When Is the Right Time for Hospice Care?

Is someone you love facing a life-limiting illness? Has your mother or father decided to cease treatment for cancer, ALS, or another serious disease?

If so, it may be the right time to talk to your family about hospice care at Brunswick Cove.

The Importance of Hospice

“We wish we had called hospice sooner.”

Thousands of Americans and their loved ones have benefited from the compassionate care of hospice workers, and many of them have expressed that their only regret was that they didn’t contact hospice sooner in the process.

Hospice is provided in any community the patient calls home, including skilled nursing communities, and at Brunswick Cove, we offer this service to our residents who want it.

But how do you know when is the right time for hospice care?

When Should You Call for Hospice Care?

Hospice care should be contacted if the patient has a serious illness with less than six months to live. The patient must only be seeking care to manage their symptoms—not care to cure the disease.

Because so many families benefit greatly from hospice, it’s suggested that you contact hospice as soon as it’s appropriate. Sadly, many suffer needlessly because hospice was only contacted during the last few weeks of life.

Many don’t seek assistance earlier because they believe several misconceptions about Hospice, so it’s important for you to be sure that you have the most accurate information.

What Is Hospice?

Hospice is compassionate care that manages symptoms of serious illnesses for those who have six months or less to live. Hospice only starts after curative treatments have stopped—that means the patient must not be seeking treatment to cure his or her illness.

While the majority of hospice patients have cancer, hospice actually helps those with a variety of serious diseases, including:

  • ALS
  • Heart disease
  • AIDS
  • End-stage kidney disease
  • Lung failure

The goal is to create a customized plan of care that manages symptoms while increasing the quality of life. In many cases, those in hospice care are able to enjoy the activities they did previously, in addition to spending more quality time with family and friends. In fact, most patients actually live longer in hospice care.

Who Are Members of The Hospice Care Team?

Members of the hospice care team take a multifaceted approach to care. These members can include:

The hospice team works closely with the family and the resident to assess physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

Who Pays for Hospice?

Medicare and most private insurances have a hospice benefit. While Medicare will pay for hospice care, it typically does not cover the room and board. There may also be additional copays for medication and other such charges.

If you’re not clear about how much you may have to pay for hospice care, please contact us. We’ll be happy to walk through the process with you.

Special Hospice Programs for Veterans

Hospice participates in the We Honor Veterans program that specifically addresses the needs of men and women who have served in the military. This is done through vet-to-vet volunteer programs that pair a veteran in hospice care to another veteran in order to address the specific needs of those who have served their country.

Brunswick Cove Offers The Comprehensive Services Your Loved One Needs

In addition to quality nursing care and both assisted living and skilled nursing communities, Brunswick Cove has wound care treatments that are recognized as the leader in the five-county area.

These services include:

  • Access to a compounding pharmacy
  • TPN (total parenteral nutrition)
  • Access to a surgical center team
  • Seamless continuity of care

Most importantly, we treat our residents like family, surrounding them with a friendly staff in an environment that is peaceful and inviting. We encourage regular activities and offer an extensive scope of rehabilitation services.

Are you interested in discovering why our residents love living at Brunswick Cove. Contact us for more information before our spaces are filled.