Hospice

Spiritual support during the end of life can help patients, family members, and even hospice staff navigate the emotional stress surrounding this transition.

Trying to figure out how to pay for medical expenses can be stressful and, frankly, exhausting. When managing end-of-life care, figuring out how to pay for hospice is draining–especially if you don’t know what options exist out there.

Let’s be frank. The word “hospice” elicits a variety of thoughts and emotions, ranging from sad to relieved, depending on past exposure and experience. Hospice is linked to death and dying, so talking about it naturally shifts our thoughts to our mortality and saying goodbye to our lives here.

Routine home care is known as the most common form of hospice care provided. It is the foundation and base care plan that teams use to address patients’ needs.

There are patients who may start out receiving hospice care at home, and end up requiring more than just routine hospice care. Unfortunately, some patients may have such severe symptoms, pain, or medical conditions that they warrant extended periods of in-home nursing care.

How do you decide between finding hospice or palliative care for your loved one? Learn more about the difference between hospice and palliative care here.