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Hospice Answers Q&A
We know you have many questions—we have the answers. For more information, please call 224-770-2489 to talk with a member of our Care Coordination team, or click on the Live Chat button at the top of the page to instant message a team member.
Hospice FAQ’s
What is hospice?
What are the goals of hospice?
When is the right time for hospice?
What can I expect from hospice care?
How will hospice be able to manage pain and other symptoms?
Are all hospices the same?
How is hospice paid for?
Where is hospice care provided?
Is the patient’s personal physician involved in the hospice care?
What happens if help is needed in the middle of the night?
Does the patient need a full-time caregiver at all times?
Who will teach the caregiver what to do?
Does hospice do anything to hasten death?
How do I cope with the loss of my loved one?
How long has Hospice of Northeastern Illinois been providing hospice care?
Q: What is hospice?
A: Hospice is not one nationwide organization, but many individual profit and nonprofit agencies and organizations that differ in their mission and approach to providing care. Basically, hospice is an organized way of providing care and support to an individual and his/her family during the later stages of life, typically the last six months. Hospice is considered a holistic approach because it addresses emotional, social, spiritual and practical aspects of life, in addition to physical and medical issues. Hospice is available for people with any life-limiting illness or condition—a person who has an illness or condition that is no longer responding to medical treatment, or a person whose physical conditions are unlikely to benefit from available medical care and continued treatment will prolong suffering or lower quality of life.
Q: What are the goals of hospice?
A: The goals of hospice are to:
- relieve or control physical pain or symptoms
- promote maximum comfort and independence for the patient and family—focusing on quality of life
- assist the patient and family to reach their end-of-life goals and honor the patient’s need for meaning and dignity
- offer grief support to the family at the end-of-life
Q: When is the right time for hospice?
A: The time for hospice to begin is usually when a person decides to choose medical and physical care that focuses on comfort, symptom management and quality of life, not on curing or reversing a disease or condition. The decision to choose hospice usually requires understanding what specific benefits hospice will provide. The best way to decide if hospice will support a patient and his or her family’s needs is to call our Care Coordination team at 224-770-2489 and talk about your situation. You may also request an informational visit. Ask your physician or contact us to arrange a consult. Informational visits are free of charge and available seven days a week, mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Q: What can I expect from hospice care?
A: Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois promises to give patients and families a carefully coordinated, individualized care plan that includes professional, quality hospice care that enhances life and addresses physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois meets and exceeds state and federal requirements and is recognized for its services by The Joint Commission (TJC), a national organization that surveys health care organizations.
Q: How will hospice be able to manage pain and other symptoms?
A: Hospice nurses and doctors are trained in the use of the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. Specialists trained in integrative therapies such as music therapy, art therapy, and massage therapy, as well as others specializing in spiritual guidance, diet counseling and other interventions that foster comfort and peace, may be part of the patient’s individualized care plan. Hospice believes that emotional and spiritual pain are just as real and in need of attention as physical pain. Counselors, including professionally trained spiritual caregivers, are available to assist family members as well as patients.
Q: Are all hospices the same?
A: There are national standards of care for all hospices, but hospices are not necessarily the same. A hospice can be associated with any number of organizations or facilities and may also be for-profit or not-for-profit. Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization governed by a community Board of Directors.
Q: Who pays for hospice?
A: Hospice coverage is available through Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), the Medicaid system of Illinois, and most insurance policies. Commercial insurance for hospice coverage does vary, so families should of course check with the patient’s employer or insurance provider. For patients and families in need, Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois provides care regardless of ability to pay.
Q: Where is hospice care provided?
A: Hospice care takes place in the home, or any place that a patient is calling home—a nursing home, assisted living facility, long-term care community, hospital, as well as Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois’ inpatient units in Barrington and Woodstock.
Q: Is the patient’s personal physician involved in the hospice care?
A: Yes, the patient’s personal physician can still provide care while the patient is receiving hospice services from Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois. The hospice nurse will consult with the physician on a regular basis regarding the patient’s medical needs. The physician may request hospice care for you by calling 224-770-2489 or send a request for care online.
Q: What happens if help is needed in the middle of the night?
A: Our hospice care team is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On-call staff is available when you need us. Your nurse will give you a number to call when you need assistance.
Q: Does the patient need a full-time caregiver at all times?
A: Every hospice patient is unique. Typically, a 24-hour caregiver in the home would not be required in the early phase of hospice care, but might be necessary as the patient’s condition changes. When a patient is living in a long-term care facility or is hospitalized, their facility staff is usually available around the clock. For patients in a private home, a loved one would need to be available or a professional caregiver would need to be hired to come into the home. If this were not possible, the patient may need to transition to a long-term care facility or hospital. If symptom management is difficult, the patient may be able to transfer to one of our Inpatient units in Barrington or Woodstock to have the situation controlled.
Q: Who will teach the caregiver what to do?
A: Answering questions and providing information is an important part of the hospice care provided by Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois. Your Hospice care team provides basic support and education for caregivers, while the HPNI Education Department offers additional information, resources and educational opportunities. Your Patient Care Team is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.
Q: Does hospice do anything to hasten death?
A: Hospice does not speed up or slow down the dying process. The hospice care team offers a presence, professional care and expertise during the dying process, while also providing symptom and pain management.
Q: How do I cope with the loss of my loved one?
A: Not alone. Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois’ grief counselors will provide support for up to 13 months after your loss, as part of the hospice benefit. Individual counseling, workshops and support groups are also offered to adults and children.
Q: How long has Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois been providing hospice care?
A: Our hospice professionals have been serving patients since 1982, when Hospice for McHenry County formed in the Woodstock area. Hospice of Northeastern Illinois formed in 1984 and the two agencies merged in 1989. HPNI is a not-for-profit, independent hospice provider that has cared for more than 16,000 patients and their families.
