Hospice services provide care and comfort to patients diagnosed with a terminal illness that has been certified by a physician. Hospice and palliative care is provided through a team-oriented approach to medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support. The care-plan is developed and tailored to the patient's needs while supporting the family's wishes. Hospice focuses on caring, not curing and in most cases; care is provided in the patient's home. The services provided by Hospice are:

• Provided in the patient's home, freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The majority of hospice patients are cared for in their own homes or anywhere home may be.
• Available to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness.
• Covered under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations.
• For any person who has a life-threatening or terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.
• For patients with both cancer and non-cancer illnesses.
• Available for the patient and their family facing an end-of-life illness. Hospice assists by providing palliative care services for our patients, and education and counseling for the family.
• Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through hospice staff that are on-call.
• Typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurances when the expense is related to the terminal diagnosis. This includes medications, supplies, durable medical equipment and nursing services.

Please allow Harbor Hospice to start helping you today by contacting our office for a free evaluation to determine your eligibility for the hospice benefit.