Hospice
Hospice focuses on the quality of life remaining when an illness no longer responds to treatment and the goal becomes comfort, not cure. Our Hospice program assists patients and their families manage physical symptoms as well as support them in dealing with emotional and spiritual issues in their chosen care setting. The program includes pain management and symptom control to enhance comfort, medical equipment to maximize independence, comfort and provide caregiver support, and regular visits by hospice team members. A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any urgent need.
Medical Diagnoses That Are Often Appropriate For Hospice Include, But Are Not Limited To:
- Cancer
- COPD
- Cardiac Disease (such as CHF)
- Alzheimer’s or Dementia
- Parkinson’s
- AIDS
- Multiple Sclerosis or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Hospice can be provided wherever a patient lives; in a private home or in residential settings such as adult family homes, assisted living facilities, retirement centers and nursing homes.
The plan of care is developed to meet each patient’s individual needs through collaboration with the patient, family, primary physician and the Hospice team members. The plan of care is adjusted as a patient’s illness progresses and the needs of the patient change.
The Hospice Team Includes:
- Medical Director: Oversees care and acts as a resource to the team and primary physician.
- Registered Nurse: Coordinates care with the physician and pharmacist, focusing on pain management and symptom control; educates and supports families/caregivers.
- Pharmacist: Oversees all medications and acts as a resource for pain and symptom management.
- Medical Social Worker: Provides support to patients and families and helps them deal with end of life issues and grief, also identifies community resources to maximize caregiver support.
- Chaplain: Provides spiritual support.
- Home Health Aide: Assists with bathing and personal care.
- Volunteer: Provides companionship and support to patients, may provide respite for caregivers for short periods.
- Supportive Therapist: Provides up to 3 sessions of massage or music therapy.
- Additional team members may include: A dietitian or therapy staff.
Referrals
Patients may be referred to Hospice by a physician, nurse, discharge planner, and family member or may refer themselves for care. Our referral coordinator makes regular visits to the hospital to meet with patients, families and discharge planners. You may also contact the referral coordinator directly at (206) 439-9095 to find out more about Hospice services or to make a referral.
Eligibility
Patients are eligible for Hospice when their physician certifies that they have a limited life expectancy, generally 6 months or less AND the patient chooses comfort care rather than continued curative treatment.
Highline Hospice staff encourages patients, families and caregivers to consider Hospice as early as possible to maximize the benefits of Hospice care. Although it is often difficult to face the fact that a disease is no longer responding to treatment, having adequate time to re-focus goals to meet end-of-life wishes and needs is beneficial to the patient and family members alike.
Patients may discontinue Hospice services at any time if they decide to resume curative treatment. They may also restart Hospice services at any time.
Insurance and Fees
Medicare, Medicaid and many insurance plans cover hospice care. The Medicare/Medicaid benefit includes:
- The services of the Hospice team in the patient’s chosen home setting
- Registered nurses on-call support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Coordination of care with the patient’s physician.
- Pain and symptom control medications, medical supplies and equipment as authorized by Hospice.
- Respite care for brief periods as authorized by Hospice.
- General inpatient care for acute symptom control as authorized by Hospice.
- Bereavement, follow-up and support for up to 13 months.
Hospice Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are an important part of our hospice team. We are recruiting caring and compassionate people interested in supporting our hospice patients and their families. Learn more.