Hospice agencies serve Fremont patients wherever they reside, whether that’s a private dwelling, a nursing home or an assisted living community. When a loved one chooses hospice care at home, they get physical, social, emotional and spiritual support from a team of skilled professionals. Family members get support, too, which makes the situation easier for everyone involved.
But what about medical equipment? For safety and comfort in the home, those on hospice often need mobility gear, medical devices and special supplies. Are patients or their families expected to buy the necessary apparatus?
Actually, all or nearly all of the items a hospice patient needs are provided. And, essential in-home hospice medical equipment usually comes at no cost. Read on to learn more.
Medical Equipment for Hospice Care at Home
Every Fremont patient has unique circumstances and that being so, hospice agencies take an individualized approach to the plan of care. When it’s time for a loved one to enter hospice, members of their care team will recommend equipment based on need. That may include any of the following:
- Hospital bed – With an adjustable electric hospital bed, meeting the care needs of a hospice patient is both safer and easier.
- Wheelchair – Having a wheelchair in the home allows caregivers to help patients easily move from one room or area to another.
- Shower chair – As terminally ill individuals become less mobile, the support of a seat makes regular bathing less difficult.
- Oxygen equipment – At the end of life, patients often need an oxygen concentrator, tanks and tubing to ease breathing.
- Blood pressure monitor – Using this, the hospice care team is able to track a patient’s vitals through the course of their care.
- CPAP machine – For those who struggle to sleep comfortably, a continuous positive airway pressure machine can help.
- Patient lift – Hospice patients with mobility issues rely on a lift for assistance with repositioning and help getting in and out of bed.
- Bedside commode – If moving to the bathroom requires too much effort for a patient, they can make use of a portable commode.
General Medical Supplies for In-Home Care
Along with medical equipment, many Fremont hospice patients need medical supplies to aid in providing care in the home. Think of the items commonly used in hospitals, and you’ll get the idea. When a loved one makes the transition to hospice care at home, any or all of the following may be essential in their care:
- Bandages and gauze
- Disposable gloves
- Foley catheters
- Disposable syringes
- Feeding tubes
- Briefs, pads or adult diapers
- Adult wet wipes
- Mouth swabs
Who Pays for Hospice Medical Equipment & Supplies?
According to data from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) the vast majority of hospice patients have coverage through Medicare. In this situation, so long as care comes from a Medicare-approved hospice agency, everything a terminally ill individual needs – including medical equipment and supplies –.is covered.
What about people who don’t have Medicare? The Medi-Cal program follows the example of the Medicare hospice benefit, as do most private insurers. As such, the cost of equipment and supplies for hospice care at home shouldn’t be a concern.
Getting Equipment & Supplies for a Fremont Hospice Patient
Once a loved one becomes eligible for hospice care at home – meaning they’ve been diagnosed with terminal illness and have six months or less left to live – no one in the family needs to make arrangements for medical equipment or supplies.
The admissions process with a Medicare-approved Fremont hospice agency generally involves a nurse assessment, during which a determination regarding the need for medical tools, mobility gear or any other apparatus is made. At this time, the nurse arranges for delivery of the necessary items to the patient’s home or wherever they reside.
When the medical equipment arrives, highly trained professionals handle the set up and placement. Instructions on safe and effective use — and the proper steps to take when a problem arises — are provided to the patient and their family caregivers.
As for the supplies needed for in-home care, those may be delivered by a member of the hospice team or by a partnering medical supply company. If the patient runs low on any of the necessary items, more will be provided.
With terminal illnesses, patient needs change over time. If additional medical equipment or supplemental supplies are required, hospice agencies arrange for them to be provided. And when equipment is no longer needed, the staff will schedule a convenient time for pickup.
Armed with the right medical equipment and supplies, terminally ill individuals can remain in the location of their choice as the end draws near. Hospice care at home allows for the highest level of patient comfort – and in Fremont, California and the surrounding Bay Area, Suncrest is the leading provider.
If you have a loved one who is nearing the end of life, starting hospice is worth consideration. To speak with a member of the Suncrest team about the medical equipment and general medical supplies we provide, or to arrange for a consultation to discuss hospice care at home, contact our Fremont office today.
