expectations
What to Expect From Hospice
Hospice is a special type of medical care designed to support people with a terminal illness. The goal of hospice is not to extend life, but to improve the quality of the time someone has left when a cure is no longer possible. By focusing on symptom relief and emotional well-being, hospice care offers patients and families the opportunity to spend quality time together, free from the stresses of aggressive treatments or repeat hospital visits.
Focused on Comfort
Hospice care promotes comfort and quality of life. Doctors and nurses work to control pain and manage symptoms so that patients can live their final days in peace and dignity.
Clinical Expertise
Doctors, nurses, and trained professionals provide specialized medical care to ease suffering and improve quality of life, while adhering to the highest clinical standards.
At Home or a Facility
To ensure personalized care in a familiar, supportive environment, hospice teams care for patients in their home, at a hospice facility, or in other care settings such as nursing homes.
Family Support
Hospice care provides support not only for the patient but for their family as well. This includes emotional and spiritual care from counselors, social workers, and religious leaders from your community.
Modern Approach
Blending tradition with modern care, hospice offers advanced pain management, telehealth, and communication tools to connect families with the care team.
Alleviate is Southern California’s trusted hospice provider.
Reach out to discuss your options and learn more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support to patients with life-limiting illness. It’s typically considered when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired, and the priority shifts to enhancing quality of life. Hospice provides medical, emotional, and spiritual support, ensuring patients live with dignity and comfort during this important stage of life.
Deciding when to choose hospice can be difficult. Many families express the wish that they’d chosen hospice sooner. It might be time to consider hospice if a person’s condition has worsened despite treatment or if you’re considering shifting the focus from curative measures to comfort and quality of life. People with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less are eligible. Our team is here to provide guidance and help you make an informed decision with compassion and support.
Hospice care does not mean giving up—it’s about shifting the focus to comfort, dignity, and quality of life. While curative treatments are set aside, hospice care can offer medical and emotional support, helping patients and families manage symptoms and live as comfortably as possible. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Hospice care and palliative care both focus on providing comfort and managing symptoms, but they differ in purpose and timing. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, even while receiving curative treatments. Hospice care, on the other hand, is designed for patients who are in the final stages of life, typically with a prognosis of six months or less, when the focus shifts entirely to quality of life and comfort. At Alleviate, we ensure patients and families understand the options and provide guidance on the best path forward for their unique situation.
While hospice is focused on comfort, some patients may experience improvement in their illness. If this happens, hospice teams can adjust care plans. In some cases, patients may be discharged from hospice care if their condition stabilizes. Should their condition change again, they can re-enter hospice care when they become eligible again.
Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. At Alleviate, we help families navigate the financial aspects of care and ensure they receive the support they need without added financial burden.
Yes, hospice services are provided in a variety of settings, including the patient’s home, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and hospice centers. Our goal is to ensure that patients receive care where they are most comfortable and surrounded by the people they love.
Family involvement is central to hospice care. Our team works closely with families to understand their loved one’s wishes, provide education and emotional support, and help them cope with the challenges of end-of-life care. Families are active participants in the care process, and we are here to support both patients and their loved ones every step of the way.
Alleviate offers comprehensive hospice services, including pain management, symptom control, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement care. Our dedicated team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers works closely with families to create personalized care plans that honor each patient’s unique needs and wishes.
Alleviate offers ongoing bereavement support to families for more than a year after a loved one passes. Our team coordinates grief counseling, support groups, and other resources to help families navigate the emotional journey of loss and find comfort in the process.
how it works
How Hospice Works
Choosing hospice is not giving up. It’s a proactive step that allows patients and families to focus on what matters most during the final stages of life. Here’s how the process works.
Eligiblity Rules
Hospice care is available for individuals who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and are expected to live six months or less, based on the prognosis from a physician. However, the six-month estimate does not mean that hospice care is time-limited. If a patient’s condition changes, care can be extended, or, in some cases, patients may leave hospice care if their condition improves.
Referral to Hospice
The process usually starts with a conversation between patients, families, and their healthcare provider. Physicians or hospital care teams can refer eligible patients to hospice, or patients and families can contact hospice programs directly. Like all medical care, the patient and family have full control over whether and when someone starts hospice care, and which provider to choose. Following referral, hospice providers assess a patient’s condition and needs and register them for care.
Payment: Covered by Medicare
One of the most generous and compassionate benefits provided by the U.S. government is the Medicare Hospice Benefit. In most cases, hospice care is covered 100% by Medicare. This means eligible patients and families do not need to worry about costs for core services such as:
-
Doctor visits and nursing care
-
Medications related to the terminal illness
-
Medical equipment like hospital beds and wheelchairs
-
Counseling and grief support for the family
For those not eligible for Medicare, hospice care may also be covered by Medicaid, private insurance, or military benefits such as the VA. Financial assistance programs may also be available through local hospice providers.
We’re always here for you.
24 hours a day
1(800) 675-6694
Provider? Use this form.
By submitting this form, you agree to receive emails from Alleviate Care about our products, services, and relevant updates. You can unsubscribe anytime.