Hospice Care: What Families Need to Know

Starting the search for end-of-life services

If you are caring for a loved one near end-of-life, you probably have questions about how to get the support you and your loved one need. You may have been told to search for hospice services, but aren’t sure exactly what it is or who provides it. You aren’t alone. We can help answer your questions and share how in-home caregivers can play a role in hospice care.

Hospice care: Compassionate end-of-life-services

Hospice refers to palliative and emotional care around end-of-life. This type of specialized care is provided by a team of trained care professionals in a home or home-like setting. Services can include comfort, pain relief, and medical support provided by nurses, physicians, or other healthcare specialists.

How hospice care works and how it’s paid for

While you should always check with your insurance provider, typically Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medi-Cal, and Medicaid plans pay for the cost of hospice. Most private insurance plans also cover hospice. For insurance coverage, a physician must write an order for hospice stating that the care recipient has a terminal condition with a life expectancy of six months or less.

When should you consider hospice for a loved one?

Hospice is a personal decision, and there is no right answer for everyone. It’s something to discuss with your family and decision-makers involved in your loved one’s care.

If your loved one’s medical care team has discussed their prognosis with you and has shared that continued treatment is unlikely to lead to recovery, it might be time to discuss the options. Consider if your loved one has expressed a preference for comfort care. Remember, you can always seek treatment for any condition that isn’t related to the terminal diagnosis.

Hospice and palliative care: Common misconceptions

Many people expect that hospice provides round-the-clock care, but this is not usually the case. While your loved one’s activities of daily living (such as bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, and transfers) may be limited, private in-home caregivers, such as Herewith Helpers, can be an invaluable source of non medical caregiving assistance and emotional support.

Many in-home caregivers have specialized training in hospice, and are accustomed to working with medical staff to make the care recipient’s remaining time as comfortable as possible, allowing families to focus on just being with their loved one.

Private in-home caregivers can support hospice services

Helpers can augment hospice services by:

• Assisting with help around the home, running errands, feeding pets, to
• Helping to keep your loved one as comfortable as possible
• Providing companionship when family and friends aren’t able to be present
• Communicating with you to let you know how your loved one is doing when you aren’t able to be present

Hospice care, supported by in-home caregiving, is about helping your loved one—as well as you and your family—through the end-of-life transition. During this difficult time, when you may be juggling family responsibilities and the emotional weight of letting go of a loved one, a reliable, supportive in-home caregiver can bring peace of mind, letting you focus on your time as a family.