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Copyright 2006 AutumnBridge Hospice, L.L.C
Frequently Asked Questions
We frequently receive the following questions about hospice care. You may have additional questions. Feel free to call us at 405.440.2440 with any question you have.
Does hospice mean giving up or that death is near?
Hospice doesn't mean giving up—it means choosing comfort-oriented care that will provide hope and dignity in the final months of life. Hospice gives patients and families the choice to spend their final months together in a way that is meaningful to them.
About Hospice Care
Also, choosing hospice doesn't necessarily mean that death is imminent. Medicare designed the hospice benefit to provide care for the final six months. Patients who live beyond six months can continue to receive hospice services as long as their health continues to decline and they continue to meet hospice eligibility criteria.
Isn't hospice care only for patients with cancer?
No. Hospice care is for patients with any terminal illness. For more information, see our page on who is eligible for hospice.
Where is hospice care provided?
Hospice care is provided wherever the patient lives—at a private residence, nursing facility, assisted living, retirement center, or senior center.
How is hospice care different from home health care?
Home health care focuses on getting the patient better or treating one specific health issue. With hospice care, the family and hospice team recognize that the patient probably won't get better and choose to focus on comfort care instead.
Hospice care also differs from home health in that the hospice team provides emotional and spiritual support for the entire family. With hospice, patients and families receive visits from a full team of caregivers, including nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. Through hospice, families also receive 13 months of grief support following the loss of their loved one.
What if the patient gets better?
From time to time, hospice patients do get better and are discharged from service. Our team can continue to check on the patient and provide emotional and spiritual support if the family wants us to do so. If the patient begins to decline at some point in the future, the family can choose to begin hospice services again.
What if my doctor doesn't mention hospice?
If your doctor doesn't mention hospice, feel free to bring it up and discuss it with him or her.
What does the admission process involve?
Once a family decides to begin hospice services, the patient's personal physician will write orders to begin the admission process. Our hospice admission nurse will visit the patient and complete a medical assessment. Your family will also meet with a member of our team to complete the necessary admission paperwork. Once the assessment and paperwork is completed, hospice services will begin.
How do I get more information?
If you have additional questions about hospice care, feel free to call us at 405.440.2440. We are happy to visit with you at any time.
Isn't hospice care only for patients with cancer?
No. Hospice care is for patients with any terminal illness. For more information, see our page on who is eligible for hospice.
Where is hospice care provided?
Hospice care is provided wherever the patient lives—at a private residence, nursing facility, assisted living, retirement center, or senior center.
How is hospice care different from home health care?
Home health care focuses on getting the patient better or treating one specific health issue. With hospice care, the family and hospice team recognize that the patient probably won't get better and choose to focus on comfort care instead.
Hospice care also differs from home health in that the hospice team provides emotional and spiritual support for the entire family. With hospice, patients and families receive visits from a full team of caregivers, including nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. Through hospice, families also receive 13 months of grief support following the loss of their loved one.
What if the patient gets better?
From time to time, hospice patients do get better and are discharged from service. Our team can continue to check on the patient and provide emotional and spiritual support if the family wants us to do so. If the patient begins to decline at some point in the future, the family can choose to begin hospice services again.
What if my doctor doesn't mention hospice?
If your doctor doesn't mention hospice, feel free to bring it up and discuss it with him or her.
What does the admission process involve?
Once a family decides to begin hospice services, the patient's personal physician will write orders to begin the admission process. Our hospice admission nurse will visit the patient and complete a medical assessment. Your family will also meet with a member of our team to complete the necessary admission paperwork. Once the assessment and paperwork is completed, hospice services will begin.
How do I get more information?
If you have additional questions about hospice care, feel free to call us at 405.440.2440. We are happy to visit with you at any time.