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Hospice Care
Lawyers.comsmHospice care is an alternative to hospitalization for those patients who are terminally ill. Typically, a team of medical health care professionals provides end-of-life care in the patient's own home, in a home-like facility that is completely dedicated to hospice care, or a nursing home. Hospice services are provided by a team of care givers that include the treating physician and nurses. Because the goal of hospice care is to provide emotional support as well as physical care, the team may also include social workers and nutritionists as well as church members or clergy. The underlying goal is to provide a caring and supportive environment during a patient's last days.
Home Care
Hospice care can be provided in the patient's own home or in a family member's home where the patient is most likely to feel comfortable and have their favorite things and people around them. If a family member or friend is capable of providing care and administering medications after being instructed, the medical staff is not legally required to be on-site and may simply be on-call to provide instruction or care as needed by the care givers. If the family is unable to provide 24-hour care, the medical staff can remain on-site and provide the needed care and comfort to the patient and emotional support to the family as well.
Hospice Facility and Nursing Homes
If the care needed by the patient is more than a family or friend can provide or if space in a family home is not available, hospice care can be provided in a hospice facility or in a nursing home. Those locations may be selected even after home hospice care has begun. Hospice facilities are run by community agencies or private companies that focus on providing comfort and support to terminally ill patients and their families. Nursing homes may also be set up to provide hospice care even though they may be equipped to provide extensive medical services. The focus of hospice nursing home care is simply to ease the patient through the last days, not to provide a cure.
Costs
Many health insurance plans provide coverage for the cost of hospice care that is given in the home or in other hospice care facilities. In addition, government benefit and entitlement programs may provide coverage of hospice care.
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