While the professionals at Hospice Providers are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our
patients,
we extend that same dedication to the family members and friends who help care for them.
Part of our purpose is to provide the education and support that enable those close to the patient to
understand and manage the end-of-life process. Our hospice services also include bereavement counseling,
both
before the patient's death and up to a thirteen months afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The hospice philosophy holds that end-of-life care should emphasize the quality of life. Our objective
is to treat the whole person not just the disease. The hospice philosophy focuses on the
patient/family centered care unit. An interdisciplinary group of healthcare professionals works with
the family unit to develop and implement a plan of care which is unique to that family. Additionally
we provide most medications, services and equipment related to the admitting hospice diagnosis
life-limiting illness. Hospice care does not end with the patient's death. Bereavement counseling can
continue for up to thirteen months for family and loved ones.
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We care for patients with any life-limiting illness in which the prognosis is six months or less if
the illness runs its expected course. Some patients will live beyond the six month period and
criteria. In addition to cancer, HeartStrings Hospice treats patients with ALS, Dementia/Alzheimer's
disease, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, renal disease, HIV/AIDS,
failure to thrive and unspecified debility.
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Absolutely not! Hospice care shifts the focus from aggressive medical curative treatment to care which
focuses on medical comfort and the elimination of pain and other symptoms. Studies have shown that
hospice patients improve physically and emotionally because their home/family situations are
stabilized, their economic concerns are reduced, their pain is reduced and their care is managed.
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In the majority of cases you don't. Heartstrings Hospice services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid
and many private insurance plans. Medicare's Hospice Benefit of 1983 was established by congress to
ensure that all Medicare beneficiaries could access high quality end-of-life care. More than 80% of
hospice patients are Medicare beneficiaries.
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No. Hospice is for anyone who is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and meets the hospice
prognosis of life expentancy fo less than 6 months.
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Not necessarily. If they wish the family/caregiver can continue to receive bereavement counseling and
support for up to thirteen months after the death of the patient. Hospice social workers and chaplains
receive additional training in order to assist families through the period after a loved one's death.
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Most hospice patients are cared for in their own home or a place they call home.
According to a Gallup
Survey, conducted for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, nine out of ten
individuals would prefer being cared for in their home when diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.
Ninety-Six percent of hospice care is provided in the patient's home or the place they call home.
