Hospice Services
Hospice services include all products and services related to the diagnosis of dementia including:
- A complete hospice team, which includes a physician, nurse, social worker, nurse's aide, chaplain, dietician, pharmacist and volunteer.
- Care that is individualized and based on the patient and family goals of comfort and quality of life.
- Supplies, equipment and medications.
- Service where the patient resides, including a private or group home, assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility.
- Inpatient services for symptoms that are out of control.
- Breaks for caregiver relief. The patient can stay up to five days in a skilled nursing facility or hospice palliative care unit.
- Grief counseling for family caregivers after a death.
Payment of hospice services is provided by Medicare and many other third-party insurance companies. Charges not covered include costs of room and board, and products, medical care, and medications not related to the diagnosis of dementia (for example, visits to a cardiologist and medications for cardiac disease when a person is receiving hospice care for dementia).
If it is too soon for hospice, your loved one may still be eligible for other Hospice of the Valley services, such as:
- H.O.M.E. (Helping Our Memory-Impaired Elders) Program - A new service designed to help families and persons with dementia achieve the highest quality of life possible while effectively managing behaviors in a safe home environment. The program provides education and home visits by a nurse, social worker, and occupational therapist to patients who are Medicare eligible, primarily homebound, but not yet eligible for full hospice services. People are on the H.O.M.E. program for an average of two to three months.
- Home Health - Short-term nursing and therapy services that allow the patient to remain in his/her home with optimal function
- MediCaring™ - Case coordination for Medicare recipients who have advanced, chronic, progressive illness and have been in the hospital within the past year
- Outreach - Support, education, and facilitation of community resources to meet the needs of patients/families with serious and chronic illness
Request a Hospice of the Valley consultation to see if your family may be eligible for any of these programs by calling 602.530.6900.