| Q.
Is Hospice only for people with cancer? |
| A. No.
Hospice care is for anyone with a variety of terminal
illnesses, not just cancer. More
Details: |
| |
| Q.
Is Hospice only for the elderly? |
| A. No,
Hospice is for all ages. NHH has helped newborns and children
as well as patients in their 90s. |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Is Hospice only for the very last days of dying? |
| A. No.
While some patients do enter the program during their
last days of their terminal illness, hospice can do the
most for patients, including management of pain, if they
enter far earlier. How
to enroll: |
| |
To
Top of Page |
| Q.
Can I leave the Hospice program once
joined? |
| A. Yes.
Those who enroll in hospice care are able to leave hospice
care whenever they choose, should new treatment options
become available or if their illness stabilizes rather
than progresses. |
| |
| Q.
Does asking for Hospice help mean there
is no further hope? |
| A. Hospice
actually brings hope to patients and families. Upon entering
hospice, many patients find relief from pain and anxiety
and gain energy and clarity. Often, they are able to live
more fully and comfortably, allowing their families to
feel more at ease. |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Is receiving hospice care taking charity? |
| A. No
patient ever pays for hospice care. Yet, it is not charity.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, all of which
the patient has paid for in one form or another, reimburses
the hospice organization for a majority of its costs.
(Patients who have no insurance can receive care without
such reimbursal.) |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
How much will Hospice cost? |
| A. Hospice
does not charge patients or their families for any of
the services provided. |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Who pays for Hospice care? |
| A. No
patient is denied Hospice care for financial reasons.
If you have private insurance, we will do the paperwork
for you. Medicare, Medicaid and other health insurance
plans pay Hospice directly. |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Will the patient and family lose their
privacy when accepting Hospice care? |
| A. There
is an element of lost privacy with hospice care as professional
staff and any requested volunteers enter the homes of
patients and their families. However, the hospice staff
and volunteers are focused on being sensitive to the patient
and his or her needs. Staff do not make judgments about
patients' lifestyles or choices. |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Is Hospice only for people of a certain
class or ethnic background? |
| A. Hospice
consistently works with patients and families that reflect
the full range of diversity in our community, from Ookala
to Waikoloa, from Waimea to Kapaau. NHH respects the traditions
and attitudes of all people, and serves people of all
races, religions, and cultural identities. Hospice care
is designed for each individual and responds to families'
values and wishes. |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Is it true the terminally ill patient
will still be in pain no matter what? |
| A. Pain
management and improving the quality of life for people
living with a terminally illness is one of hospice's main
objectives. NHH nurses are specially trained to help patients
with pain and to work with patients' doctors in this area.
|
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Is Hospice a place or a facility? |
| A. Hospice
is not a place, but a philosophy of care for people with
terminal illnesses. NHH helps people to live at home,
surrounded by the place and people that make them feel
most comfortable. While NHH does have a "hospice
bed" in the North Hawaii Community Hospital, it is
dedicated to assisting patients remain outside of hospitals
and institutions. |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Will being enrolled with hospice result
in hardship on a patient's family and friends? |
| A. Hospice
provides significant help to families and friends of hospice
patients. Families and friends receive assistance from
NHH in the form of guidance, respite from care giving,
help with daily chores, communicating with doctors, and
grief and bereavement counseling. Hospice supports leads
to less loneliness, despair, and disabling fatigue in
caregivers. |
| |
To Top
of Page |
| Q.
Once a family accepts hospice care,
do they have other caregiving alternatives? |
| A. NHH
works closely with the family to avoid a breakdown in
caregiving. Often the staff can help families recognize
and arrange for the help they need, including visits from
home health aides. NHH also has a team of well-trained,
dedicated volunteers who can help family members when
they are feeling overtired or unable to juggle their many
responsibilities. NHH can offer extra volunteer support
when a family needs additional, temporary respite and
assistance. In addition, in certain special situations,
NHH can offer five days of respite care at a local hospital.
NHH also respects people's right to decide what is best
for themselves. If hospice is not the best care option
for the patient and family after all, NHH works with the
family to find the best alternative.
|
| |
To Top
of Page |
