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What is hospice?
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Hospice is a coordinated program of palliative and supportive care with the focus on comfort care rather than curative care for those individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness.
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What is palliative?
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Palliative is relief of pain: the treatment and relief of mental and physical pain without curing the causes, especially in patients suffering from a terminal illness.
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What does "terminally ill" mean?
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"Terminally ill" is a medical prognosis of approximately six (6) months or less if the disease runs its natural course. Common examples of terminal illnesses are:
ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
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How much does hospice cost?
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Hospice services are covered 100% by:
Life Source Hospice views each situation as unique and will review each case individually.
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What is covered under the hospice management program?
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Will I have to change doctors?
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Life Source Hospice believes that a continued relationship with your primary care physician is important. The hospice patient or family member may choose to continue their physician relationship or have one of our specialized hospice physicians oversee their care.
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How long can I remain in hospice care?
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The hospice benefit will continue to cover palliative and comfort care for an individual with a terminal illness for an initial 90-day period, a subsequent 90-day period, and indefinite subsequent 60-day periods.
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Will I have to stop all of my medications?
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Life Source Hospice views each case individually and does not encourage the discontinuation of medications.
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How will hospice manage my pain?
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Life Source Hospice works with your physician to provide you with the most effective pain management with the least amount of sedation possible.
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Do I have to stay home all the time?
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You do not have to be homebound to receive hospice services. We encourage our patients to enjoy as much quality of life at the end of life as possible.
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Does hospice provide sitters?
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Unfortunately, hospice services do not include sitters but can provide volunteers to stay with you for short periods of time. However, Life Source Hospice can provide you with a list of sitter agencies who can provide these services.
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If I live in a nursing home, can I receive hospice care?
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Yes. Life Source Hospice provides hospice care wherever you live. This includes home, independent living facilities, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. View our Levels of Care page for details.
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Is it necessary that I have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) to receive hospice?
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It is not necessary to have a DNR; however, Life Source Hospice works with its patients to obtain living wills, power of attorney, and DNRs.
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When is it time to get hospice?
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It is time for hospice when all measures to cure the patient of the terminal illness have been exhausted and when the physician declares the patient has a prognosis of six (6) months or less, if the disease runs its natural course.
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How do I get hospice?
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Your doctor may make the referral or you can request that someone from Life Source Hospice meet with you to give you information about the hospice benefit. Once an initial meeting is established, hospice will contact your physician regarding your needs and request an order for hospice services.
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