ABOUT HOSPICE
What is hospice?
Medicare defines hospice as a program of end-of-life pain management and comfort care for those with a terminal illness. Medicare's hospice benefit offers end-of-life palliative treatment, including support for your physical, emotional, and other needs. The goal of hospice is to help one live comfortably when curing the illness is no longer feasible.
What does hospice
care provide?
Once hospice is elected, all of your hospice related services are covered under Medicare and most insurances:
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Physician's & Nurse Practitioners
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Registered Nurses
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Certified Nursing Assistants
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Medical Social Workers
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Chaplains
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Volunteers
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Bereavement Services
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Hospice related medications
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Medical Equipment & Supplies
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Registered Dietitians
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Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapies, when needed.
Why hospice?
There are studies available to you that provide statistics relating to the outcome of those who take advantage of hospice care:
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Today, 90% of the U.S. population will die from a steady decline of a chronic disease.
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Approximately 80% of these would prefer to die at home, if possible.
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However, presently, 60% of American's die in hospitals, 20% in nursing homes, and only 20% are able to die in their homes.
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Patients receiving earlier focused late-life and end-of-life care have lower rates of depression and higher quality of life scores.
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Although patients on hospice care receive less aggressive end-of-life care, they surprisingly have longer survival rates.
Hospice is your choice.
WHY CHOOSE ASCEND HOSPICE CARE?
There are multiple hospice options to choose from, so what should you consider when choosing a hospice to care for your loved one? What makes Ascend Hospice Care different from other hospices?
First you should know that Ascend Hospice Care is a physician-led medical team that consists of hospice trained Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Social Workers, Pharmacists, Chaplains, Volunteers, and Bereavement services. Our entire team is available to you and your loved one(s). It is a privilege to care for those at the end of life and we feel it is our duty to provide the highest quality of care during this time. Our patients receive face to face visits with our Nurse Practitioner, as well as our Medical Director when indicated.
Second, we are contracted with several local nursing facilities to provide care inside the facilities as well as to help work with facilities to identify patients and families who may be in need of more specific late life care.
Lastly, because we are locally owned and operated, we are familiar with the needs of our area and the patients we serve in this area. We have personal relationships with local facilities, and our staff are hired and trained locally to fit our communities needs.
Is hospice care
the best option?
Knowing the options available for your loved one at end-of-life care is crucial in the quality of life they will have in their final months, weeks, or days.
If eligible for hospice care, hospice may be what saves your loved one from ICU, frequent trips to the hospital, and other aggressive treatments that may be difficult and stressful for them. We encourage you to ask about these options and how hospice can benefit your family to add quality of life, at the end of life.
Hospice is statistically proven to not be completely understood; therefore, asking questions is more than acceptable, and strongly encouraged.
Having a hospice team to hold yours and your loved ones' hands as you journey through the progression of end-of-life care can make the process much smoother for everyone involved; therefore, allotting more time to cherish each moment.
