Based on personal experience, taking care of loved ones can be a rewarding way to show affection, dedication and commitment, however it can be a bit stressful, particularly during the holiday season. So, it is important to remember you can get hospice assistance available to those you love dearly at any season and even during the holiday season.

Vickie Wacaster Vickie Wacaster, Vickie Wacaster, Patient and Hospice Advocate with Aveanna Hospice (formerly Comfort Care Hospice)

When you receive hospice care during the holiday season, as at other times of the year, there’s no need to stress about worrying about whether you’ll spend many days or hours with your loved ones in the hospital, emergency room or a doctor’s appointment when you’re feeling the need to cook at home and spending time with grandchildren shopping, polishing your silver, etc. If you know that your loved ones qualify for hospice services, then hospice is able to assist. Hospice cannot replace caregivers, but instead provides services that aid caregiver and patient.

For Medicare beneficiaries it is the Medicare Part A benefit and doesn’t cost the beneficiary anything additional or less. The majority of other insurances, including Medicaid, Blue Cross, and other commercial insurances, offer the hospice benefit. Whatever the insurance provider the hospice benefit is generally not an extra cost to the beneficiary. Based on the statistics, it appears that the hospice benefit isn’t being used to its fullest. NHPCO estimates that just about half of the patients that might benefit from hospice receive it. And often those who do receive hospice services, aren’t receiving the full benefits (late the referral).

Hospice Services are:

  • Pain Control and Management
  • Visits from Registered Nurses
  • Hospice Aides
  • 24/7 / 7 days A Week RN is available for Emergencies
  • Medical Social Services
  • Counseling and Spiritual Assistance
  • Medical Equipment and Equipment that is that are related to terminal illness
  • Grief Assistance for Thirteen Months
  • Continuous Patient/Family Education
  • Caregiver Relief/Respite Care
  • Homemaker Services
  • Dietary Counseling
  • The care is overseen by an Hospice Medical Director, as well as the patient’s own doctor
  • Medical supplies, such as wipes, gloves, as well as pads for beds

Hospice offers families the much-needed and desired assistance to ensure that their loved ones remain in their home to provide end-of-life care. Since each patient is unique the hospice team works in close collaboration together with family members as well as the patient’s primary doctor to create a plan of specific care that meets the requirements of the patient and their family.

In order for a patient to accept admission into a hospice facility, the physician who is requesting admission must confirm that to the best of their understanding, the patient is suffering from an incurable illness that has an expected life expectancy of six months or less if their illness is a normal course. Medicare acknowledges that life expectancy isn’t an exact scientific concept. To receive admission to hospice the patient must be able to agree that they no longer require curative treatments, but would like for palliative treatment (comfort and symptom-control methods) at this point within their life. The hospice provider must acquire medical evidence to justify the diagnosis of terminal illness and the specific admission criteria set by Medicare.

The earlier hospice care is initiated the more it will aid in making the patient and caregivers ‘ days, weeks and even months as peaceful and peaceful as is possible.

Speak to your doctor or the hospice you prefer for any questions regarding hospice benefits or admission requirements.

“There are four types of people on the planet that are caregivers. The ones who are caregivers currently. People who are going to become caregivers and require the assistance of a person to care for them.” Rosalyn Carter


– Vickie C. Wacaster is a patient and the Hospice Advocate of Aveanna Hospice (formerly Comfort Care Hospice).

The article COLUMN: Hospice is required even during the holidays was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.