How Does Hospice Work? Understanding the Hospice Care Process

Hospice care provides comfort and enhances quality of life for individuals facing terminal illness. At Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, we are dedicated to guiding patients and families through this journey with clarity and compassionate support. 

What is hospice? 

To understand how hospice works, it’s important to know that hospice care is about managing symptoms, relieving pain, and addressing emotional and spiritual needs. The goal of hospice is not to cure the illness but to offer comfort and dignity. Patients receive care from a dedicated team of professionals - including doctors, nurses, social workers, and home health aides - who create a personalized care plan that includes:

• Nurse visits and 24/7 support: Regular check-ins from hospice nurses, with round-the-clock phone support for emergencies. 
• Family involvement: Family members and caregivers provide day-to-day care, with training and guidance from hospice staff. Respire care options are also available to allow caregivers a temporary break. 
• Equipment and homemaker services: Medical equipment, like hospital beds and oxygen, is provided as needed. Homemaker services such as meal preparation and light housekeeping are also available. 
• Bereavement counseling: Crossroads provides grief support and resources for families for at least 13 months following a loved one’s passing. 

Hospice is more than just treatment for those facing a terminal illness. It’s a philosophy of care. Crossroads specializes in easing the pain, discomfort, and distress patients experience, whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual by surrounding each patient with a team of professionals. 

A patient’s care team will coordinate the ordering, delivery, and set up of all necessary medication, hospice medical equipment, and hospice supplies. Upon delivery, the Crossroads team will instruct patients and caregivers on how to properly use the medical equipment and supplies provided. 

The hospice care team is complete with certified physicians, nurses, social workers, home health aides and more to support both the wants and needs of each patient. The team also helps to guide a patient’s family members through the care process and provides additional support to them during treatment and after the loss of a loved one. 

Who is eligible for hospice? 

Many families reach out to hospice during their loved one’s final days or weeks, not realizing that eligibility often begins much earlier. One of the most common reflections we hear from families at Crossroads is “I wish I had known sooner.” 
 
Hospice is available to those diagnosed with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less. Some signs that a patient may be eligible for hospice include frequent ER visits, worsening symptoms, progressive weight loss, cognitive changes, or reduced ability to perform daily activities. Conditions commonly requiring hospice care include the final stages of:

• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) 
• Cancer 
• COPD 
• Congestive Heart Failure 
• Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) / Stroke 
• Dementia 
• Diabetes 
• HIV/AIDS 
• Kidney Failure 
• Liver Disease 
• Lung Cancer  
• Neurological Conditions (Parkinson’s, MS, Huntington’s Disease) 
• Pancreatic Cancer  
• Sepsis 

 
If you notice these changes, speak with a healthcare provider to explore hospice eligibility and available options. Hospice care can be started at any time, and if a patient’s condition improves, they can pause hospice services and resume when needed. The benefits of hospice are such that patients and their families can have an enhanced quality of life at the end of life, so don’t wait too long.

How does hospice work at home?

Hospice care can be delivered wherever the patient resides, whether in their own home, a care facility, or an assisted living community. In-home hospice care works by tailoring visits to the patient’s needs – some may require daily visits, while others need less frequent check-ins. Regardless of the setting, the hospice team provides 24/7 availability for emergencies and support.  

Crossroads provides hospice care in the home and in facilities throughout the Midwest, Northeast and Southern Regions of the United States. Each of our locations offer the same high-quality services and programs to care for those who qualify for hospice.

How is hospice paid for?

Hospice is usually covered by Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, and most private insurance plans. For those without coverage, Crossroads can discuss payment options to ensure access to necessary care. Learn more about paying for hospice care.

Contact Crossroads 24/7 for hospice help.

Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care provides not only compassionate care for patients but also supportive resources for their families. If you’d like more information on how hospice works, the hospice process, or any other questions, call us at 855-327-4677 or through one of the contact options in the help bar above to learn more about the hospice process. You can also and find answers to common questions. 

If you found this information helpful, please share it with your network and community.
Copyright © 2018 Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care. All rights reserved.