WHO CAN RECEIVE HOSPICE CARE?

Who can receive hospice careAnyone diagnosed with limited life expectancy, meaning less than 6 months, can receive All Caring Hospice care. A physician certifies the terminal illness and collaborates with the All Caring Hospice team for appropriate services. Many patients have cancer but All Caring Hospice cares for those with all other terminal illnesses including hospice care for heart disease, hospice care for chronic lung disease, hospice care for kidney disease patients, neurological disorders, Alzheimer’s, and other dementias. Family and friends also receive the benefit of hospice care to help them support the patient and adapt to their loss. All Caring Hospice continues supporting families for over a year after a loved one’s death.

Many people mistakenly believe that hospice patients must be bed-bound, critically ill, and unable to continue living life to the fullest. When the Hospice interdisciplinary team works to manage pain and other symptoms, there is an opportunity to focus on goals that are most important to both patients and families. Hospice celebrates life and supports the patient’s individual needs.

Patients must meet specific criteria in order to be eligible for hospice. The All Caring Hospice team will work with you and your physician to determine your eligibility.

Medicare’s guidelines include:

  • Documented life-limiting prognosis by a certified physician(s), which means a life expectancy of six months, if the disease follows a normal course.
  • The patient elects to receive comfort (palliative) care, instead of seeking aggressive treatment.

Why Choose Hospice?

After receiving a diagnosis for limited life expectancy, patients make an important choice between hospice care and aggressive medical treatment, which have very different goals and methods.

Medical treatment focuses on the physical illness. It often requires intensive care in a clinical setting that diminishes the patient’s quality of life. All Caring Hospice, on the other hand, focuses on enriching the quality of life in the remaining days.

All Caring Hospice care neither prolongs life nor hastens death, but relieves pain and physical discomfort so that the patient can better fulfill their emotional and spiritual wishes. Hospice care takes place in the home. Beyond the patient, All Caring Hospice cares for the circle of family and friends to help them support the patient’s wishes and adjust to their own grief and loss. All Caring Hospice bereavement care continues for over one year after the death.

All Caring Hospice operates hospice care and palliative care programs in Youngstown Ohio and the surrounding Communities in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Ashtabula, Geauga, Portage, Stark, Carroll and Jefferson Counties. We are one of the nation’s premier providers of end-of-life care. Click here to Request Information or call 1-330-286-3435 to learn how hospice care can help.