How often will a case manager see my loved one?

Medicare requires case managers to see each patient at least once every 14 days. Open Arms sees patients twice weekly, or as often as their condition requires.

Is bereavement counseling covered?

Yes — bereavement counseling for families is covered under Medicare’s hospice benefit, and Open Arms stays in contact with families for 13+ months after a loss.

Is support available 24/7?

Yes. Our team is available 24 hours a day for patient needs, in addition to scheduled visits.

Eligibility

Admission Criteria for Hospice Patients

Understanding whether a loved one qualifies for hospice care in Novi, MI and the surrounding counties.

Definition

What Is Hospice?

Hospice is a special type of care that combines palliative care with the philosophy that quality of life matters more than quantity of life for those with a life-limiting or terminal illness. It operates with the goal of maximizing quality of life through tailored end-of-life care and support services — including pain management, nursing, medication administration, and personal care.

The Primary Criterion

To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must have received a prognosis of six months or less from a medical doctor. This doesn’t mean a loved one will pass away within that time — no one can predict that with certainty. It means the illness is terminal and curative treatments are no longer effective, or no longer desired.

What Hospice Offers

End-of-life care
Palliative care
Bereavement counseling
Hospice support services

Care Components

Pain management
Nursing care
Medication administration
Personal care

Conditions We Care For

Cancer
Dementia
Cardiac & pulmonary disease
Neurological conditions
AIDS, ALS & multiple sclerosis
Other life-limiting illnesses

Palliative Care Addresses

Pain
Nausea
Shortness of breath
Digestive issues
Difficulty sleeping

Palliative care is what makes hospice possible, but we don’t provide it outside the hospice setting — every patient we admit receives this comfort care alongside their full hospice benefit.

Support Services & Social Work

Hospice isn’t just for the patient. It’s a time of transition for everyone involved, and our social workers follow the wishes and requests of the whole family — addressing both the physical and emotional needs of everyone touched by the diagnosis.

Our social workers also communicate a patient’s needs to the rest of the care team and help with any paperwork along the way.

Preparing for End-of-Life Care

Choosing hospice doesn’t mean giving up — it means the priority has shifted from aggressively curative treatment to pain management and comfort. We care for individuals with chronic illness, cancer, dementia, and many other life-limiting conditions, with a care plan built specifically around each person we serve.

Should a need arise, we’re available to assist any time of day or night.

Family Support

Bereavement Counseling for Hospice Families

We build relationships with our patients, and we honor them by supporting their families too. Grief can bring denial, anger, and depression, and we’re here to guide families through it. Grief counseling is covered under Medicare for any family whose loved one qualified for Medicare-certified hospice care, and we stay in touch for 13 months or more after a passing.

Admission Criteria FAQ

Ready to begin?

Once you’re ready, we start with a physician’s order — see the full admission process or reach out with any question.

Call (248) 516-3978