How Hospice Works

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The hospice process can begin as soon as a referral is made by a patient’s doctor. The hospice staff will then contact the patient and/or family to set up an initial meeting to review the offered services, perform a clinical assessment and sign necessary paperwork.

In most cases, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and helps make decisions for a patient. The caregiver works with the professional, experienced members of the hospice care team to develop a patient-centered plan of care to provide treatment, support, personal care and a number of specialized services for both the patient and loved ones. After setting up a thorough care plan and visitation schedule the care team begins to support and look after the patient and the family. At Ascend Hospice, members of the hospice team specialize in providing holistic care to dying patients and their loved ones, addressing the needs of the whole patient: mind, body and spirit. Our care team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide assistance in managing your individual needs.

Each hospice team is staffed with a medical director who oversees the provision of the patient’s care plan by the hospice team, regularly consulting with each team member. At Ascend Hospice, nearly all of our medical directors are board certified in hospice and palliative medicine. The patient’s physician remains in charge of the patient’s overall medical care and frequently communicates with the hospice nurse.

The hospice nurse has several jobs, including, but not limited to, managing the patient’s symptoms, medications and treatments, educating the patient and loved ones, providing skilled nursing care, assessing the patient’s physical condition and arranging for special medical services in the care setting. Hospice services can be provided to a person wherever he or she resides – at home, a personal care home, an assisted living facility, a nursing facility or an acute hospital.

Home health aides assist with personal care (dressing, bathing, etc.), provide companionship and offer comfort measures to the patient.

Social workers provide emotional support to the patient and loved ones through customized counseling and offer connections to additional community resources available. Patients are also assessed and visited by a staff chaplain who provides spiritual comfort.

Volunteers support patients and their families in less traditional roles, such as running errands, making friendly visits and simply providing companionship. At Ascend Hospice, many of our volunteers also provide holistic therapies, including aromatherapy, massage, Reiki and pet therapy.

Hospice Care Coverage

In almost all cases, there is no out-of-pocket charge to the patient or family for hospice services. Hospice care is a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance companies and HMOs for patients with a prognosis of six months or less.