Hospice Community Care cares for people with Alzheimer’s, Pulmonary Disease, CHF, Cancer, Liver Disease, Dementia, Parkinson’s, Renal Disease, Huntington’s Disease, ALS, and all end stage diagnoses.
When to Call
Call Hospice Community Care when you or your loved one is experiencing the following:
- Pain
- Falls
- Frequent Hospitalizations
- Frequent Infections
- Profound Weakness
- Weight Loss
- Oxygen Dependence
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Increased Confusion
- Difficulty Breathing
- Decreased Appetite & Oral Intake
Common Myths
Myth: Hospice is where you go when there is “nothing else to be done.”
Reality: Hospice is the “something more” that can be done for the patient and the family when the illness cannot be cured. It is a concept based on comfort-oriented care. Referral into hospice is a movement into another mode of therapy, which may be more appropriate for terminal care.
Myth: Hospice is only available for patients who have diagnoses of cancer.
Reality: While many patients are diagnosed with cancer, hospice services are also available to patients with pulmonary disease, heart disease, neurological disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and AIDS.
Myth: Medicare pays the hospice company an hourly rate.
Reality: Medicare reimburses all hospice companies the same daily “per diem” rate.
Myth: All hospice programs are the same.
Reality: All licensed hospice programs must provide certain services, but the range of support services and programs may differ. Some programs are not-for-profit, and their revenue is used to provide patient care and community services, versus for-profit hospices, which are accountable to shareholders.
Myth: Hospice is just for the patient.
Reality: Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, and emotional support. The quality of life for the patient, but also family members and others, who are caregivers, is the highest priority.
Myth: Hospice means that the patient will soon die.
Reality: Receiving hospice care does not mean giving up hope or that death is imminent. The earlier an individual receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to stabilize your medical condition and address other needs. Some patients actually improve and may be discharged from hospice care