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Frequently Asked
Questions
Questions
What exactly is hospice?
Hospice is philosophy of care. The philosophy of hospice is to help people with terminal
illnesses have the best quality of life they can have without the trauma of aggressive
treatment.
We believe that dying is a normal and natural part of living. Hospice views the whole
family, the patient and his/her family, as a unit of care. The patient receives the services of
a Registered Nurse as well as home health aide services, social services, chaplain services,
and a variety of complementary services such as Pet Therapy and Healing Touch. Hospice
services focus on comfort, pain management, and the quality of life. These services are
delivered at the patient’s home - wherever the patient calls home (i.e. a private house,
assisted living, nursing facility, etc…). Hospice may be the best medical experience you
ever have and is ideal for people who no longer wish to go to the hospital and undergo
endless testing and aggressive treatments.
When is someone eligible for hospice services?
A patient is eligible for hospice when they have months left to live. Two physicians (the
patient’s medical doctor and our medical director) certify that they believe the patient has 6
months or less left to live if the disease follows its normal progression. A popular
misconception is that someone can benefit from hospice when they have days or hours left
to live; this is not correct. Hospice needs time to develop caring relationships with the
patient and the family so we can prepare and support all of you in the end-of-life process
and keep all of you as comfortable as possible.
Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of hospice or
should I raise it first?
The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their
physician, other health care professional, clergy, or friends.
Is all hospice care the same?
No. Many communities have more than one hospice. Medicare requires hospices to
provide a basic level of care but the quantity and quality of services can vary significantly
from one hospice to another. To find the best hospice for your needs, ask your doctor,
health care professional, clergy, social workers, or friends who have received care for a
family member. You may want to call or meet with the hospices and ask questions
about their services.
Is hospice only for cancer patients?
No, hospice care is also available to people with heart, kidney, or lung disease,
Alzheimer's, AIDS, adult failure to thrive, debility, and many other life-limiting illnesses.
How is hospice paid for?
Both Medicare and Medicaid have a comprehensive hospice benefit that covers the full cost
of standard hospice services including medications and supplies related to the individual's
hospice diagnosis. Most hospice patients and their families don’t pay a dime for hospice
services. Most private insurance plans also provide a hospice benefit. Our staff will work
closely with your insurance provider to coordinate benefits.
Is caring for the patient at home the only place hospice care can be
delivered?
No. Hospice patients receive care in their personal residences, nursing homes, assisted
living facilities, hospital hospice units, and inpatient hospice centers.
How many family members or friends does it take to care for a patient
at home?
There's no set number. One of the first things a hospice team will do is prepare an
individualized care plan that will, among other things, address the amount of care giving
needed by the patient. Hospice staff visit regularly and are always accessible to answer
medical questions. Hospice staff will help you determine if additional care givers are
necessary.
What is NOT covered by hospice?
Hospice does NOT cover room and board in a nursing home or assisted living facility
except under very limited circumstances. In addition, medications for illnesses not
associated with the hospice diagnosis are not covered and will continue to be paid for as
they were before the patient elected hospice benefits.
How long can someone be on hospice?
There is no limit to how long a patient can be on hospice, as long as their condition
continues to decline. If a patient stabilizes, and they sometimes do, they will be transferred
back to regular Medicare coverage until they begin to decline again, at which time they can
receive hospice services again.
Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to
regular medical treatment?
Certainly. If the patient's condition improves and the disease seems to be in remission,
patients can be discharged from 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 most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose.
What if the patient no longer wants to be on hospice?
The patient or their health care power-of-attorney can revoke hospice services at any time
by simply signing a revocation form. The patient immediately reverts back to regular
Medicare coverage. It really is that easy.
How is Willow Tree Hospice different from other hospices?
Willow Tree Hospice was founded and is run by a family of nurses. We work diligently to
make your loved one’s end-of-life experience as good as it can be. We can do this because
we are a small “boutique” hospice so we can pay a lot of attention to each patient and
family. A Registered Nurse will visit the patient, usually twice a week, to coordinate care
with your personal physician to manage and treat any symptoms. A home health aide
will help with personal care of the patient up to five times a week, usually for an hour or
two a day. A chaplain and social worker will also offer the patient and the family spiritual
and emotional support. In addition, we have a cadre of volunteers who provide visits for
companionship and Pet Therapy. We can also provide Healing Touch to the patient and
family if they choose. Healing Touch is a type of energy therapy that helps the recipient
relax deeply as it lowers pain, stress and anxiety.
How do I find out if my loved one is eligible for hospice services?
Simply call Willow Tree Hospice at 610-869-2201 and we will help evaluate your situation
and, along with our Medical Director, decide if hospice is appropriate.
What if my loved one is on hospice service with another provider?
Can we switch to Willow Tree Hospice?
Yes, you are allowed to transfer to Willow Tree Hospice if you are not satisfied with your
current provider. Call us at 610-869-2201 and we can help you make the transition.
Willow Tree Hospice
100 Sycamore Drive
West Grove PA 19390
610-869-2201
866-WTREE77 (Toll Free)
info@willowtreehospice.com
Copyright © 2006-2011 Willow Tree Hospice. All rights reserved.
