What is Hospice?

Hospice is an all-encompassing approach to care that allows those who are living with advanced diseases or life-limiting illnesses to focus on quality of life. With each patient being unique, our Caring Hearts Hospice team develops a plan of care that meets the individual needs of that patient and their families.

Hospice is not a place, but rather a service that can be provided where the patient calls home. 

In 1983, Medicare added the Hospice Benefit because it was proven that not only was hospice care the most humane type of care for terminally ill patients and families, but hospice was also cost effective. Cost savings are realized because hospice care is provided in the patient's home rather than the higher cost of hospitals and because the focus is on palliative care* rather than the more expensive and aggressive curative treatments. Hospice care is available under Part A Medicare and through many state Medicaid programs.

*Palliative care is a type of care in which the hospice improves the quality of life of patients and their families by preventing and relieving the pain and stress caused by life-threatening illness.