PEACE OF MIND FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
We’re here to take the burden and worry off your shoulders. Our compassionate team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, chaplains and social workers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to bring medical hospice care to patients wherever they live.

ANSWERS TO COMMON HOME HOSPICE QUESTIONS:

1Is hospice only for the final days of life?
Not at all. In fact, the earlier the transition to hospice, the more effective it is to control symptoms and provide peace and quality of life for the patient and family members.
2How long does hospice stay with a patient?
Long-term hospice care is sometimes necessary if a life-limiting illness does not run its course in that time. Just because the prognosis is six months doesn’t mean that hospice will end once that time passes. So long as the prognosis doesn’t change, hospice eligibility does not change. Our team continually adjust care plans to cater to the unique needs of each individual we serve.
3Am I giving up hope by choosing hospice?
Absolutely not. Hospice begins when curative treatment is no longer an alternative, so you’re simply shifting priorities to get the most out of the time you have with your loved one.
4Does hospice make death come sooner?
Hospice neither prolongs nor shortens death. The focus is on pain management and quality of life vs. quantity of it.
5How much does hospice cost?
In many cases, insurance coverage will dictate the cost of hospice care. If the patient is not covered, or if their plan does not include hospice, our financial experts can discuss options and ensure the patient gets the services they need.
6Does Medicare, Medicaid pay for hospice care?
Medicare and Medicaid pay for hospice care so long as the patient meets certain eligibility requirements.
7Do you provide pain management?
Pain management is an essential aspect of hospice care. Depending on the patient’s needs, we offer pharmaceutical grade medications and other alternative therapies.
8What restrictions does the nurse have?
Case Managers (RNs) have no restrictions in caring for their patients.
9How often do you check the patient?
Case Managers are required by Medicare to see each patient at least once every fourteen days. However, at Open Arms Hospice, we see patients twice a week or on an as needed basis based on the needs of the individual.
10How do you make them comfortable?
The goal of our hospice services is to make patients comfortable through pain management techniques and therapies as well as emotional and spiritual support. We educate our staff on the process of death and dying so they can convey the message to the patient and their loved ones. This situation is never easy, so we want to make everyone involved as comfortable as possible during this transition.
11Do you resuscitate her/him?
We respect the wishes of the patient when it comes to resuscitation. If the patient has a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, we let nature take its course and the patient pass peacefully. If no order is in placed, we are required to resuscitate him or her.
12What happens after my loved one passes?
The family is expected to call the hospice nurse, who will be able to come to the home and facilitate the process. We adhere to Medicare guidelines by keeping in contact with the patient’s family for 13 months or more after a patient has passed. We’re not just focused on the well-being of the patient; our goal is to provide comfort and compassion to their family as well. Grief counseling and other bereavement support is available for any of the patient’s loved ones.

If you'd like to learn more about us, feel free to visit our About and Services pages. Alternatively, if you have any other questions or concerns for us, always feel free to reach out!