What if my parents refuse to go on hospice care?

What if my parents refuse to go on hospice care?

It is not uncommon for patients and their families to be hesitant and scared to go onto a hospice program because of misconception, but there is nothing to fear.  Hospice is a program covered by your insurance that should be utilized as it provides some relief to caregivers working in the home.   Yes, hospice is for the family of those who choose to live out their time at home as much as it is for the patient themselves.

People often use the services of hospice for weekly bath visits, comfort medications, beds, toileting equipment, and even chaplains, for an indefinite period.  In Missouri, a patient can receive hospice care for as long as they continue to meet the eligibility requirements, which are based on a physician’s certification that they have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.

While the initial certification is based on a six-month prognosis, there is no specific time limit on how long a person can receive hospice care in Missouri.  Don’t wait until the final days of life to utilize a hospice benefit because it takes days, sometimes weeks, to set up services.

Latest posts by Brooke Sutton, President, RN (see all)
Comments are closed.