Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hospice?
Hospice is an interdisciplinary team approach to end-of-life care that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals. Care is palliative in nature, seeking comfort rather than cure. In addition, Hospice provides support for the patient’s family, including bereavement care following the death.
Who can receive Hospice care?
Any person with a terminal illness is eligible for Hospice care if:
- The patient’s physician feels the patient will live six months or less if the disease follows its normal course.
- Aggressive treatments are not effective or providing relief to the patient, or not desired by the patient.
- The patient, family, and physician all understand that the focus of Hospice care is comfort—pain control and symptom management—rather than cure.
How does someone become a Hospice patient?
Making a referral to Hospice of the Piedmont is simple—Just call us at 336.889.8446. Anyone can request information about our services without obligation. Our Hospice team is available to help you or your physician determine if hospice care is right for you.
Where is Hospice care provided?
Hospice is a philosophy of care, not a place. Most Hospice patients receive care in the home, but care can also be provided in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, our Hospice Home at High Point, or hospitals.
What services does Hospice of the Piedmont provide?
- Registered nurses provide nursing care and emergency visits as needed.
- Medical social workers offer emotional support, help assess needs, coordinate resources, and address financial concerns.
- Nursing aides provide assistance with personal care.
- Chaplaincy services offer spiritual support, if requested.
- Trained patient/family volunteers provide added support and friendship, if requested. (For more information on our volunteer program, please click here.)
- Bereavement care is available to families and anyone in the community following the loss of a loved one through our Grief Counseling Center.
- Children’s services provided by our Kids Path program help young people cope with a terminal illness or loss.
Does Hospice only care for cancer patients?
Hospice of the Piedmont cares for patients with any life-limiting diagnosis ranging from any type of cancer to heart disease, Alzheimer’s, pulmonary disease, AIDS, and ALS.
When is the right time for Hospice care?
Receiving a diagnosis of a terminal illness can be overwhelming for patients and families, and there are complex medical, emotional, and spiritual needs to be considered. More often than not, families say they wish they’d contacted Hospice sooner, so please feel free to call with questions at any time.
Who can make a Hospice referral?
Hospice of the Piedmont accepts referrals from many sources including physicians, patients, families, social workers, clergy, discharge planners, and others. All referrals are evaluated for appropriateness and, prior to admission, a physician must certify that the patient has an anticipated life expectancy of six months or less. To make a referral, contact Hospice of the Piedmont via e-mail at info@hospice-careconnection.org or at 336.889.8446.
How is Hospice care paid for?
Many Hospice services are reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance coverage. However, with generous community support, no one is denied care because of financial resources. (For more information on how you can partner with Hospice of the Piedmont in meeting the end-of-life needs in our community, please review our Ways to Give section.)
Is Hospice staff available after hours?
Hospice care is available “on call” after the administrative office has closed—seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
What if a patient decides not to continue Hospice care? And is the patient still included in health care decisions?
Patients may change their minds about receiving Hospice care at any time. Patients and families lead the Hospice team and are always included in the decision-making process--their opinions and wishes matter the most.
What role does the Hospice volunteer serve?
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients
and their families including running errands, preparing light meals, staying with a patient
to give caregivers a break, and lending emotional support and companionship.
All patient/family volunteers receive a minimum of 20 hours of intensive training in
understanding Hospice, confidentiality, working with families, listening skills, signs and
symptoms of approaching death, loss and grief, and bereavement support. For information on
volunteering at Hospice of the Piedmont, please
see our Volunteer Opportunities
section.