Frequently Asked Questions
The goal of hospice is to keep you at home with your family and around a familiar environment during your journey.
General Questions
What is Hospice?
Hospice is a program, which is offered through MEDICARE and private insurance that provides support and care to patients that have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and has six months or less life expectancy.
How do you know if it's time for Hospice?
If your physician has suggested hospice, then it is time to consider getting the type of support that hospice provides to help not only the patient but your family make some difficult decisions. As the patient are you asking the following questions:
- Do you need help with pain and symptom management?
- Have you lost more than 10 pounds without trying in the last month?
- Have you been to the emergency room or urgent care facility more than three times in the last six months?
- Do you need help with your personal care, hygiene or getting dressed?
- Are you so short of breath that you can no longer get out of bed or go to the bathroom?
Questions for the Caregiver?
As the caregiver ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you spending the majority of your day or week taking care of your loved one?
- Do you feel overwhelmed?
- Do you feel that you are not getting enough help?
- Are you irritable, weepy or having trouble sleeping?
- Is the situation taking a toll on your personal or professional life?
- Do you have to take off work multiple times a month to take your loved one to a doctors appointment or find yourself in the emergency room on a monthly basis?
Is the answer to any of these questions yes?
If you answered yes to more than one of these questions then you are ready for Anchor Hospice to come in and support you and your family.
By choosing to no longer make efforts to continue aggressive curative care, you and your family can concentrate on getting the most out of the time that is left.
You don’t have to face this journey alone.
Hospice Care Team
Palliative Care Certified Medical Director
Your hospice medical director will evaluate your care to determine the the level of care needed.
Registered Nurse Case Manager
Skilled Nursing to provide overall care planning, pain management and physical management of disease processes.
Master of Social Worker
Medical Social Services to assist in meeting the patient’s psychosocial needs.
Hospice Aide
Hospice Aide to provide assistance in bathing, personal care and other Activities of Daily Living.
Volunteer
Volunteer Services can be accessed through the RN Case Manager and are available to all patients and family for special needs.
Chaplain Services
Chaplain Services to assist in spiritual care for both the patient and the family during the journey’s transition.
Bereavement Services
Bereavement Services are available to the family for a period of 1 year to aid in emotional support for healthy healing.
What is Hospice's Focus?
Hospice focuses on comfort care not on curing the disease. We concentrate on giving you the optimal quality of life every day that you have left to be with your family. Hospice care is provided where ever the patient considers home. We are not in the house twenty-four hours a day but our supportive care team is available twenty-four hours a day. The Anchor Hospice supportive team is an interdisciplinary team.
