Families inquire about hospice care more after the holidays
Christine Pfeffer is the director of Mid-Fairfield Hospice in Norwalk, Connecticut. She said that family members often call her agency to inquire about hospice care after the holidays, perhaps after visiting with older relatives with failing health. While home health care is sometimes the answer to the family’s concerns, hospice is an option for people with terminal illnesses who have exhausted their curative treatment options and have fewer than six months left to live.
Hospice care is usually covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. An interdisciplinary team of health care professionals, volunteers and spiritual guides works together to provide palliative care to patients who are at the end of life. Hospice care is not just for older people, but is available to people of all ages who suffer from terminal illnesses like heart disease, lung disease, AIDS, dementia, mesothelioma and other forms of cancer.
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