Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions about Hospice
Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions about Hospice
To help the public better understand what hospice care is, where it is delivered, how it works, and who pays for it, Gilchrist’s chief medical officer, Dr. Mark J. Gloth, recently sat down to answer some of your frequently answered questions.
What is hospice?
Hospice is the model for high-quality compassionate care for people with terminal illness. It’s for people who want to focus on comfort and living every moment as best as they can for as long as they can even when faced with an incurable disease. Hospice is appropriate for many patients with advanced illness who are focused on comfort over cure.
Where is hospice care delivered?
Hospice is a philosophy of care rather than a place, and it can be provided almost anywhere.
Most people will receive hospice in their own homes, whether it is a private residence or a residential care community. In this case, our team of professionals makes house calls, delivering care for many weeks or months before a patient reaches the end of their life. Alternatively, patients can seek admission to one of our in-patient centers for hospice care.
What can someone expect from hospice care?
In hospice, the focus is on comfort not cure. Usually, hospice is focused at home where people can maximize their time doing the things that they enjoy and spending time with their loved ones. Hospice teams are made up of experts in treating symptoms and attending to other difficult parts of having an advanced disease, including emotional, social, and spiritual hardships. The goal is to maximize both quality and quantity – in other words, to live every moment as best as you can for as long as you can.
Who pays for hospice care?
Hospice patients receive financial coverage through the Medicare Hospice Benefit or through Medicaid. Many private insurance plans also cover hospice services.
Who should I talk to if I’d like to learn more about entering hospice care?
If you’re wondering if you or a loved one may benefit from hospice, you should talk to your health care provider.
If you or a loved one would like to be evaluated by a Gilchrist nurse, simply call our Care Navigators at 1-888-823-8880 or complete our easy one referral form by going here.
Dr. Mark J. Gloth, Gilchrist’s chief medical officer, has more than 25 years of leadership experience as a physician executive. Before joining Gilchrist, served as Chief Medical Officer of ProMedica Senior Care, where he provided national medical leadership and medical practice management for the companies skilled nursing, hospice, palliative care, home care and assisted-living operations.