Hospice care includes a complement of benefits for eligible patients, related to the diagnosis including clinical services, durable medical equipment (like a bed or wheelchair), medical supplies (like wound care), and medications. The clinical services involves our physicians, nurses, home health aides, medical social workers and chaplains. We also have volunteers available to provide additional support.

At any time during a life-limiting illness, it’s appropriate to discuss all of a patient’s care options, including hospice. By law the decision belongs to the patient or their designated proxy. Understandably, most people are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping aggressive efforts to “beat” the disease. Sanctuary Hospice staff members are highly sensitive to these concerns and always available to discuss them with patients and families.

Most physicians know about hospice. Patients and families should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their physician, other health care professionals, clergy or friends. If your physician wants more information about hospice, it is available from the National Council of Hospice Professionals Physician Section, medical societies, state hospice organizations, or the National Hospice Helpline, 1-800-658-8898. In addition, physicians and all others can also obtain information on hospice from the American Cancer Society, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the Social Security Administration.

Yes, it is your right to choose your advance directives. We do not require a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order, and we will review all options with you.

One of the first things Sanctuary Hospice will do is contact the patient’s physician to make sure he or she agrees that hospice care is appropriate for this patient at this time. (Sanctuary Hospice has medical staff available to help patients who have no physician.) The patient will be asked to sign consent and insurance forms. These are similar to the forms patients sign when they enter a hospital. The “hospice election form” states that the patient understands that the care is palliative (aimed at pain relief and symptom control) rather than curative. It also outlines the services available. The form Medicare patients sign also tells how electing the Medicare hospice benefit affects other Medicare coverage.

Certainly. If the patient’s condition improves and the illness seems to be in remission, patients can be discharged from Sanctuary Hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about their daily life. If the discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and other insurers will allow coverage for this purpose.

Your primary care physician continues to be an integral part of your care. Our team collaborates and communicates with your MD while you receive care from Sanctuary Hospice. Our team continues to communicate with your primary care physician while you receive our care.