Frequently Asked Questions

There is no right or wrong time, but many people do regret starting hospice care later as this level of care helps improve quality of life. Some people like to start hospice as soon as they receive their diagnosis or when they start experiencing the following signs it’s time to start hospice care:

• Frequent doctor or hospital visits
• Symptoms are getting harder to manage
• Pain is no longer controllable at home
• Feeling more restless and confused
• Losing weight and a decreased appetite
• Sleeping for most of the time
• Assistance is required for three or more daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting, and continence.

When starting this conversation with your loved one, acknowledge their feelings, express your concerns, and ask about theirs. Together, you can explore options to help them feel in control of their decisions during this emotionally challenging time.

If your loved one is hesitant or does not want to go to hospice, it is a good idea to bring in a third party, like their doctor, who can help initiate the hospice talk.

There is no need to wait for your physician to recommend hospice. Many people regret waiting so long to start hospice. From the moment of diagnosis, you should be able to chat with your doctor about your care options and get their opinion on starting hospice.

While the end of life is difficult for patients and their families, knowing what signs to look out for can help patients and their loved ones be prepared.

Physical end-of-life signs:

*A drop in body temperature

• Skin changes like skin becoming mottled
• Increased sleeping
• Increased sleeping
• Congestion in the chest, which is also known as the “death rattle”
• Decrease in fluid and food intake
• Fever
• Change in breathing: rapid or shallow breathing

Emotional and spiritual end-of-life signs:

• Withdrawal and the patient may seem unresponsive
• Giving away belongings or making funeral plans
• Communication requests that are out of character
• Having vision-like experiences with people who are already deceased or having hallucinations

There is a common misconception that starting hospice means giving up hope, but this is certainly not true! Instead, hospice patients emphasize their quality of life while managing their symptoms so they can focus their remaining time on things that bring them comfort and meaning.

Hospice allows patients to focus on relationships, build memories with loved ones, and heal old wounds.

The most common end-stage diseases seen in hospice care are:

• Cancer
• Heart diseases
• CHF/CAD
• Pulmonary disease
• Pulmonary disease
• Liver diseases
• AIDS/HIV
• Coma
• Alzheimer’s
• Dementia
• Parkinson’s
• Neurological diseases

While hospice care does not carry out curative treatments, the goal of hospice is to ensure that the patient’s pain is managed with prescription or non-prescription pain medication, heat or cold therapy, and massages.

Yes, patients can leave hospice for many different reasons, like resuming curative treatments, trying experimental measures, or they’re in recovery.

Generally, the care is paid for by your insurance. This can include private medical insurance or government-funded Medicaid and Medicare. Organizations and charities can also and charities that can help cover the costs of hospice care.

Your out-of-pocket expenses will differ depending on what medical insurance you have, but generally, insurance won’t cover the following:

• Curative treatments
• Durable medical equipment like special bedding and oxygen tanks
• Medical transportation to and from appointments

Medical supplies that assist with the comfort of the patient and their symptoms are supplied like:

• Wound care supplies
• Pain management supplies
• Incontinence supplies
• Personal care products
• Cushions and wedges

Yes. At Homage Hospice, our dedicated care team includes bereavement specialists, spiritual counselors, and social workers who support patients’ families as they navigate this challenging time.

Homage Hospice offers four different levels of care:

• Routine care
• Continuous care
• General inpatient care
• Respite care

We offer:

• Physician services
• Social services
• Chaplain services
• Veteran services
• Volunteers services
• CNA services

Our philosophy of quality over quantity and our excellent patient-to-staff ratio sets us apart from other hospice providers in the area. At Homage Hospice, our dedicated multi-disciplinary team empowers patients to thrive in every stage of life while caring for the mind, body, and person.