Questions To Ask Hospices

While most hospices provide the same basic set of services, each hospice may handle specific care issues differently. Before you choose a hospice for your family, learn as much about potential providers as possible. Here is a list of questions to ask hospice providers to help you select the hospice program that best meets your needs.

General

• Are all of the costs of hospice care covered by Medicare or health insurance?
• Is the hospice program state-licensed and Medicare-certified?
• How does the hospice staff work to honor the patient’s wishes?
• How often will each hospice staff member visit?
• How does the hospice provide services for residents in different care settings?
• Does the hospice use a staffing service for after-hours care or do the hospice staff handle after-hours care?
• What measure does the hospice use to ensure quality of care?

Caregiver Support

• Are family caregivers given the information and training they need to care for the patient at home?
• Is respite care (relief for the caregiver) available? Where is in-patient respite care provided?

Medical Care

• What is the role of the patient’s physician once hospice care begins?
• How will the hospice physician oversee the patient’s care and work with the patient’s doctor?
• Does the hospice staff regularly discuss and routinely evaluate pain control and symptom management with patients and families?
• Does the hospice have a massage therapist on staff to provide stress relief and help with pain management?
• How quickly does the hospice respond to after-hour emergencies?
• Under what circumstances can my loved one go to the hospital?
• What will happen if care cannot be managed at home?
• What kind of response can I expect from the hospice when my loved one makes a change for the worse?
• What services are provided when death occurs?

Emotional and Spiritual Support

• How does the hospice meet the spiritual and emotional needs of the patient and family?
• Does the hospice help with referrals to others services as needed?
• Is the chaplain available to conduct funeral services?
• Are other services, such as chaplain or social worker, available after hours?

Volunteer Support

• What services do volunteers offer?
• What screening and type of training do hospice volunteers receive before they visit with patients and families?

Grief Support

• What services does the hospice offer to help the patient and loved ones deal with grief and loss?
• Are loved ones told what to expect in the dying process and what happens after the patient’s death?
• What bereavement services are available after the patient dies?

Admission

• What does the admission process involve?
• If we choose your hospice, when will someone be available to do the admission?