Benefits of Hospice
Physical, spiritual, & emotional support
Hospice addresses all aspects of care
Hospice care is focused on optimizing your loved one’s quality of life and comfort. At First Health Homecare and Hospice, Inc., we understand how individuals wish to receive care in the place where they are most comfortable—their home. With home health care, families who have loved ones needing intermittent or continuous care can feel at ease knowing they can count on professionals to care for their family members.
We are here to help
Common myths about hospice
Hospice is only available for patients with weeks left to live.
Patients must be hospitalized first.
Insurance does not cover hospice.
Hospice only includes physical medical care.
Hospice care plans cannot change once care begins.
Hospice means a current doctor must be replaced.
A DNR is needed in order to choose hospice.
Patients will have to travel to a hospice location.
Hospice is only available for patients with weeks left to live.
Patients must be hospitalized first.
Insurance does not cover hospice.
Hospice only includes physical medical care.
Hospice care plans cannot change once care begins.
Hospice means a current doctor must be replaced.
A DNR is needed in order to choose hospice.
Patients will have to travel to a hospice location.
Qualifying for First Health’s Comfort Hospice Care Services
For a patient to be eligible for hospice, consider the following guidelines:
- Frequent hospitalizations in the past six months
- A change in cognitive and functional abilities
- Progressive weight loss within a short period of time e.g., >10% loss of
bodyweight over the last 4-6 months. - Compromised Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as eating, bathing,
dressing, toileting, transferring/walking, and continence - Deteriorating mental abilities
- Recurrent Infections
- Breakdown in skin conditions
- The patient has a declining functional status in ADLs (Activities in Daily Living)
- The patient has an observable and documented deterioration in overall
- ≥ 3 hospitalizations or ED visits
- Decrease in tolerance to physical activity
- Decrease in cognitive ability
Many general Diagnosis also qualify patients for hospice. A list of diagnosis appropriate for hospice include but is not limited to:
- — Cancers
- — CVA / Stroke
- — CHF
- — COPD
- — Dementia
- — Liver Disease
- — Neuro Conditions: (non-Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and Huntington’s disease)
- — Renal Disease (ESRD)
