What is Hospice?
Hospice and palliative care are two terms associated with the care of persons with a terminal or life limiting illness.
Hospice is a model of care for persons with life limiting illness. The primary focus of hospice is caring, not curing. The hospice philosophy affirms life and seeks to maximize present quality in living. All hospices consider the family as the unit of service and offer continuing care and support to bereaved survivors. Hospice care is available to patients regardless of age, religion, race or illness. Hospice care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance. Care may be provided in the home, hospital, a free standing hospice or long term care facility.
Palliative care is focused on making a person comfortable by treating symptoms related to illness. The goal of palliative care is to improve the patient's quality of life. Palliative care may be given at any time during the illness. The patient may receive both palliative care and curative care at the same time and does not need to have a life limiting illness. Some medications and treatments may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Palliative care may be provided in the home, hospital, and long term care facility.
Web sites for Hospice information:
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO):
www.nhpco.org
Phone: 1-800-658-8898
Oldest and largest nonprofit public benefit organization that represents hospice and palliative care programs. NHPCO is committed to improving the end of life care and expanding access to hospice care. Helpful informational brochures are available including:
- Consumers Guide to Selecting a Hospice
- Consumers Guide to the Medicare Hospice Benefit
- Consumers Guide to Communicating End of Life Wishes
Caring Connections:
www.caringinfo.org
Phone: 1-800-658-8898
New consumer focused web site of NHPCO. Information is available on a number of end-of-life issues including: Hospice and palliative care information, advance care planning, advance directives, and living wills, caregiving, pain, grief and financial planning.
The Hospice Organization and Palliative Experts (HOPE) of Wisconsin:
Phone 1-800-210-0220
Represents the licensed hospices in Wisconsin. Its mission is to provide education, legislative influence, and partnership opportunities to all individuals and organizations in Wisconsin who influence the quality of end of life decisions and care to strengthen the provision of hospice and palliative care. Includes information about hospice programs and advance directives. Site also contains an alphabetical listing of hospices by city in Wisconsin and how to contact the hospice.