Answers and Support: Navigating Your Hospice Journey

Welcome to General Care Group, where we specialize in providing compassionate hospice care for individuals nearing the end of life. Our focus is on maximizing comfort for the patient and providing unwavering support for both the patient and their family. Hospice care addresses physical pain while attending to the psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of both the patient and their loved ones.

Qualifying for Hospice Care: To be eligible for hospice care, a patient typically has an incurable medical condition with a life expectancy of less than six months. Conditions may include end-stage cancer, advanced dementia, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Medicare • Medi-Cal • VA • Most Private Insurances • HMO • PPO

Most hospice patients are eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance coverage. For those without insurance, community programs may offer sliding scale coverage or free care.

Explore Medicare and Medicaid Coverage:

• Medicare Hospice Benefits
• Medicaid Hospice Benefits

Eligibility requirements will be determined when a patient meets the following Criteria:

The Patient has a chronic illness such as:

• Alzheimer’s
• ALS
• Cancer
• Cardiac Disease
• Debility
• Dementia
• HIV/AIDS
• Stroke
• Liver Disease
• Pulmonary Disease
• Renal Disease

Terminal diagnosis with limited life expectancy of 6 months or less if the conditions take its natural course.

• The focus will be on palliative treatment, including pain control and emotional/spiritual support.

The patient’s physicians and hospice physicians authorize hospice care.

Hospice care is an approach to medical care, not confined to a specific location. Patients can choose the setting that best suits their needs. Our interdisciplinary team, consisting of physicians, nurses, home health aides, pharmacists, and more, is dedicated to providing care regardless of the chosen setting.

Options for Hospice Care:

• In-Home Care: Receive hospice care in the comfort of familiar surroundings. Our team assists with equipment, supplies, and regular home visits.
• Nursing Home or Hospital: Hospice care can be administered in these settings, ensuring the patient’s needs are met.
• Specialized Hospice Centers: Explore specialized facilities designed to provide comprehensive hospice care.

Misconception 1: Giving Up on Medical Care Hospice care is not about giving up; it is a specific type of compassionate medical care for those in the last stages of an incurable disease. Our primary goal is to enhance the quality of life and allow patients to spend their last days with dignity and comfort.

Misconception 2: No Medical Treatment Patients in hospice receive medications to manage symptoms and alleviate pain. They can choose to leave hospice and resume active treatment if they wish.

Misconception 3: Only for the Final Days Hospice care is not exclusively for those with a few days to live. Initiating hospice earlier can provide months of quality time with loved ones.

Hospice and palliative care share a similar philosophy of prioritizing patient comfort and family support. Palliative care, unlike hospice, can be provided alongside curative treatment. Over time, if the patient’s prognosis suggests a life expectancy of fewer than six months, palliative care can transition seamlessly to hospice care.

Both hospice and palliative care are invaluable specialty medical services that, unfortunately, remain underutilized. They offer substantial support and comfort to patients and their families. Explore the compassionate care options available at General Care Group and enhance the quality of life for your loved ones.