When navigating end of life decisions, there often seem to be more questions than answers. This section is designed to help you get quick answers to frequently asked questions and understand where loved ones may be in their journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Palliative care can be provided alongside life-prolonging treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and dialysis and services like physical or occupational therapy. Hospice care begins when a person is expected to have six months or less to live and treatments aimed at prolonging life are no longer beneficial.
What diagnoses do hospice and palliative care services support?
While hospice and palliative services can be offered for the same diagnosis, the difference can be seen in the patient and family’s goals for care—whether curative treatments are ongoing (palliative) or the focus has shifted to comfort care (hospice).
Examples include:
- Hospice: Advanced cancer, end-stage COPD, end-stage cardiovascular disease, end-stage Alzheimer’s disease, end-stage kidney disease.
- Palliative: Metastatic cancer, COPD, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, advanced neurological disorders.
Isn't hospice for just the last few weeks of life?
No, as long as a person has an eligible diagnosis, appropriate certification from their doctor and the Lifesong Hospice Medical Director, and is no longer pursuing curative treatments, they may qualify for hospice care. A patient can receive services as long as they choose and they remain medically eligible. There is no maximum or minimum duration that a patient can receive services.
Where can hospice care be delivered?
We care for patients wherever they call home or are receiving treatments. That means, in their home, a retirement community, a skilled nursing facility and even a hospital.
How are hospice services paid?
Medicare Part A, Medicaid and most private health insurance plans cover hospice services.
How are palliative care services paid?
Services are billed through insurance. Co-pays and deductibles may apply.
Who qualifies for hospice?
Any person who has a life-limiting or terminal illness, with a life expectancy of six months or less as determined by a physician.
What is included in hospice care?
Hospice specializes in quality of life and comfort care. Through individual care plans, the goal is to ease physical emotional, and spiritual pain. Lifesong also offers other complementary therapies to support the patient and the family such as music therapy, durable medical equipment such as a hospital bed or wheelchair, any related medications as deemed appropriate by the Lifesong medical director and support from compassionate and dedicated volunteers.
Can I change my mind about being on hospice?
Yes. Whether you decide hospice care isn’t right for you or you opt to resume curative treatments, you can choose to stop your hospice benefits at any time. You may resume hospice services later as long as you are eligible based on a physician’s evaluation.
What if the patient's condition improves?
Sometimes the extra care delivered by hospice is just what the patient needs for a condition to improve. If this happens, a patient may be discharged from hospice services. You will have a right to appeal the decision. If this situation should arise, Lifesong will explain the process.
What should I expect when the dying process begins?
This can be a scary time if we don’t know what to expect. But the truth is, each death is as unique as the patient’s life. For some, the process occurs quickly without signs or symptoms, while another patient’s journey is longer.
Here are some signs and symptoms that are a natural part of dying:
- Change in consciousness
- Increased tiredness, withdrawal or less communication, increased confusion, may see visions of deceased loved ones, minimally responsive
- Decrease in appetite or refusal of food
- Dehydration
- Blood pressure/Pulse rate changes
- Body temperature fluctuations
- Changes to skin color as a result of decreased circulation
- Decrease urine output
- Dry or unfocused eyes
- Changes in breathing patterns
- Restlessness
- Rattle-like respiratory noises
Sometimes, patients briefly regain consciousness or have a sudden burst of energy that allows them to connect with their loved ones. They may even eat, drink, sit up, or walk around. This can happen hours to days before passing.
At other times, patients may hold on longer than expected, even when all signs show that death is near.
There are many meaningful ways to support your loved one during this time, such as:
- Give your loved one an opportunity to make peace with their Higher Power by planning a visit with a spiritual counselor
- Express gratitude and love, ask or grant forgiveness
- Give your loved one permission to go
- Tell them that you love them and will miss them
- Reassure your loved one that you will take care of surviving loved ones and all will be okay