Are you confused about hospice care in Houston, Texas?  Does Hospice Myths altering your decisions?

Hospice Care is a set of designed services for individuals with late stage illness and for their loved ones. It includes Medical, Emotional, Spiritual, and Grief Support. Despite its wide advantages, it is mostly misunderstood.

Myths are followed by generations with no exact reasons. Here are few Common Questions and Myths we covered.

Common Questions:

1. What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is not a cure for any illness, it is a care provided to patient who has an estimated life time expectancy of 6 months or less. It helps to provide medical care and comfort to the terminally ill.

2. Who pays for Hospice Care?

Any person suffering from a life-limiting disease or injury deserves to have the comfort of hospice care. At Sahara Hospice Care, we believe a patient’s finances should not be an obstacle for their medical care. The patients can opt for Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance, Tricare (Health Care Program of United States Department of Defense Military Health System),  Charitable Funds.

3. What questions do we need to ask to Hospice Provider?

Here are few questions below you should ask to any hospice care provider:

–What services does a Hospice Care provide?

-Will the Hospice Care provided 24/7? How often your staff visit us or will be with us?

-What support do you provide in case of emergency?

-Do we have to stop other medications if our patient is in Hospice?

-What are the benefits and coverage of using Hospice?

-Why should we opt for your hospice?

Sahara Hospice in Houston offers patients a way to ease the pain during their last days.

Scroll through these frequently asked questions (FAQs) that are answered by our experts in the medical care team to get a better idea of hospice care. We tried explaining and uncovering many Hospice Myths below:

What is hospice care?

Hospice care is a carefully designed end of life care program for individuals battling against life-limiting illnesses. It helps improve their quality of life, or of the remaining time, to reduce pain and ensure comfort and relief. 

The main purpose of hospice caring is to help ease the final moments for the patient, making them more enjoyable and less worrisome.

Who is eligible to avail hospice care in home?

Individuals with life-limiting illnesses and a prognosis with less or equal to 6 months remaining are eligible to avail home hospice. In addition, those with two or more chronic conditions like heart and renal illnesses can also avail hospice services. 

View the full eligibility criteria here. 

How do I pay for hospice care?

There are several ways to cover your hospice care fee. Private insurance, Medicare coverage, and Medicaid financial assistance can cover as much as 100% of the cost. 

Have hospice services only been designed for people who are dying?

Hospice care was designed for individuals suffering from diseases that reduced their life expectancy. The 6-month prognosis of life expectancy means that while the individual’s life may not necessarily be near its end, dying is a realistic possibility. 

Are hospice care and palliative care the same?

While the terms are often thought synonymous, hospice and palliative care have a major difference.

Palliative therapy can begin with diagnosis and be continued alongside regular treatment. However, hospice care can only be availed with a 6-month life expectancy prognosis and post-end of treatment.

Does a hospice care program only apply to patients?

While suffering through a terminal illness is difficult, the struggle seeps into the family too, especially in grieving the loss of a loved one due to such illness. Hospice care in Houston, TX, also helps such families through the trauma by providing bereavement and grief counseling.  

Can hospice care be abandoned or opted out of?

Joining or opting out of hospice services remains the choice of the patient and their family. If the patient no longer meets the eligibility criteria, wishes to restart curative treatment, or has a prognosis succeeding the 6-month limit; hospice care no longer applies. 

Where is hospice care offered?

Hospice care is provided in Nursing Homes, Hospitals,  Assisted Living Facilities, Patients home, or any where an individual calls ‘a home’. 

Do I need to make any special arrangements at home before the hospice care team arrives?

Usually, the hospice care team makes a visit to list equipment needed and changes to be made. Most of these will be covered by Medicare and insurance plans so the patient’s family need not worry.

How does the hospice care process start?

A referral is made by the patient’s doctor, acknowledging that the patient has a life-limiting illness and possibly six months or less to live. Thereafter, our team will establish contact and schedule a visit, usually within 48 hours, to devise a streamlined plan to take personalized hospice care forth.

Are hospice providers evaluated or inspected by the state?

Yes. Hospice care providers undergo strict inspection and need a license to be able to provide care services to their patients. In addition, they need to comply with federal regulations to maintain the network with insurance providers and Medicare.

What does a hospice volunteer do?

A hospice volunteer goes through an elaborate selection process to achieve the position. They are trained to understand hospice care, provide companionship, support, and even bereavement counseling.

Will a person of the hospice care team be with the patient all the time?

In case of serious cases that require constant monitoring, a member of our hospice care team can be present for constant monitoring. However, this is not always the case and people with less severe conditions can have intermittent visits.

Can I continue with my own doctor during hospice care?

Yes. Even after your doctor has referred hospice care to you, they remain your primary doctor, even during the hospice care process. Our team remains in frequent contact to ensure the best of health and services to you.

Is Hospice Care Expensive?

No, hospice care is not expensive. Hospice services, including medical equipment and medications for your terminal diagnosis and related conditions, are covered under the Medicare and Medicaid Hospice Benefits. Most private insurance plans also offer a hospice benefit. Thanks to many generous donors for providing donations for this end of life care.

Does Hospice means Death or speeds up dying process?

Hospice neither speeds up or slows down the dying process. Hospice is a kind of care which makes the patient live the remaining life with comfort, enjoying the family and making confirmed decisions/Will.

Do you still have unanswered questions? Still Hospice Myths are bothering?

Our team is at your service! Reachable and Accessible – 24/7.