November is National Hospice Month, honoring hospice and the hospice team: physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers that provide this service.




According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care (NHPCO) Web site, "The focus of hospice relies on the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and that our loved ones will receive the necessary support to allow us to do so."
Hospice is designed for patients facing a life-limiting illness. Hospice cares for these patients and their families offering medical, spiritual, emotional and bereavement support. Hospice services can be provided to patients in their homes, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and in an inpatient setting for patients requiring a higher level of care or respite services. Hospice is not a place, but a level of care for patients and families designed to allow patients at the end-of-life to live with dignity, compassion and comfort.
"We develop relationships with hospices in the community. We currently have seven or eight different hospice providers that come into the facility," said Bruce Grissom, director of Social Services, Southeastern Pennsylvania Veterans' Center in Spring City. "Veterans and their families make the decision which hospice to use."
The cost for hospice services is covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, Medicaid Hospice Benefit and most private insurances. Patients and families have no out-of-pocket expenses for medications to control symptoms and pain, medical equipment and supplies, physician visits, nursing care, home health aide services, inpatient care for pain and symptom management, social work services and grief support.
"It is a common misconception that hospice comes in and takes over the total care of the veteran in the nursing home setting. Hospice offers supplemental care and support, pain management expertise and assistance with extra personal care and social services for counseling and support," Grissom said.
"Hospice also provides a lot of support and bereavement services to families after death."
The hospice team works in conjunction with the patient and family to determine the patient's needs and wishes. A plan of care is developed specifically for that patient. Hospice focuses on care and comfort.
"This is one more measure of comfort that our facility can offer veterans and their families," Grissom said.
Contact the NHPCO at www.nhpco.org or call 800-658-8896 to learn more about hospice or to find a provider in your area.
"Families respond positively to what hospice has to offer once they experience it. Many families express that they had no idea what a wonderful service hospice is," Grissom said.