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Q: Who is eligible for hospice?
A: Anyone with a diagnosis from their doctor of a life-limiting illness of six months or less with normal progression of the disease.
Q: Who pays for hospice?
A: Hospice is generally paid for by insurance that offers hospice coverage. Patients who have Medicare and Medicaid are covered in full. Regal Heart Hospice will work with patients to assess the amount of coverage a private insurance company will pay. For costs that are not covered by insurance, we will determine an appropriate contribution for each patient and their family. Our goal is to ensure that anyone who needs hospice care will receive it, no matter what their ability to pay.
Q: Who will provide care?
A: We maintain a team of specially trained staff to care for our patients. The hospice team will consist of physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains and, if needed, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, dieticians, and volunteers.
Q: Will there be anyone available after hours?
A: There is an on-call nurse available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At times, we also have a social worker or chaplain available after hours.
Q: Will I have to leave my home?
A: No, all of the hospice team will come to you wherever you live.
Q: When is the right time for hospice?
A: People decide to choose hospice care for a variety of reasons, including:
1) Assistance is needed for the care of the patient beyond what the family can provide
2) The patient wishes to remain at home
3) The patient's physical condition declines despite maximum medical treatment.
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