When a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, worries about the cost of end-of-life care can prevent them from pursuing essential services. Thankfully, patients who meet eligibility requirements have several options to ensure the patient and their families will receive the support they need at this difficult time.

What services does hospice cover? 

Hospice programs cover a wide range of end-of-life services including:

Community Health Care

Our team of highly trained nurses partner with the patient’s primary physician and caregivers to provide pain and symptom management in the patient’s home, assisted living facility. In addition, nurses will answer questions and provide education and training to family caregivers on the use of medication and medical equipment and supplies.

Personal Care

Hospice aides make regular visits to assist family caregivers or long-term-care facility staff with the patient’s personal care needs including baths and grooming. Aides report changes in the patient’s physical, emotional, and social needs to the interdisciplinary group for coordination of care.

Prescription Medication

All medication associated with managing the pain and symptoms of the patient’s terminal illness are provided at no cost to the patient. Your hospice care team will arrange for medications to be delivered as needed.

Medical Equipment

In a case where the patient requires the use of medical equipment including a walker, wheelchair, we are committed in finding ways to access such equipment to ensure patients comfort and safety. Your hospice care team will arrange for medical equipment to be delivered as needed and removed from the home if it is no longer needed by the patient.

Medical Supplies

If the patient requires medical supplies, the hospice will find ways to support the patients and their families.

Social Work Services

The hospice social worker provides organizational and emotional support to the patient and their family. This includes connecting the family with additional financial support programs or psychosocial support available in the community.

Bereavement Counseling

Bereavement counselors are available to provide comfort and support to the patient coming to terms with their diagnosis in addition to providing grief support to their family. Support and bereavement counselling is available to family both before and after the death of their loved one.

Therapy

Once physical, occupational, and speech therapy are deemed necessary for the patient, the hospice will do everything in their power to assist the patient to access such services.

Short-term Respite Care

Caregiving can be an exhausting role. To help prevent caregiver burnout, patients can be placed in an in-patient care facility for up to 5 days which is covered by the hospice, to give the caregiver a break. Both caregivers and patients can find respite beneficial to both their physical and mental wellbeing.