Hospice Care

At-home hospice care: providing comfort, compassion, and dignity for end-of-life

Beautiful African American senior woman smiles and laughs while talking with her unrecognizable home healthcare nurse. The patient is sitting in a wheelchair.

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During the final months of one’s life, finding comfort in one’s own home can be the biggest blessing for patients and their loved ones. Hospice care is a style of care that is centered around providing the best possible quality of life for the patient by focusing on providing comfort and emotional well-being in familiar surroundings.

Unlike curative medical treatments, hospice care is not concerned with disease — instead, it’s all about supporting the business of living! The goal of hospice care is simple, but oh-so important: allowing everyone the chance to live with the best quality of life possible. We would be honored to walk this path alongside you and your family.

What is hospice?

Hospice is a specific type of palliative care typically given to people with a life expectancy of less than six months. When a patient’s condition progresses to the point where they are no longer pursuing treatments to cure their disease, the focus switches to pain management and general comfort as they prepare for end-of-life. This is where hospice comes in.

Like all palliative care, hospice care is not just about providing physical comfort, but also emotional and spiritual support to help the patient maintain their dignity and live on their own terms. For many patients, this includes the wish to remain at home. A Beacon Home Care caregiver can help by providing non-medical comfort treatments, offering companionship, and monitoring symptoms to allow them to remain safely and comfortably at home.

A hospice care team can also help the entire family by providing relief from caregiving tasks, advice on caring for the patient, and grief support.

How do I know it’s time for hospice care?

Beginning hospice care is a personal decision that should be made with your doctor and family. The decision to start hospice care is often made in conjunction with the decision to discontinue medical treatments due to an extended period of decline despite treatments or because the treatments are taking a strong physical toll that severely impacts your quality of life.

Generally speaking, hospice care is covered by Medicare and may be recommended when your doctor determines that you likely have less than six months to live. This can be a very difficult thing to hear from your doctor, and can spark a wide range of emotions for both you and your loved ones. But with the help of your hospice care team, you can take control over how you want to live out the rest of your days and get the support you need to do so.

Hospice can be beneficial to anyone nearing the end of their life, regardless of their medical diagnosis. It’s important to note that hospice care can also be extended beyond six months, or even discontinued and restarted if your condition improves, so there is no need to delay starting hospice care if you qualify.

How can Beacon Home Care help?

Hospice care is intended to be a team activity that includes your doctor, loved ones, spiritual advisor, and nurses, along with your in-home caregivers. You and your wishes remain at the center of it all, guiding your hospice experience to help you live as you choose. While your doctor and nurses provide medical care, the rest of your team provides emotional support and guidance, and also support your family and loved ones. Although hospice care is typically given in the home, it can also be provided in skilled nursing facilities or during short-term hospital stays.

Our licensed, background-checked caregivers receive special training in hospice and palliative care, and are prepared to nurture your loved one at home with compassion, skill, and reliability. Our caregivers provide a variety of services, including medication management, symptom monitoring, non-medical pain management, and mobility assistance, along with support for daily activities of living. Just as important, our caregivers provide much-needed companionship and emotional support. We also provide adult respite care to support family caregivers and help improve their quality of life in addition to your own.

By choosing hospice care, you are choosing to prioritize comfort, living according to your values and wishes, and quality of life. Your journey with hospice care begins with honest conversations with your doctor and your loved ones. We would be happy to be part of the conversation, and encourage you to call us to help answer any questions you may have. Our caregivers are here to support you with your choices and offer peace of mind to you and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hospice care?

Hospice care provides non-medical interventions, often in a patient’s home, during the final months of their life. It is focused on providing comfort, preserving dignity, and improving quality of life for the patient’s remaining days. The transition to hospice care happens when a patient stops any medical treatments intended to cure their disease; to learn more about non-medical support while treatments are still being given, take a look at palliative care services.

Can I receive hospice care at home?

Yes! In fact, the majority of hospice care is delivered in a patient’s home. Caregivers work in conjunction with family members and loved ones to support everyone involved and provide the care you need in the comfort of your home.

Will insurance cover hospice care?

Yes, most hospice care can be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance. For example, after an initial eligibility assessment, Medicare patients can be approved for two 90-day periods of hospice care with the ability to continue care after that with a recertification. For more information on hospice care coverage, contact your provider or visit their website.

Is hospice care just for cancer patients?

Many people associate hospice care with cancer, but it is a powerful care option for anyone with a life expectancy of less than six months. Hospice is also an important care option for patients with chronic conditions such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, COPD, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, and lung, heart, or kidney disease.

Have more questions? Check out more FAQs

Getting Started With

Beacon Home Care is Easy.

We understand that navigating care needs can be a complex process, and it’s natural to have questions and concerns. Our primary aim at Beacon Home Care is to make this journey as smooth and stress-free as possible for you and your family. We are committed to providing compassionate and reliable support every step of the way.

We’d Love to Hear Your Story.

Once you share your specific care needs, we will provide our expertise and resources to guide you through every step of establishing and maintaining the best care solution.

We look forward to helping you find the peace of mind you deserve.