Welcome to Gabrielle Hospice Care, Inc.

What is hospice?

• Medical care for people with an anticipated life expectancy of 6 months or less, when a cure isn’t an option, and the focus shifts to symptom management and quality of life. 

• An interdisciplinary team of professionals trained to address the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of the person; the team also supports family members and other intimate unpaid caregivers.  

• Specialty care is person-centered, stressing coordination of care, clarification of goals of care, and communication.

• Provided primarily where a person lives, whether that is a private residence, nursing home, or community living arrangement, allowing the patient to be with important objects, memories, and family.

• Care that includes periodic visits to the patient and family caregivers by hospice team members. Hospice providers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond if patient or caregiver concerns arise.

• The only medical care that includes bereavement care, which is available during the illness and for more than a year after the death for the family/intimate network.

• A Medicare benefit; to which all Medicare enrollees have a right. Hospice care also is covered by most private health insurance at varying levels, and in almost every state, by Medicaid. 

When is it time for hospice?

• A person does not have to be bedridden or in their final days of life to receive hospice care. It is most beneficial when the patient and family can receive care early to take advantage of the many benefits hospice care can offer. It can be used for months, as long as medical eligibility is met.

Hospice should be considered when: 

• There is a significant decline in physical and/or cognitive status despite medical treatment. This may include increased pain or other symptoms, substantial weight loss, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, or weakness.
• The goal is to live more comfortably and forego the often physically debilitating treatments that have been unsuccessful in curing or halting a life-threatening illness.
• Life expectancy is 6 months or less, according to physicians.
• The person is in the end stage of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Who can receive hospice care?

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• Adults with a terminal illness and a lifetime prognosis of 6 months or less are eligible for hospice care.

• Hospice care is also available for children and adolescents. Rules and regulations regarding hospice services and coverage for children are different from those utilized in the adult population.

• Common diagnoses of those who receive hospice care include but are not limited to cancer, heart disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, lung disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, and Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).  

How to initiate hospice care?

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• Many individuals and families could benefit from hospice care but are unaware of how to access hospice services. Some are afraid to discuss it, some wait for a physician to suggest it, and some don’t know that they can initiate hospice care on their own, as long as eligibility criteria are met.

• At Gabrielle Hospice Care, Inc., we hear from many individuals and families who tell us they wish they had known about and used hospice services earlier.

• It’s important to let healthcare providers know that hospice care is a preference and not to wait for them to raise the topic.

Hospice is not: 

• Focused on curative therapies or medical interventions designed to prolong life.
• A replacement for nursing home care or other residential care.
• 24/7 care, in the majority of cases.
• Care that hastens death.

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