HOSPICE CARE BASICS
Hospice Brazos Valley (HBV) is the only nonprofit hospice serving a 17-county area in Central Texas. Our non-profit status means that patient care, not profit, is our top priority. In addition, we care for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Founded in 1989, we have the longest history of providing exceptional life-affirming hospice care in our service area. Our competitors have often referred to us as “the gold standard” in hospice care. HBV is nationally accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) and is the only hospice in our service area to achieve Elite status in the Hospice Honors program. HBV’s medical director is board certified in hospice and palliative care, and several members of our nursing and care team are certified in hospice and palliative care (CHPN). HBV prides itself in consistently exceeding national benchmarks. Comfort is our specialty. Trust is our promise.
Hospice care provides medical, emotional, and spiritual comfort and support to you and your family when a life-limiting illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments. Hospice care’s priorities are to maximize your quality of life, help you to achieve your goals, and control the symptoms that can cause pain and discomfort.
No, hospice is not a place. Hospice care can take place wherever you call home.
Hospice care is available to all terminally ill individuals and their families, regardless of diagnosis. Some of the most common non-cancer diagnoses are congestive heart failure, dementia, chronic lung disease, or other cerebral or neurological conditions.
Hospice Brazos Valley serves patients through the care of a set of highly skilled professionals and community partners. Our priority is to develop a unique care plan to suit your specific needs, wishes, and values. This comprehensive plan of care is directed by the patient and administered by your hospice care team which may include, but is not limited to, your physician, our medical director, hospice nurses, social workers, hospice care aides, chaplains, bereavement coordinators, and trained hospice volunteers. Together with your hospice care team, you and your family can regain control over what may seem uncontrollable. Receiving effective pain and symptom management, education, and support allows patients and families to focus on what is truly important: celebrating life and spending quality time together.
Hospice Brazos Valley is not affiliated with any church or religious organization. Our chaplains serve in a non-denominational capacity and are trained to honor the beliefs and rituals of each patient’s spiritual beliefs.
No. Many communities have more than one hospice; some operating as for-profit agencies and some as non-profit agencies. The quantity and quality of all services can vary significantly from one hospice to another. However, Medicare requires all certified hospices to provide a basic level of care. When choosing a hospice, ask specific questions such as: does the hospice offer other services beyond those that are required? What are the options for inpatient care? Are their medical staff members certified in hospice and palliative care? What do those in the community say about this hospice? How many years of experience do their nurses have in caring for the terminally ill? Do they use certified home health aides or nurses’ assistants? Do their social workers hold master’s degrees in social work? Non-profit hospices are community-supported and often offer an enhanced level of service that some for-profit agencies do not.
GETTING STARTED
WITH HOSPICE
Anyone who is facing a life-limiting or terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less to live and is no longer seeking curative treatments.
If you are choosing to no longer seek curative treatment for your chronic or terminal illness and are experiencing a poor quality of life, needing assistance with decision making, or would prefer to receive care in the home, it may be time to explore hospice care. At your request, a Hospice Brazos Valley team member can come to you to answer questions and provide free information regarding hospice care.
Studies have shown that sooner is always better when it comes to seeking hospice care. A 2007 study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that patients who received hospice services lived on average 29 days longer than those who did not.
Patients and families should always feel free to discuss all available treatment options throughout the course of their illness, including hospice care. If a patient or family member feels their physician is reluctant to discuss hospice care, it is appropriate to address concerns or questions about the subject. Or, should you prefer, you can call Hospice Brazos Valley to request a free informational visit with one of our knowledgeable team members. We can come to you and will answer questions and provide information regarding your hospice care options.
A referral begins with a phone call to any of our offices. It can come from a family member, friend, healthcare provider, or even from the patient. Our consultations are free and can be done either in our office or our team can come to you.
One of the first things we will do is contact the patient’s personal physician to verify that hospice care is appropriate for the patient. Once the referral is made, we will respond within 24 hours. The admissions process starts with an appointment with a Hospice Brazos Valley admissions nurse to discuss hospice services, answer questions, and address expectations. This appointment can be done in your home or at our office.
When beginning hospice care, three physician care options are available to you. Your physician can fully direct your hospice care. Hospice Brazos Valley’s medical director can work in cooperation with your physician to provide consultation, support, and supplemental services. Our medical director can fully manage your care should you not have an attending physician or should your physician feel it is in your best interest to have your care directed by our team.
Usually not. Hospice Brazos Valley staff will assess your needs, recommend any medical equipment they feel is necessary at the time, and help make arrangements to obtain that equipment. In most cases we can arrange for the equipment to be delivered to your home.
CARE SETTINGS,
COMFORT & SUPPORT
No. Hospice patients can receive care wherever they call home. Care can take place in their own homes, a family member’s home, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospital hospice units.
In the early stages of care, it is usually not necessary for someone to be with the patient at all times. As the disease progresses and changes are noted by family members and hospice staff, it will become necessary for round-the-clock care. Because one of the most common fears of terminally ill patients is dying alone, we will generally recommend someone be there continuously when these changes begin. Family, friends or hired caregivers can provide most of the care. Hospice Brazos Valley also has a team of willing volunteers to assist with running everyday errands or to provide a break for the primary caregivers.
Hospice Brazos Valley doctors and nurses are well educated on the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom control. Each patient is unique and therefore each care plan is individualized to suit the patient’s needs and goals. We also believe that emotional issues and spiritual concerns need as much attention as physical pain and we address each accordingly.
It is the goal of Hospice Brazos Valley to ease the patient’s pain and to keep them as alert as possible. Frequent consultations with the patient, family and physician help us to be successful in reaching this important goal.
Hospice neither hastens nor postpones dying, but sees it as a natural process. The Hospice Brazos Valley team provides a knowledgeable presence and specialized care during the dying process. We are honored and humbled to serve during this most challenging and significant part of a patient’s life.
Absolutely. The decision to continue hospice services always lies with the patient. If a patient’s condition improves, the disease appears to be in remission or new curative treatments become available, patients can be discharged from hospice at any time. Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage for hospice services if the discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care.
COVERAGE, COST
& FAMILY SERVICES
Medicare and Medicaid in most states, The Department of Veterans Affairs, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations pay for hospice care. Along with this, community contributions, memorials, donations and endowment support allow Hospice Brazos Valley to provide care to patients who can’t afford payment. Hospice Brazos Valley will not deny access to care or limit the care you receive due to your ability to pay.
No. The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers the full scope of medical and support services for a life-limiting illness.
Yes. Hospice Brazos Valley will assist families in finding out whether the patient is eligible for any coverage they may not be aware of and provides care to all people who qualify for service without regard to race, age, faith, diagnosis or ability to pay for services. Hospice Brazos Valley is the only non-profit serving a 17-county area. Our non-profit status means that community contributions, memorials, donations and endowment support allow us to provide care to patients who can’t afford payment. We will not deny access to care or place undue financial hardship upon you during this time.
Yes. Hospice Brazos Valley provides continuing contact and support to caregivers for at least a year following the death of a loved one. We also provide grief support groups, classes, and events available to all in the community who have experienced the death of a loved one—whether or not our services were used.
