What is Hospice

Hospice care is a special kind of care that focuses on the quality of life for people who are experiencing a life-limiting or terminal illness. Hospice provides compassionate care for people in the last phases of an incurable disease or illness so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.

Aegis Hospice is rooted in the philosophy that patients have the right to live with dignity and without pain in the twilight of life. Our team ensures that the right balance is found to minimize symptoms and maximize function and quality of life.

Types of Hospice Care

There are four levels of hospice care that are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance plans. They allow the hospice program to keep the patient in the setting that best meets the needs of the patient. Some or all of these levels of care may be utilized during a patient’s hospice care.

  • Routine Care: Physicians, registered nurses and other members of our professional team are on-call around the clock to assist with providing hospice care wherever the patient calls home.
  • General Inpatient Care: When acute pain and chronic symptoms require more than routine care, the patient is moved to our hospice house. This short-term benefit assists to comfort the patient and family with changes in medical treatment before being released back to their home.
  • Inpatient Respite Care: This service is often used to provide a break so that caregivers can participate in other family activities, such as holiday celebrations, or just to relieve a tired caregiver for a few days.
  • Continuous Care: Occurs where a person resides when there is a medical crisis. During such periods, the hospice team can provide up to around-the-clock care to manage symptoms until they are controlled.

The hospice or the attending physician determines what levels of care are needed, and all types of care must be approved by the hospice before the patient may use them. Not all patients use or need all levels of care, yet all are available if they are needed.

A Team Approach

Primary Physician facilitates and directs care

Medical Director – creates individual care plans designed for the unique needs of the patients and their loved ones

Registered Nurse – to monitor and evaluate changing patient needs

Certified Nursing Assistant – to help with personal care needs

Medical Social Worker – provides assistance and resources for legal, financial, and emotional needs

Chaplain – for spiritual support, regardless of religious beliefs or affiliations

Volunteers – for companionship and respite needs

Bereavement Support – counseling and support after the loss of a loved one

Medicare Certified

Hospice care includes many aspects of care, including palliative care and symptom control, spiritual care, and advance care planning. Aegis Hospice aims to provide compassionate hospice care to our patients and families to give them the end-of-life treatment they deserve.

As a Medicare Certified company, Aegis offers no out of pocket expenses for those with Medicare coverage. Contact us today to learn more about hospice services provided through Aegis.

When should you choose Hospice Care?

Hospice should be considered when the patient is no longer seeking treatments to cure their illness.

Our Hospice Care program is designed to turn the focus of care from being curative to valuing the comfort and quality of life for our patients and their families.

Choosing hospice gives a patient the opportunity to ensure that are they are in control of their healthcare decisions and choose how they want their illness treated.

Hospice is not about giving up, but rather about making more meaningful moments possible.

Here are some factors to consider when deciding if Aegis Hospice is the right choice for you.

 

  • Increased symptoms and/or pain
  • Progressively declining health, despite treatment
  • Frequent hospitalization
  • Unexpected or uncontrolled weight loss
  • No longer undergoing aggressive treatments

 

Aegis Hospice care is provided in any place that the patient calls home. This includes the patient’s private residence, skilled nursing or assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.

  • Patients enrolled in hospice care live, on average, 29 days longer than patients not in hospice care
  • Most patients report that pain was brought to a comfortable level within 48 hours of the initial assessment
  • Patients enrolled in hospice care report a higher quality of life than patients not in hospice
Paying for Hospice Care

Medicare and Medicaid, Veterans Benefits, and Private Health Plans all offer benefits that cover expenses related to the hospice diagnosis.  If you have any questions regarding hospice qualifications, call our health care professionals. We’re here to help you every step of the way.