Hospice Care for Mother -- What should we expect?

My brothers and sisters have been advised by our mother’s doctor to consider hospice care for her. I have heard mostly good things about hospice. What should we expect?

Hospice is a type of care for patients who are close to dying from an illness. The goal of hospice is for your mom to live life as fully as possible and be more comfortable in the time she has left. Hospice will not cure her illness, but it also will not cause her to die sooner. The hospice care team may include doctors, nurses, social workers, home health aides, chaplains (ministers or other religious leaders), occupational therapists, and volunteers. Hospice also can help your family and loved ones to cope with your mother’s impending death. You can receive mental and spiritual support and grief counseling for at least a year after the death.

The patient is “eligible” for hospice care if the doctor decides she probably has less than six months to live because of her illness. If she lives longer than six months, she can stay in hospice care if her doctor confirms that she is not expected to get better. She can receive hospice care in her home or the home of a family member or friend, a care facility (such as a nursing home), or a hospital. She also can have regular visits from nurses.

Respite care is when another hospice caregiver takes care of her. She can receive respite care from a hospice inpatient facility, hospital, or nursing home. This gives your family a break. Respite care is available when your family can't care for a loved one at home for any reason (illness, vacation, fatigue). The hospice benefit allows you to receive respite for up to five nights at a time as often as your family needs it.

Medicare will pay for hospice services thru Medicare Part A. Most private insurance companies also will pay for it. The doctor or social worker can help you find a hospice for your mother.