It's appropriate to discuss all of a patient's care options, including hospice, at any time during a life-limiting illness. By law, the decision belongs to the patient. Understandably, most people are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping aggressive efforts to "beat" the disease. Hospice staff members are highly sensitive to these concerns and always available to discuss them with the patient and family.

Yes. You and your family are in charge of your care.

One of the first things we will do is contact the patient's physician to make sure he or she agrees that hospice care is appropriate for this patient at this time. (We also have physicians available to help patients who don’t have their own.) The patient will be asked to sign consent and insurance forms. These are similar to the forms patients sign when they enter a hospital.

The hospice election form says that the patient understands that the care is palliative (meaning that is aimed at pain relief and symptom control) rather than curative. It also outlines the services available. The form Medicare patients sign also tells how electing the Medicare hospice benefit affects other Medicare coverage.

No. CHP Hospice is an independent, community-based, hospice. We offer pastoral care and spiritual counseling and recognize its importance to both the patient and family. We serve a broad community and do not ask patients to adhere to any particular set of beliefs.

Yes. It is your right to choose your advance directives. We do not require a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order, but we provide advance directives resources and we will review all options with you.

Yes. We encourage you to continue seeing your primary care physician. Our team continues to communicate with your primary care physician while you receive our care.

Yes. If the patient's condition improves and the disease seems to be in remission, patients can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on with their daily life. If the discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose.

We continue to provide the same care for you as long as you remain hospice eligible.

Hospice neither hastens nor postpones dying. Just as doctors and midwives lend support and expertise during the time of childbirth, hospice provides its presence and specialized knowledge during the dying process.

Hospice nurses and doctors are up to date on the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. In addition, physical and occupational therapists can assist patients to be as mobile and self-sufficient as they wish, and they may be joined by specialists in music ministry and massage therapy. Because CHP Hospice believes that emotional and spiritual pain are just as real and in need of attention as physical pain, medical social workers, trained volunteers and clergy are available to assist patients and family members.

Very high. Using a combination of medications and therapies, most patients can attain a level of comfort that is acceptable to them.

Usually not. It is our goal to keep the patient as pain-free and alert as possible. By constantly consulting with the patient, CHP Hospice has been very successful in reaching this goal.

Your hospice nurse and other team members will make visits on a schedule based on your needs. The frequency of visits depends on your condition and is increased or decreased as needed.

CHP Hospice nurses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Hospice patients are cared for by a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, health aides, clergy, therapists and volunteers. Each provides assistance based on his or her own area of expertise. In addition, we provide medications, supplies and equipment related to the terminal illness.

CHP Hospice will assess your needs, recommend any equipment and help make arrangements to obtain any necessary equipment. Often the need for equipment is minimal at first and increases as the illness progresses. In general, hospice will assist in any way it can to make home care as convenient, clean and safe as possible.

There's no set number. One of the first things the hospice team will do is to prepare an individualized care plan that will, among other things, address the amount of caregiving needed by the patient. Hospice staff visit regularly and are always accessible to answer medical questions, provide support and teach caregivers.

In the early weeks of care, it's usually not necessary for someone to be with the patient all the time. Later, however, since one of the most common fears of patients is the fear of dying alone, hospice generally recommends someone be there continuously. While family and friends do deliver most of the care, we may provide volunteers to assist with errands and to provide a break and time away for primary caregivers. While no one from CHP Hospice will move into your home, we will work with you to establish the frequency of visits from your hospice care team members that meet your unique needs.

No. Although most hospice patient time is spent in a personal residence, some patients live in nursing homes or hospice centers.

CHP Hospice provides continuing contact and support for caregivers for at least a year following the death of a loved one. We also sponsor bereavement groups and support for anyone in the community who has experienced a death of a family member, a friend or other significant losses. Click here for more information.

A life-limiting illness affects everyone so bereavement support is available to your family and caregiver.

A variety of options are available for patients needing hospice care. These include:

• Medicare Hospice Benefit: Medicare covers hospice care. Covered services include clinical visits, equipment and supplies related to the terminal illness for the hospice patient. We will contact the insurance provider and let patients know any cost for which they are responsible.

• Private insurance: Many private insurance policies cover most, if not all, hospice services. We will contact the insurance provider and notify the patient of any out-of-pocket cost and policy limitations such as copays and deductibles.

• Room and board fees: Costs associated with living at CHP Inpatient Hospice Centers are not covered by Medicare, or by most private insurance plans. Residential care is needed when a patient’s medical condition is stable, but the patient is no longer able or willing to remain at home. Room and board fees are billed on a sliding fee scale. Our social workers can assist patients and their families to secure financial assistance when needed.

As a nonprofit organization, we strive to work with all patients and families, regardless of financial status. The first thing CHP Hospice will do is assist families in finding out whether the patient is eligible for any coverage they may not be aware of. Barring this, our patient care fund – this is funded through donations and community fundraising events – helps to provide for uncovered costs.