What is hospice?

Hospice offers palliative, supportive care for terminally ill patients who seek comfort from the symptoms of the disease rather than cure. Hospice offers a highly trained and dedicated team of individuals to support the patient and their family with their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Hospice is not about giving up, in fact, you will find that we are very aggressive in addressing and managing the symptoms of the illness.

When is Hospice appropriate?

Hospice care becomes an alternative when a patient has reached the last phases of a terminal illness, and has been given a prognosis (or life expectancy) of six months or less. The subject of hospice care can be addressed at any time during the illness, as physician and patient discuss treatment options. When a patient chooses Hospice, the decision to give up curative measures is made in favor of comfort care, care that focuses on pain management and symptom control, psychosocial support for both patient and family and ancillary services that lessen the burden of illness and care giving.

What does the admissions process involve?

The admissions process involves an interview with an admissions nurse to discuss what the patient and family can expect from the Hospice, how care is provided, services available, and educational information about the illness and its effects to help prepare the family for the coming days. Special hospice programs available through Medicare, Medicaid and/or other insurance programs will be discussed but remember, Cypress Basin Hospice never denies services based on a patient's financial or insurance status.

What does hospice try to do?

The goal of hospice care is to ensure that the patient is as pain and symptom-free as possible. The patient's medical needs are cared for by professional nursing personnel and qualified home health aides or nursing assistants under the direction of the patient's personal physician or hospice medical director. Social and psychological needs are attended to by social work professionals, while volunteers supplement these activities with the patient's families. Spiritual needs are addressed when requested by the patient or family and are dealt with through the minister of choice, or by the Hospice Chaplain. Working as a team, these professionals, along with the patient's primary caregiver, work to assure that the patient receives the proper care and achieves the best possible quality of life.

Who can receive hospice?

Any person facing the advancing stages of any terminal illness is eligible for hospice care. Hospice care is appropriate when the physician thinks that the illness has progressed to its final or end stage, a limited life expectancy of six months or so is anticipated should the disease runs its normal course, aggressive treatments are no longer being sought, and the patient, family and physician agree that the focus of care should be placed on pain management and symptom control, not on aggressive interventions or curative treatments. Once these criteria are met, there are no restrictions on age, disease or socio-economic status. These diseases affect us all and hospice care is available to all who desire it.

Where is hospice care provided?

Hospice is not a place; it is a philosophy of care. Most hospice patients receive care in their home or the home of their caregiver. Hospice care can also be provided in long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, hospitals or nursing homes.

What questions should I ask my hospice provider?

How long has your hospice been serving this area?
How often will your staff make visits to my home?
Which hospice staff is available after hours?
What is your response time?
What do I do if I need medications in the middle of the night?
Are services provided if I need to go to an alternative residential setting?
If we need to pursue nursing home placement, are you contracted with any nursing care facilities in the area where I live?
What is your policy regarding respite care?
Does your agency provide its own medical equipment or do you contract with an outside agency?
How does your agency support the community?

Can we keep our own doctor?

Cypress Basin Hospice encourages the continuation of care by the patient's primary care physician. If this is not possible or preferred, specially trained Hospice physicians can see the patient and guide the care plan.

When is a patient ready for hospice care?

Hospice is appropriate when treatments are no longer effective and the patient and family agree to the service. Understandably, many patients and family members are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping treatment. Hospice staff members are sensitive to these concerns and are available to respond to any fears or concerns the patient and their family may have, as well as provide information regarding disease progression and what to expect. Prior to admission, a plan of care is developed based upon the patient's wishes and goals. The main objective of Cypress Basin Hospice is to provide relief so that the patient and family can spend their remaining days with comfort and dignity.

Who pays for hospice?

Cypress Basin Hospice is a Medicare and Medicaid certified Hospice and as a result receives funding for hospice services. Most private insurance plans also contribute to the costs of providing hospice care. At Cypress Basin Hospice, no patient is ever denied services based on their ability to pay. As a nonprofit and charitable organization, Cypress Basin Hospice receives generous support from the communities we serve, funds that are used to provide services for patients without a funding source.

What can we expect from the Hospice staff?

The interdisciplinary team (IDT) of Cypress Basin Hospice is made up of health care professionals and volunteers, each highly skilled and specially trained to meet the needs of the terminally ill patient and their families. The team is headed by the Hospice physician who, together with the patient and family, determines the plan of care. The nurse will administer the plan and becomes the primary contact with the family. Social workers help with emotional and practical issues, resolve conflicts, address fears, provide support, and prompt discussion on arrangements that need to be made. Chaplains are available to help with spiritual guidance and home health aides provide personal care for patients. Finally, volunteers furnish a variety of services that help ease the burden of the caregiver and contribute to the well being of the patient.

What if we have a problem on a weekend or holiday?

Help from the Cypress Basin Hospice team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nurses, social workers and chaplains are available to address any concerns or symptoms requiring our support.

Can pain be controlled outside the hospital setting?

Yes. Cypress Basin Hospice nurses and doctors are experts in controlling pain. Emphasis is on promoting quality of life by providing comfort and relief from pain and symptoms.

What if the patient gets better or changes their mind?

If the patient's condition improves or stabilizes, they may be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive treatment or resume daily life. If the patient should later need hospice care, Medicare and most insurance coverage allow the patient to resume hospice services.

Who can refer a patient to a hospice program?

A referral begins with a phone call to Cypress Basin Hospice. A caring staff member will ask important questions about the illness, previous treatment, the attending physician's endorsement of Hospice care, as well as questions about the home and family situation that could affect care giving. Anyone may refer a patient to a hospice program. Patients may refer themselves or they may be referred by a friend, caregiver, relative, social worker, nurse, hospital, nursing home or physician. Our staff is available to visit with the patient and family prior to admission for a no cost, no obligation explanation of the services provided. To make a referral, call (888) 429-2966 or (903) 577-1510 and ask for the admissions coordinator. The following patient information will be requested:

v Patient's name
v Patient's phone number
v Patient's physician's name
v The name and phone number of the person making a referral.

After a patient has been referred, the Admissions Staff will contact the patient's private physician to obtain consent to talk to the patient about the programs and services of Cypress Basin Hospice. Information necessary to complete the referral will also be obtained and an appointment will be made to review the services with the patient and caregiver as well as establish a care plan should the patient or their representative elect hospice services.

Should I wait for our physician to bring up the subject of Hospice, or can I raise it first?

The decision to choose Hospice should be made by patient and family with the input of a physician. Open and honest discussion about treatment options should be held throughout the course of the illness. If a patient or family feels that a physician is reluctant to discuss Hospice care, it is always appropriate for one or the other to approach the subject.