What does it mean for Grace Hospice to be a faith-based, non-profit hospice?
Grace Hospice keeps our quality of care at center focus. Our faith-based background leads us to ensure we are serving our patients with compassion, maintaining dignity, and offering the desired spiritual guidance as end-of-life approaches. As a non-profit organization, Grace Hospice reinvests in resources that better serve patients, community outreach, bereavement, and honoring our mission.
What is hospice’s availability?
Hospice provides intermittent services and is available 24/7. The primary caregiver (whether this be a loved one, a facility, or a home care agency) will continue to serve as the around-the-clock care, with hospice providing an additional layer of support, services, and care coordination.
How long are hospice services?
Medicare hospice eligibility includes a life expectancy of 6 months or less. However, there is no end date to hospice care. While some patients are on our services for less than 6 months, there are others that might receive services longer dependent on their unique journey.
What is the difference between Hospice, Palliative Care, and Home Care?
Hospice: Provides comfort-focused care for patients who are terminally ill and not seeking a cure.
Palliative Care: Eases symptoms of serious illnesses and may accompany treatments to cure the illness.
Home Care: Utilized for a person who is confined to their home and requires either intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, or a continuing need for occupational therapy.
Do I have to move to receive Grace Hospice care?
Hospice is not a place, it is a service. Grace Hospice can provide care wherever it is you call home. Whether this be a single-family home, apartment, assisted living, or long-term care facility. Our hospice team will work with you to ensure you have the resources available to support you throughout your journey on hospice.
Will I have to come off all my medications?
No – at a hospice admission, the nurse will review your medications with one of our providers and make recommendations on which medications are providing comfort and benefit to you at this stage in your illness. You are always in control of the plan of care, so if you’d like to continue certain medications, you can. A discussion on payment coverage of those medications will take place with your hospice team.
Am I able to see my primary provider?
Yes. Your primary provider can remain part of the team. Our hospice nurse and team can work alongside your preferred primary provider to coordinate your plan of care.
Am I able to go to outside appointments (Dentist, Eye Doctor, Other)?
Outside appointments, including transportation to and from, are typically not covered by the hospice benefit and would remain with your primary insurance. Your hospice care team can discuss the specifics with you about any desired outside appointments and how this coincides with the hospice benefit and your plan of care.
Am I able to go to the hospital?
While hospitalizations are generally avoided on hospice care to allow for patients to stay comfortable wherever they call home, there are situations where going to the hospital might occur while on hospice. However, if you plan to continue to seek hospitalization, diagnostics, and pursue aggressive treatment, this does not align with the comfort-focused hospice philosophy.
What medical interventions can my loved one receive while on hospice?
Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life and aims to ease symptoms. Hospice will provide medications, nursing care, medical equipment, wound care support, personal care support, emotional and spiritual support, and certain medical treatment (such as antibiotics) if elected and aimed towards improving quality of life.
