bathing and dressing, while others can provide massage and enlist the help of a music therapist.
3. A nurse will assess you or your family member to determine a care plan.
When hospice receives the order for services to begin, the hospice nurse talks to you or your family and answers any questions and concerns. Note that even though the hospice nurse may be the glue that holds the plan together, they may not be present everyday or every other day if the patient does not require it.
If the hospice team deems it appropriate, the patient can spend a brief time in inpatient care. While they are there, they can receive more symptom management or give the family a few days respite.
4. Get the appropriate medical equipment and supplies.
Depending on the situation, your in-home hospice provider may provide equipment and supplies, such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, continence briefs, and oxygen tanks. Some providers have a pharmacy where some medications can be ordered directly to the home.
5. Be open and honest about your concerns, needs, and desires.
Emotional support and comfort care are at the heart of hospice service. Everyone, from family, friends, and the patient, is grieving and anxious about what to expect. The hospice team educates, supports, and responds to everyone’s needs. You and your family should feel comfortable asking questions, expressing needs, and voicing concerns to the hospice team. Your loved one’s quality of life is the most important aspect of the care, so no detail should go unnoticed.
6. Establish contacts within the service so that you always have someone to call if you need help.
This could include your attending physician, the hospice nurse, or the social worker.
7. Have a support system of family and friends.
It’s important to have a network of loved ones and friends who can check in on you, provide meals or other services, offer emotional support, and help with any tasks that need to be done.
8. Make sure you have a plan for end-of-life care.
When it’s time to talk about the details of after-death care (funerals, memorial services, etc.), make sure that everyone is on the same page and that they are in agreement.
The Benefits of In-Home Hospice Care
Most people choose to get hospice care at home, especially if their situation allows it. With hospice care, family members set their worries aside and focus on cherishing the time they have left with their loved one. Patients can feel a bit more at ease by having counselors and chaplains at hand alongside their nurses. Ultimately, everyone involved can benefit from the loving, supportive care that a hospice team provides.
Some of the reasons people choose to get hospice care at home include the following:
Peace of mind for everyone
Because home is more accessible to loved ones, the family also has the assurance that their loved one is being cared for in a gentle and respectful way. And, for the family, being able to provide hospice care in their own home gives them a sense of control and involvement.
Cost savings
Who pays for hospice care at home? Medicare covers 100 percent of the costs associated with hospice in the home. For those ineligible for Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans may offer coverage or financial assistance with hospice costs. Furthermore, many hospices are affiliated with non-profit organizations that can provide additional resources.
Home is a non-medical setting
The patient can receive hospice care in the comfort of their own home and is not exposed to unfamiliar environments, other illnesses, or strangers. This can be a great relief for both the patient and family members. Many families can successfully integrate a hospital bed and other medical supplies and equipment into the home environment.
Continuous, compassionate care
When you receive hospice care in your own home, you have the assurance that reliable and capable professionals are providing round-the-clock coverage with a personal touch. The hospice team will also coordinate services with other healthcare providers if needed, so you can rest assured knowing your loved one is receiving the best care possible.
Home is where most people prefer to die
The goal of hospice care is to grant the patient’s wishes with regard to end-of-life care. Research shows that people who receive end-of-life care at home experience a more peaceful death. At home, they’re in a familiar place, surrounded by loved ones一not strangers. Home is filled with memories and familiar items that are a cushion of support, meaning, and comfort. Above all, home is where the heart is, which can provide a great deal of comfort to patients who are nearing the end of their lives.
Getting hospice care at home can be the best thing for a patient and their family. When a hospice team is available to prioritize pain relief and quality of life for a patient, the effects can be felt everywhere.
Obtaining Hospice Care at Home
Hospice can be requested through your physician. There are also a variety of hospices that offer their services. Researching the different options available can help you determine which one aligns with your needs and those of your loved one.
Whether you’re a caregiver, a patient, a healthcare provider, or a family member, it is important to discuss the possibility of hospice care. This conversation can happen naturally as curative treatments no longer continue to work. The discussion could also start as you consider available advanced treatment options with your healthcare provider. Perhaps palliative care was initiated first, but now it seems to be the only effective part of the overall treatment plan.
When talking about hospice care, remember that it can be emotional and upsetting. But know that you don’t have to do it alone; many hospice companies offer emotional and financial guidance along with their services. Above all, tracking down the right hospice care can help you, your loved one, and your family make the most of the time you have left.
Beyond the Comfort of Home: Other Hospice Care Options
Many people can and do choose to receive hospice care at home, but it is not the only place where hospice can be administered. In fact, sometimes when a team offers hospice care in a dedicated location outside of the home, it may be better for the patient. Things like larger rooms and longer caregiving hours can mean all the difference to a family and a patient. Here are some of those places:
In-Patient Hospital Hospice Care
Occasionally, someone is so ill that moving them from a hospital is neither practical nor possible. Some hospitals have special hospice units, and others bring the hospice team to the patient regardless of their location. In most of these cases, death is imminent, and moving can even cause harm to the patient.
General In-Patient Care (GIP)
General in-patient care is for a hospice patient receiving hospice in their home with the addition of a short-term admission to the hospital. This setup is not one that is chosen but rather urgently required – and with good reason.
The patient must meet specific conditions, such as pain so severe that it can’t be managed at home, uncontrollable vomiting, respiratory distress, and/or uncontrolled bleeding. The goal is to return the patient home as soon as possible.
In-Patient Hospice Community Facilities
Many communities have in-patient hospice facilities. These can be operated by a hospice agency or be independently owned. There are also residential hospices that can offer in-home services depending on the terminal illness.
In-home hospice typically cannot provide round-the-clock care, save for 24-hour emergency nursing. There are also some patients who don’t have family support to augment at-home care. In these cases and others, they choose a community facility, where staff can provide much of this additional care.
One key difference between in-home hospice and inpatient hospice community facilities is the cost. The Medicare Hospice Benefit will not cover the daily room and board cost at facilities, as it only pays for the hospice care and equipment. Depending on the facility and where it is, costs can run up to $5000 a month for potential patients.
Got More Questions About Hospice?
Whether in-patient or at home, you and your family can ensure that your loved one is cared for with dignity and comfort. Careful research into the services and costs available can help to make sure that your loved one’s end-of-life care is the best it can be.
Choosing hospice care for a loved one is often an incredibly difficult decision to make, but it doesn’t have to be unbearable. At Guaranteed Hospice, we believe that hospice isn’t about giving up. It’s about making the most of what time remains. We are here to listen and answer any questions you have about hospice care. Find out how we can help一get in touch with us today.
