What is Hospice?
Who is Eligible?
How is it Paid for?
How do I Begin?
Aren’t they all the Same?
Myths & Facts
Chaplaincy Hospice Care is a highly specialized form of care designed to help patients with a life-limiting illness make the most of their final months. Our services also provide expert guidance as well as emotional and spiritual support to the patient and their entire family.
Our comprehensive team includes physicians, nurses, home health aides, chaplains, social workers, trained volunteers and other professionals to manage pain and other symptoms while bringing comfort and peace to body, mind and spirit.
Patients receive Chaplaincy Hospice Care wherever they call home – whether a private residence, skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility or adult family home. For those who require a higher level of care, we offer our homelike Hospice House.
Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance typically covers hospice care in full – including home visits by the Chaplaincy Hospice Care team, as well as prescriptions, equipment and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis.
The hospice benefit also includes physical, emotional and spiritual support from the patient’s personal physician, the hospice medical director, hospice nurses, home health aides, chaplains, social workers, trained volunteers and others. Bereavement counselors provide support to families during the illness and for a year or more after the patient’s death. No one is turned away from Chaplaincy Hospice Care due to inability to pay.
The best way is to call us directly at (509) 783-7416 to discuss your situation and how we may be able to help. You can refer yourself or a family member to Chaplaincy Hospice Care. We’re available by phone 24/7.
Your physician, hospital discharge planner, social worker or other healthcare professional may also make a referral. Once a referral is made, Chaplaincy Hospice Care will schedule a visit with you – or the patient if they’re someone other than you – and loved ones.
If you make a referral, we will contact the patient’s physician to discuss a care plan. Care can usually begin soon after a referral.
MYTH: Hospice care is only for patients who are quickly approaching death.
FACT: Hospice works best for patients who begin receiving care and support as early as possible. Anyone can refer themselves – or a family member or friend – to Chaplaincy Hospice Care. An early referral months in advance of the last few days enables patients to fully benefit from all we can do to add guidance, comfort, peace and quality of life.
MYTH: Accepting hospice care means you’re giving up hope and nothing more can be done for the patient.
FACT: Chaplaincy Hospice Care means redefining hope for patients and families – the hope of fulfilling wishes, spending more time with people you cherish, the chance to say, “Thank you” and, “I love you.” And there are many things we can do to help make each moment more comfortable and meaningful.
MYTH: Hospice is a place where you go to die.
FACT: Hospice is a philosophy of care and support to improve the quality of life, and it’s provided wherever the patient calls home – a private residence, nursing home, assisted living facility, adult family home or our homelike Hospice House.
MYTH: Hospice services stop when the patient dies.
FACT: Chaplaincy Grief Care continues to provide free grief support for a year or longer after the death of a Chaplaincy Hospice Care patient.