When to Consider Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care
Hospice care treats conditions and symptoms to increase patient comfort; it is not curative in nature. Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care is particularly equipped to serve older adult patients who may be experiencing illnesses including, but not limited to:
- Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
- Parkinson’s disease and other neurological diseases
- Heart and lung diseases
- Kidney and liver diseases
- Cancer
We realize that every person is unique. Our team is available to answer your questions and provide an evaluation.
Patients receiving long-term chronic care at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center receive similar interdisciplinary end-of-life care through our palliative care team.
Beginning Hospice Care
Because we believe hospice care supports the entire last chapter of a patient’s life, it is helpful to start hospice early in the progression of a terminal illness. Patients may be discharged from hospice care if their terminal condition improves, if they wish to return to curative treatment, or if they elect to resume daily life without any medical intervention.
Paying for Hospice Care
Hospice care is fully covered by Medicare as well as most other insurance plans. To qualify, the patient’s condition must be incurable with a life expectancy of approximately six months or less. The benefit does not “cut off” at the end of the initial six-month period, however. As long as the hospice physician continues to certify a six-month life expectancy and the patient wishes to remain with hospice care, the benefit can be extended.
If the terminal condition improves, the patient can be discharged from hospice and return to curative treatment, or resume daily life without any medical intervention. If need be, patients can later return to hospice care.
Anyone can make a referral to Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care—a patient, a family member, a physician, or a nurse. To learn more, or make a referral, call us at 781-234-9950.
