Can hospice be at home?

Posted: 11/5/2020 8:00 AM by Interim HealthCare
Choosing hospice care for a loved one is a decision fraught with emotion. Along with emotion, making decisions about hospice care also comes with many questions. Ensuring the comfort and care of your loved one (and your family) is paramount at such a challenging time. 

While there are so many questions and priorities fighting for your attention right now, it's important to take a deep breath and know that there are resources available to help you make these important decisions. These resources can include blogs (like this one), social media (but be careful who you take advice from!), trusted and knowledgeable members of your community, and your loved one's doctor. 


Hospice care at home 

Chief among the questions you may have as you consider hospice options for your loved one is whether or not hospice care can be administered at home. 

Since you're here to find the answer specifically to this question, let's get right to it: Yes, hospice care can be provided at home. 

In fact, we've found that providing hospice care at home is the most supportive, nurturing environment for your loved one, as well as the rest of your family. 

While you're contemplating hospice care at home, it can be difficult to keep track of all the questions, details and information that are seemingly coming at you from every direction (including those resources listed above). 

To help ease some of the confusion, here's an introduction to hospice care at home from Interim HealthCare: 

Putting the patient first

Our hospice care is based on a philosophy of improving the quality of life when quantity of time is limited. Hospice care provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to patients and those who love and care for them. Focusing on these core components of care and support are the foundations of our unique HomeLife Enrichment® standard of care. 

We refer to our home hospice care as "patient centered." That means every decision and every step considers the patient's needs and comfort first. Your loved one will always be our top priority. 

But we are also here for you as well

Many family caregivers hope to provide the care their loved one needs at home, on their own. That's completely understandable and commendable! Very often for hospice patients, though, there are complicated medical needs and pain care that are necessary, which can be incredibly difficult and overwhelming for unskilled family members. 

Handling medications, your loved one's suffering and instructions from the doctor, while also dealing with your own emotions and grief, is daunting -- to say the least. It's okay to admit that you're overwhelmed, or that you're afraid of handling hospice care alone. 

Being there for your loved one in hospice care is so important. Your hospice nurse and/or other profesisonals are here to care for your loved one, but they're also here to provide you and your family with support. 

Here at Interim HealthCare, our hospice team is made up of professionals who provide care to address the medical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of your family and your loved one. Going through this journey is challenging, but we are here for you. 

Hospice care, wherever your loved one is located

Although the Interim HealthCare name is synonymous with home health care and hospice at home, we also partner with hospitals, nursing homes and other community-based organizations to provide care wherever your loved one is located.

While we most frequently care for individuals in their homes, our compassionate hospice care professionals can also provide care for your loved one in nursing homes and senior living residences, including independent and assisted living. Wherever you need us, we are here to help.

Is hospice at home covered? 

Medical bills for loved ones can be a major stressor. When hospice care becomes the next step, fears over costs and additional medical bills are front and center for many families. It's important for you and your family to know that hospice care at home is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance providers. 


Explore home hospice care options for your loved one

Your locally-owned and -operated Interim HealthCare location is here to help you in any way possible during this challenging time. We'll walk you through home hospice care options and help you make the best decisions for your loved one. Contact your local office to learn more.