Hospice Care FAQs

If you or your loved one have been given a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of six months or less, our medical team will visit where you call home to share best care options available to you.

Hospice supports the entire family and helps improve the quality of life for the patient and their loved ones. Hospice care ensures that the patient is comfortable, free of pain and focuses on providing physical, emotional and spiritual comfort. We empower the patient to reduce frequent re-admissions to hospitals or ER visits. Hospices assist in the preparation and coordination of advance directives and decrease stress levels by offering comprehensive care of the mind, body and spirit.

SilverStone Hospice, in partnership with our home health agency, is able to provide effective transitional care support for acute patients discharging from facilities or currently residing at home. Over the last year, we have been able to reduce unnecessary hospital readmission while providing personalized care in the home setting.

Services:

• Care is initiated within 24 hours of discharge.
• Additional Skilled Nursing visits.
• Appointments scheduled with primary care physician or visiting physician within 14 days of discharge.
• Remote monitoring for CHF and COPD patients.
• Social Services for advance directive preparation.

Studies have shown that people live longer on hospice care when compared to people with same illness who did not receive hospice care by an average of 9 months longer. When symptoms are better controlled, quality of life improves and patients tend to live longer. In olden days, hospice used to be an option only in the last few days or week prior to death. However,it has now become the life extending treatment of choice for patients with a life limiting-illness.

Hospice involves accepting that certain diseases in their advanced form cannot be cured, but it does not mean giving up hope. Hospice team members provide support for you, your loved one and the family as you travel through this difficult journey. We will enable you to focus on achieving a higher quality of life with your loved ones in the comfort of your home.

Yes, durable medical equipment and all medications related to the terminal diagnosis will be provided free of cost to the patient. We also cover all medical supplies for wound care and incontinence care as well.

No, receiving hospice care will not hasten or postpone dying. Hospice is based on a philosophy of letting nature take its own course without curative aggressive treatments.

Yes. We can help your loved one attain a level of comfort by using medication and therapies to help ease his or her pain and control other symptoms expected during end of life.

Yes. As much as possible, we want our patients to be alert and pain free as possible so they can live out their remaining days connecting and talking with their families.

Medicare and insurance companies will continue to pay for hospice as long as a physician certifies that the patient continues to have a limited- life expectancy. Studies reported by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization shows that hospice care can help patients live longer