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
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.
Medicare Certified
Aegis Hospice is Medicare Certified. There is no out-of-pocket expenses for individuals with Medicare coverage. Many insurance companies, including Medicaid, also pay for a hospice benefit. If you have any questions about your coverage for hospice services, please call Aegis Hospice for a free evaluation.
- 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.
