Selecting a Hospice program
Services and the Plan of Care
- How are the patient and family’s wishes incorporated into the plan of care?
- How are family caregivers given the information and training they need to care for the patient?
- What services does the hospice offer to help the patient and family deal with grief and loss? What bereavement services are available to the family after the patient dies?
- Is respite care (relief for the caregiver) available? Where is it offered? How often?
Staffing
- What is the role of the patient’s physician once hospice care begins?
- How will the hospice physician be involved? How will s/he work with the patient’s doctor?
- How many patients does each of the direct care staff members care for at one time?
- What services might be available from volunteers?
- Who can the patient or family talk to if there is a problem with the hospice services?
Pain Management and Symptom Control
- How does the hospice staff evaluate the need for pain and symptom management? How often?
- What therapies or services are available to help control pain and other uncomfortable symptoms?
- How quickly can the hospice staff respond if pain or symptoms increase or treatment isn’t working?
Emergencies and After-Hours Care
- How and how quickly will staff respond to after-hour emergencies?
- Are other hospice staff, such as chaplain or social worker, available after-hours?
- Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Other Inpatient/Residential Options
- How does the hospice work with hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities during the course of the patient’s stay?
- What will happen if care cannot be managed at home?
Paying for Hospice Care
- Will the patient’s insurance cover all of the costs of hospice care?
- What services will the patient/family have to pay for?
- Are there any services the patient is currently receiving that won’t be covered under hospice care?