Hospice is philosophy of care. The philosophy of hospice is to help people with terminal
illnesses have the best quality of life they can have without the trauma of aggressive
treatment.
We believe that dying is a normal and natural part of living. Hospice views the whole
family, the patient and his/her family, as a unit of care. The patient receives the services of
a Registered Nurse as well as home health aide services, social services, chaplain services,
and a variety of complementary services such as Pet Therapy and Healing Touch. Hospice
services focus on comfort, pain management, and the quality of life. These services are
delivered at the patient’s home - wherever the patient calls home (i.e. a private house,
assisted living, nursing facility, etc…). Hospice may be the best medical experience you
ever have and is ideal for people who no longer wish to go to the hospital and undergo
endless testing and aggressive treatments.
When is someone eligible for hospice services?
A patient is eligible for hospice when they have months left to live. Two physicians (the
patient’s medical doctor and our medical director) certify that they believe the patient has 6
months or less left to live if the disease follows its normal progression. A popular
misconception is that someone can benefit from hospice when they have days or hours left
to live; this is not correct. Hospice needs time to develop caring relationships with the
patient and the family so we can prepare and support all of you in the end-of-life process
and keep all of you as comfortable as possible.
Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of hospice or
should I raise it first?
The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their
physician, other health care professional, clergy, or friends.
Is all hospice care the same?
No. Many communities have more than one hospice. Medicare requires hospices to
provide a basic level of care but the quantity and quality of services can vary significantly
from one hospice to another. To find the best hospice for your needs, ask your doctor,
health care professional, clergy, social workers, or friends who have received care for a
family member. You may want to call or meet with the hospices and ask questions
about their services.
Is hospice only for cancer patients?
No, hospice care is also available to people with heart, kidney, or lung disease,
Alzheimer's, AIDS, adult failure to thrive, debility, and many other life-limiting illnesses.
How is hospice paid for?
Both Medicare and Medicaid have a comprehensive hospice benefit that covers the full cost
of standard hospice services including medications and supplies related to the individual's
hospice diagnosis. Most hospice patients and their families don’t pay a dime for hospice
services. Most private insurance plans also provide a hospice benefit. Our staff will work
closely with your insurance provider to coordinate benefits.
Is caring for the patient at home the only place hospice care can be
delivered?
No. Hospice patients receive care in their personal residences, nursing homes, assisted
living facilities, hospital hospice units, and inpatient hospice centers.
How many family members or friends does it take to care for a patient
at home?
There's no set number. One of the first things a hospice team will do is prepare an
individualized care plan that will, among other things, address the amount of care giving
needed by the patient. Hospice staff visit regularly and are always accessible to answer
medical questions. Hospice staff will help you determine if additional care givers are
necessary.
What is NOT covered by hospice?
Hospice does NOT cover room and board in a nursing home or assisted living facility
except under very limited circumstances. In addition, medications for illnesses not
associated with the hospice diagnosis are not covered and will continue to be paid for as
they were before the patient elected hospice benefits.
How long can someone be on hospice?
There is no limit to how long a patient can be on hospice, as long as their condition
continues to decline. If a patient stabilizes, and they sometimes do, they will be transferred
back to regular Medicare coverage until they begin to decline again, at which time they can
receive hospice services again.
Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to
regular medical treatment?
Certainly. If the patient's condition improves and the disease seems to be in remission,
patients can be discharged from 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 most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose.
What if the patient no longer wants to be on hospice?
The patient or their health care power-of-attorney can revoke hospice services at any time
by simply signing a revocation form. The patient immediately reverts back to regular
Medicare coverage. It really is that easy.
How is Willow Tree Hospice different from other hospices?
Willow Tree Hospice was founded and is run by a family of nurses. We work diligently to
make your loved one’s end-of-life experience as good as it can be. We can do this because
we are a small “boutique” hospice so we can pay a lot of attention to each patient and
family. A Registered Nurse will visit the patient, usually twice a week, to coordinate care
with your personal physician to manage and treat any symptoms. A home health aide
will help with personal care of the patient up to five times a week, usually for an hour or
two a day. A chaplain and social worker will also offer the patient and the family spiritual
and emotional support. In addition, we have a cadre of volunteers who provide visits for
companionship and Pet Therapy. We can also provide Healing Touch to the patient and
family if they choose. Healing Touch is a type of energy therapy that helps the recipient
relax deeply as it lowers pain, stress and anxiety.
How do I find out if my loved one is eligible for hospice services?
Simply call Willow Tree Hospice at 610-869-2201 and we will help evaluate your situation
and, along with our Medical Director, decide if hospice is appropriate.
What if my loved one is on hospice service with another provider?
Can we switch to Willow Tree Hospice?
Yes, you are allowed to transfer to Willow Tree Hospice if you are not satisfied with your
current provider. Call us at 610-869-2201 and we can help you make the transition.
Willow Tree Hospice
100 Sycamore Drive
West Grove PA 19390
610-869-2201
866-WTREE77 (Toll Free)
info@willowtreehospice.com
Copyright © 2006-2011 Willow Tree Hospice. All rights reserved.
