Hospice care is a specialized program that offers comfort and support to terminally ill individuals and their families. In Chicago, services are usually provided in the home or wherever a patient is living, and hospice is beneficial for everyone involved.
At its core, hospice care is concerned with meeting the holistic needs of patients who are nearing the end of life and are no longer seeking curative treatments. Support for family members is included, too – and hospice is a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans.
However, regardless of the type of health coverage, for services to come at no cost, they must be provided by a Medicare-approved hospice agency. In addition, a plan of care (POC) must be established. Essentially, the document is like a plan of action, one that outlines the specific care and support needed for a terminally ill individual to remain in the comfort of their own home at the end of life. Hospice care plans are highly customized, and each includes the patient’s preferences, family involvement and other considerations, such as safety concerns and caregiver needs.
How the Hospice Plan of Care is Created
All of the services provided to a Chicago hospice patient and their family must follow the plan of care – but since they have a hand in its creation, the hospice POC should reflect everyone’s goals and priorities.
In developing the care plan, an interdisciplinary group of skilled professionals that includes nurses, doctors, social workers, therapists and counselors assess the needs, preferences and end-of-life wishes of the patient and their loved ones. A hospice nurse creates the official POC in collaboration with the terminally ill individual, the attending physician (if any) and family representatives.
More often than not, the primary caregivers of Chicago hospice patients are spouses, adult children, close relatives and trusted friends. In any case, the hospice agency is tasked with making sure that everyone gets the education and training they need to handle their responsibilities as identified in the plan of care.
What Hospice Services are Included?
In brief, all medical care and services necessary to provide a hospice patient with comfort and support at the end of life are included in the POC. The types of services offered by Medicare-approved hospice agencies in Chicago include:
- Medications and therapies for pain and symptom management
- Medical equipment and medical supplies needed for in-home care
- Regular in-home visits by members of the hospice care team
- Coaching for caregivers on what to expect and how to handle crises
- Short-term continuous home care when medically necessary
- Temporary inpatient care to deal with serious health concerns
- Respite care to provide overwhelmed caregivers with a break
- Intermittent assistance with the patient’s personal care needs
- Support regarding the emotional and spiritual aspects of dying
- Bereavement care services for surviving loved ones and friends
While comprehensive, the hospice plan of care doesn’t include any services that aren’t covered. Whether the terminally ill individual has Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance, coverage typically doesn’t allow for any of the following:
- Life-extending medical treatments and therapies intended to cure the illness
- Medications prescribed for curative purposes rather than patient comfort
- Room and board for a nursing home, unless for inpatient or respite care
- Health care and support for problems unrelated to the terminal condition
- Ambulance and emergency room services unless arranged by the hospice
Chicago patients may have coverage for some of the services listed above, so please contact our local agency for more specific information.
Updating the Hospice Plan of Care
The principal goal of hospice care is to keep terminally ill patients as comfortable as possible at home. Consequently, the plan of care can always be adjusted to address issues that arise.
The interdisciplinary group reviews and revises the hospice POC as frequently as the patient’s condition requires. Whatever the circumstances, the care plan is reassessed no less often than every 15 days to ensure the services and support provided still meet the needs of the patient and the family.
However, as we mentioned, the primary caregivers of most Chicago hospice patients are close relatives and friends. Being in the home more of the time, these caregivers may notice new symptoms or medical issues early on. The hospice team may decide to modify the plan of care in the event a caregiver reports that the patient is experiencing any of the following:
- A change in the frequency of bowel movements
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Reddened skin areas, bedsores or skin breakdown
- New or worsening abdominal discomfort, nausea or vomiting
- Dry mouth, trouble swallowing or a change in appetite
- Sudden or increasing pain, confusion or drowsiness
- Personality changes and new problems with relationships
At Suncrest, a Medicare-approved hospice agency serving Northbrook, Westmont and the greater Chicago area, we recognize the importance of providing patient-centered care. Everyone deserves the right to make their own decisions at the end of life, and we’re here to help make that happen.
With us, terminally ill individuals and their loved ones drive the hospice plan of care, and we respect each person’s wishes, beliefs and preferences. Dignity, comfort and a greater quality of life are what we aim to provide, and the Suncrest team makes every effort to make the end-of-life experience a positive one. For more information about our Chicago hospice services, or to discuss an appropriate hospice plan of care for someone you hold dear, contact us online or contact one of our local offices today.
