Taking care of our family and loved ones throughout their lives is a key facet of human connection. However, there may come a time, whether due to disease, age, or other inevitability, they could require more assistance than we can provide on our own.
At-Home Hospice Care Defined
For many people, leaving their homes to enter an assisted living facility isn’t something they’re willing to consider or accept. This can be especially true when their condition is terminal, and they’re focused on being as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. In-home hospice care may be what you need.
In-home hospice care is a service that provides care to terminally ill individuals who require additional help while in their residence. It is primarily intended to ease the symptoms and issues that come from the patient’s condition rather than focusing on treating the disease.
The core focus of this kind of service is to help people remain in their homes for as long as possible. Individuals may stay in their homes or may eventually be transferred to a long-term care facility or hospital when the care needed escalates.
Some of the key services of in-home hospice include:
- Nursing and physician services
- Pharmaceutical services
- Counseling services
- Bereavement services
- Nutritional planning and assistance
- Spiritual and religious services
- Social work and connecting with the community
- Health aide services
- Assistance with the use and installation of medical devices and appliances
- Therapy, including physical, respiratory, and speech
Does At-Home Hospice Only Include Medical Care?
Not all hospice-related care necessarily needs to be directly linked to medical care. Other important services like housekeeping and personal care to ensure that the home, living space, and patient all remain neat and clean can be part of what is covered by hospice care.
Each patient requiring hospice care has their own wants and needs. Working to ensure that each of those is met to ensure comfortable and peaceful end-of-life care is an important part of this service.
Not all in-home hospice care providers offer all services. When researching groups, indicate the specific needs that your loved one or family member has to ensure that they can provide what they need to remain at home.
How Do I Know if I’m Eligible for In-Home Hospice Care?
Hospice care is available through Medicaid and Medicare, as well as some health insurance companies. If you aren’t using Medicaid or Medicare to assist with the payments for this service, confirm with your insurance company that this care is covered.
No matter what coverage you have, there are certain conditions that must be met in order to qualify for hospice care:
- The patient must be medically certified by either a primary care physician or hospice doctor that the illness is terminal with a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
- The patient willingly accepts this type of care focusing on comfort rather than seeking to cure an illness.
- The patient signs a statement choosing hospice care rather than pursuing other treatments for the terminal illness and/or any related conditions.
Who Provides Care in At-Home Hospice?
While the majority of in-home hospice services are managed by trained professionals, there is still space for the family and loved ones of the patient to remain involved in the daily care routines.
Depending on your needs and desires, a hospice care team can also assist with training the family members and loved ones to handle basic tasks like getting dressed, bathing, using the restroom, and more while the hospice care worker is not present.
Is Hospice Care Permanent?
Choosing to take advantage of in-home hospice care services doesn’t need to be a binding decision. Whether through a change of heart, changing circumstances, a breakthrough in potential treatments, or any other reason, a patient can choose to revoke their hospice benefits in order to pursue a treatment plan.
It’s important to review your options with your care provider before making any final decisions, but there should be no penalty if you choose to pursue other options in the future.
Additionally, sometimes at-home care ceases to be enough. When the care needed for terminal patients can’t be given at home, centers like the Joe Raso Hospice Residence near New City, New York, provide residential care for Orange and Rockland counties in a scenic lush garden setting.
How To Find an At-Home Hospice Care Provider Near NYC
When looking for an at-home hospice care organization, it’s essential to check for quality care.
Check for Certifications from New York Officials
First, all hospices must be licensed by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). Then, to dispense home health aide services, New York providers must complete the testing for a Home Health Aide (HHA) certificate.
Programs run by the (New York State Education Department) NYSED or NYSDOH-approved HHATP can also issue certifications. Approved schools can be found on the New York State Home Care Worker Registry (HCWR).
Check for Additional Support
What does the organization provide beyond physical health essentials?
Holistic care attends to the mind and the body. Groups like United Hospice have a team of medical professionals, like doctors, nurses, and home health aides, along with social workers, therapists, clergy, and more. Their volunteer network is there to pay friendly visits, run errands, and assist with pet care.
Consider what a well-rounded care routine looks like for the patient in question. We recommend that you reach out to an experienced care provider to learn more about what services are offered and whether or not hospice care is right for your family member or loved one.