I am living with an illness
Hospice as a Choice
We think differently about what we give our patients. To us, hospice is about hope. It is about considering who our patients are, honoring who they’ve become and preserving the memories they’ll leave behind. We’ll give you individualized care, care that not only supports where you are in your healthcare journey, but care tailored to who you are as an individual. And it is care that says: It is time to embrace life. It is time to live more fully in comfort and in control. It is time to focus on living.
We see the benefits of hospice every day, but we know for you this will be the first time you have experienced hospice as a patient. You have probably heard many things about hospice from friends or family or even the media. Some may be true and some are far from true. Hospice is probably the most misunderstood philosophy of care available.
In reality, hospice is about quality of life. As the founder of The Elizabeth Hospice said: “We encourage people to live, really live before they die. People think hospice is about dying, but it’s really about celebrating life.” It is about facing the end of your life on your terms and partnering with a team of caregivers uniquely trained to help you do just that.
We can provide care wherever you choose: at home, in an assisted living or even in a nursing home. Your choice to remain on hospice is just that, a choice. You can choose to withdraw from hospice care at any time to seek medical treatment that may become available.
When your focus becomes about the quality of life, together we can think differently about what hospice care can be for you and your family. We can help you refocus on life by controlling pain, managing symptoms and empowering you with choices, control and dignity. It is about thinking differently about care, thinking your way. We’ll begin with four simple words: What do you want?
PrevTiming is Everything
Hospice is a personal choice and should be made when you feel it’s time to focus on comfort rather than a cure. The decision to begin care is determined by you and your family.
Research shows that hospice care works best and is most beneficial to you and your loved one when started early on. In fact, our patients often tell us they wish they chose hospice sooner. There are many benefits hospice can bring that may help you and your loved ones now.
For example, our patients who begin hospice care sooner have the opportunity to make use of our expertise in helping with pain control and symptom management . Also, families caring for a loved one can benefit from the support our hospice caregiving team brings. We can share some of the responsibilities of providing day-to-day care.
Choosing to let us help earlier can increase the quality of time left. Studies have shown that individuals on hospice have actually lived longer. Reducing pain, symptoms and easing responsibilities will let you and your family focus less on the disease and more on enjoying time together.
How Hospice Can Support Your Family
We understand that your advancing illness is not only touching your life but your family’s lives as well. So we’ll be there to comfort your family and help them through any challenging days ahead.
Your family will maintain an active role in caring for you and will strive to give you the very best care. They will have the full support of our team from our expertly trained nurses, to our hospice aides who will help with daily caregiving, to our chaplains and social workers. Imagine a team of people dedicated to providing the best care possible while ensuring no one in your family feels completely overwhelmed or like they are facing this struggle alone.
Your family will also have the support of our Center for Compassionate Care. We’ve built our Center for Compassionate Care to be a place where anyone who needs someone to talk to or a little extra help coping can find the support and guidance they need.
We also help family members understand each other’s feelings and share their thoughts, wishes, and concerns. Our Center for Compassionate Care also provides support for those who have lost a loved one by helping them adjust, begin to heal, and regain the ability to re-invest in life.
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Who Pays for Hospice
Hospice is an elected benefit of most insurance plans including Medicare, Medi-Cal, and the VA. Medicare covers the cost of clinical staff visits, medications, home equipment and supplies related to the terminal illness and comfort. Every insurance company is a little different, but many have inclusive plans similar to Medicare.
After meeting with you and discussing your needs, we’ll verify insurance benefits to determine hospice coverage. If you do not have insurance, our social workers will work with you and your family to find funding options. The Elizabeth Hospice is a nonprofit community agency that provides care to everyone, regardless of your ability to pay.
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Getting Started
If you have questions, we’ll make it easy to get answers or to talk to someone about your needs and concerns.
We’re here, ready to give you more information about the benefits of hospice care, offer choices and options, or help you begin care. Anyone can ask for hospice care.
Research shows that hospice care works best and is most beneficial to you and your loved one when started early on. In fact, our patients often tell us they wish they chose hospice sooner. There are many benefits hospice can bring that may help you and your loved ones now.
Call us today, (760) 737-2050, to begin a conversation.