There are times when patients with very complex symptoms or conditions cannot be cared for at home or sometimes family members are geographically distant or just don’t have the emotional or physical resources to deal with the situation on a day-to-day basis. A hospice house is one alternative is a freestanding facility in such a situation. Hospice houses offer a more home-like atmosphere than typically found in a hospital or nursing home. They’re designed for short stays and maybe a good option when the person requires around-the-clock care. Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. It prioritizes comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering. It provides an alternative to therapies focused on life-prolonging measures that may be difficult, likely to cause more symptoms, or are not aligned with a person’s goals.

Necessary questions to ponder upon:

Many of the questions are the same whether you opt for in-home hospice or facility care. Here are some important questions to consider.

Is the hospice Medicare-certified?

Mostly it is; therefore, they are required to follow Medicare rules and regulations. This is important if your loved one receives the Medicare home hospice benefits.

How rapid is crisis response?

Some hospices offer limited in-home support on nights and weekends, while others can send staff out to a patient’s home no matter when a crisis arises. In case of a family member wants to know who would be available after normal business hours, on weekends and holidays, they can ask about the hospice’s average response time and who will visit. Hospice should therefore provide an immediate response whenever needed.

Are the hospice’s doctors and nurses certified?

It is to be assured that the medical staff is certified in palliative care (providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness). Experience counts and matters a lot.

Plan care for the patient?

It should be kept under consideration that how quickly is the care plan developed for the patient? Some hospices can begin the admissions process and start hospice services within a few hours: even at night or on weekends. Others may only provide intake during normal business hours. If a hospice house plans a schedule for a patient on time and follows it accordingly, what else is needed for a loved one then.