Hospice is an approach to care that focuses on comfort. HospiceCare offers comprehensive, compassionate care for people at the end of life as well as support for their families.
Hospice Care
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice Care Includes:
While we offer several levels of care, all levels of hospice services include:
- Comprehensive pain and symptom management
- Skilled nurses available 24/7
- Certified Nursing Assistants to provide bathing, dressing and other personal care for patients
- Support for family caregivers – HospiceCare nurses and social workers can help coordinate services, equipment and medications.
- Volunteers can provide companionship and additional assistance with errands and other activities. They also can serve to give the primary caregiver a break, clean dishes, get groceries, read to the patient, or simply hold their hand.
- Spiritual and emotional support from HospiceCare chaplains and counselors
Three Levels of Care
We know that every situation is unique, which is why HospiceCare offers three levels of care to best address the needs of patients and their families.
Routine level
Routine level of care is the care provided in the patient’s home. The HospiceCare team provides education and support to allow the family to remain the primary caregivers and support the patient’s wishes of remaining in the home.
General in-patient (GIP)
General in-patient (GIP) level of care is available when the patient’s medical condition warrants a short-term in-patient stay for acute symptom control when this cannot feasibly be provided in other settings, such as the home. These symptoms may include, but are not limited to, uncontrolled pain, shortness of breath and restlessness. Patients may go to the in-patient facility for care and once the symptom is controlled, the patient returns home to continue routine care in their preferred environment.
Respite level
Respite level of care is short-term care offered to the caregivers of hospice patients to provide rest from caregiving when there is no other support system in place. Additionally respite can assist with caregiving when the caregiver has a life event such as a business trip, family vacation, wedding, funeral or graduation that requires them to be away from their loved one for a period of time. HospiceCare nurses and social workers are happy to work with families to arrange respite care when needed.
If you have questions about hospice services, we are here to help. Below are some frequently asked questions about hospice, but you can call and speak to a member of the HospiceCare team at (304) 768-8523.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are proud to serve Boone, Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Roane, Summers and Webster counties.
Deciding when an individual is ready for HospiceCare services is an important choice. General guidelines are:
- When an individual has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given a prognosis of six months or less; and/or
- When curative measures are no longer effective, or the individual elects to discontinue curative treatments.
We provide services wherever you live! Our Care Team provides hospice care to patients in their homes, one of our in-patient facilities and to residents in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities when time appears limited and comfort measures are required. Services may also be offered directly within the hospital.
Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance companies cover hospice services. However, it is HospiceCare’s philosophy that any person who meets the admission criteria will be treated, regardless of their ability to pay. HospiceCare receives funds through community donations and fundraisers to help cover these costs.
A referral can be made by a patient, family member, friend, nursing facility or doctor. Once the referral has been made, our staff will complete an intake assessment to verify admission eligibility. A nurse and social worker will then visit the patient to explain the plan of care and to assess the patient’s needs. Services begin immediately after the patient is admitted. Click here to fill out our contact form or give us a call at (304) 768-8523 today!
Are you currently receiving curative or other treatments and are interested in receiving relief from symptoms and stress of a serious illness with the goal of improving quality of life? We can help.
Please visit the Palliative Care page.