Hospice is a philosophy of care focused on comfort for the patient and care for the entire family. Hospice professionals are experts in pain and symptom management as well as spiritual care and emotional support. This care is available wherever patients live – usually in their own homes, but also in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
No. Hospice can help patients and their loved ones address their fears and concerns. We can also help redefine hope in terms of the quality of life. With hospice care, the focus of hope shifts towards physical comfort and peace of mind during the final stages of life. Over the past 30 years, we have helped thousands of patients and families through this difficult time and we recognize that every patient and family is unique.
You should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with your physician, other health care professionals, clergy or friends. Feel free to call us at (831) 430-3000 and we can help to answer any questions you have about hospice care, Transitions and grief support services.
Sometimes, a terminally-ill patient’s health improves or their illness goes into remission. If that occurs, your doctor may recommend that you no longer need hospice care. You or your doctor may decide to stop hospice care at any time. If your health should decline again, your doctor may recommend hospice services again.
Hospice doesn’t speed up the dying process or postpone death. Just as doctors and midwives lend support and expertise during the time of child birth, hospice provides its presence and specialized knowledge during the dying process.
In the early weeks of care, it’s usually not necessary for someone to be with the patient all the time. Later, however, since one of the most common fears of patients is the fear of dying alone, hospice generally recommends someone be there continuously. While family and friends do deliver most of the care, volunteers can assist with errands and provide a break for caregivers.
Medicare and Medi-Cal cover the full cost of hospice care. Most private insurance plans also cover hospice care, and the reimbursements vary by plan. In our continued effort to insure that patients receive the care they need, costs for hospice care that are not covered by private insurance can be adjusted. These adjustments are based on a sliding scale and ability to pay. Because of generous support from the community, no patient is ever turned away because of an inability to pay.
Hospice provides continuing contact and support for the family for 13 months following the death of a loved one. Support can take the form of individual sessions, education, or group meetings.
Our grief support services are also available to anyone in the community who has experienced a death of a family member, loved one or friend.