At Open Arms Hospice, we strive to deliver the best in-home hospice care for the lives of people with life-limiting illnesses. This includes a full support system for both the patient and their family.


A MEDICARE-CERTIFIED HOSPICE PROVIDER
Let us answer any questions regarding our hospice care services. Click below to call us today.

CALL 248-516-3978 TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE


WHAT IS HOSPICE?



Hospice is a special type of care that combines palliative care and the philosophy that quality of life is better than quantity of life for those with life-limiting or terminal illnesses.

Hospice care operates under the goal to maximize the quality of life by providing tailored end-of-life care and support services.

This may include:

Pain management

Nursing

Medication administration

Personal care

WHAT A HOSPICE CARE AGENCY CAN OFFER YOU



End of Life Care
Palliative Care
Bereavement Counseling
Hospice Support Services

ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR HOSPICE CARE



In order to qualify for hospice care, the patient must have received a prognosis of six months from a medical doctor. This doesn’t mean that your loved one will die within that time; of course no one can predict this with accuracy. It just means that their illness is terminal and the doctor feels that they could possibly pass away within six months or that curative treatments are no longer effective.

HOW DO I START THE HOSPICE PROCESS?



In order for hospice to start, we must receive the hospice order from the doctor. This acts as a referral that states the patient is qualified for hospice. Then, we will look over the patient’s medical history and assess the patient in order to craft an individual care plan. The assessment can be done at the hospital or in the home, whichever is most convenient for the family.

CALL 248-516-3978 TO START THE PROCESS


FAQ ABOUT IN-HOME HOSPICE CARE

1Is hospice only for the final days of life?
Not at all. In fact, the earlier the transition to hospice, the more effective it is to control symptoms and provide peace and quality of life for the patient and family members.
2How long does hospice stay with a patient?
Long-term hospice care is sometimes necessary if a life-limiting illness does not run its course in that time. Just because the prognosis is six months doesn’t mean that hospice will end once that time passes. So long as the prognosis doesn’t change, hospice eligibility does not change. Our team continually adjust care plans to cater to the unique needs of each individual we serve.
3Am I giving up hope by choosing hospice?
Absolutely not. Hospice begins when curative treatment is no longer an alternative, so you’re simply shifting priorities to get the most out of the time you have with your loved one.
4Does hospice make death come sooner?
Hospice neither prolongs nor shortens death. The focus is on pain management and quality of life vs. quantity of it.
5How much does hospice cost?
In many cases, insurance coverage will dictate the cost of hospice care. If the patient is not covered, or if their plan does not include hospice, our financial experts can discuss options and ensure the patient gets the services they need.
6Does Medicare, Medicaid pay for hospice care?
Medicare and Medicaid pay for hospice care so long as the patient meets certain eligibility requirements.
7Do you provide pain management?
Pain management is an essential aspect of hospice care. Depending on the patient’s needs, we offer pharmaceutical grade medications and other alternative therapies.
8What restrictions does the nurse have?
Case Managers (RNs) have no restrictions in caring for their patients.
9How often do you check the patient?
Case Managers are required by Medicare to see each patient at least once every fourteen days. However, at Open Arms Hospice, we see patients twice a week or on an as needed basis based on the needs of the individual.
10How do you make them comfortable?
The goal of our hospice services is to make patients comfortable through pain management techniques and therapies as well as emotional and spiritual support. We educate our staff on the process of death and dying so they can convey the message to the patient and their loved ones. This situation is never easy, so we want to make everyone involved as comfortable as possible during this transition.
11Do you resuscitate her/him?
We respect the wishes of the patient when it comes to resuscitation. If the patient has a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, we let nature take its course and the patient pass peacefully. If no order is in placed, we are required to resuscitate him or her.
12What happens after my loved one passes?
The family is expected to call the hospice nurse, who will be able to come to the home and facilitate the process. We adhere to Medicare guidelines by keeping in contact with the patient’s family for 13 months or more after a patient has passed. We’re not just focused on the well-being of the patient; our goal is to provide comfort and compassion to their family as well. Grief counseling and other bereavement support is available for any of the patient’s loved ones.

PREPARING FOR END OF LIFE CARE



Enlisting hospice services does not mean you’ve given up; it simply means the priority has shifted from aggressively curative treatment to pain management to increase the comfort level of the individual.

Our team provides care to many individuals that have chronic illnesses, cancer, dementia, and many other life-limiting conditions, so you can count on us to provide the highest quality of care. This is why we develop care plans that cater specifically to the needs of the individual. In addition, should an issue ever arise, we’ll be there to assist you any time of day or night.

THE ROLE OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN HOSPICE



Palliative care is a type of treatment that focuses on the comfort and overall well-being of the patient. Uncomfortable symptoms are treated medically to provide maximum quality of life during end-of-life care. Common issues palliative care seeks to alleviate:
Nausea
Shortness of breath
Digestive issues

Difficulty sleeping

Pain

Hospice would not be possible without palliative care, but we do not provide palliative care outside the hospice setting. All our patients receive this kind of comfort care to make them able to focus on the things that matter most with the time they have.

SUPPORT SERVICES AND SOCIAL WORK



Consider us your support team. Our services encompass not only the needs of the patient but the family members as well.

Hospice isn’t just for the patient! This is a time of transition for everyone involved, and it may be emotional or stressful at times. That’s why our philosophy is to work with all who are involved and provide as much support as we can.

We’re all in this together! As a general rule, hospice social workers follow the wishes and requests of the family. They are available to offer a more holistic approach that addresses both the physical and emotional needs of everyone involved.

Our social workers are also available to help communicate the patient’s needs to our team of medical personnel or provide assistance with filling out any paperwork that’s necessary.

BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING FOR HOSPICE FAMILIES



We build relationships with our patients, and it is only fitting that we honor them by supporting their relatives too.

We believe that every individual we meet has an impact that reaches far beyond themselves, spanning out to their community and loved ones. In that same way, the hospice care we provide extends beyond the life of a patient.

We feel strongly about being here to support and guide you through your transition because we understand how grief and loss affect family and friends who have lost a loved one. Family members feeling grief may experience emotions including denial, anger, and depression when a loved one passes away.

One amazing thing about hospice care is that grief counseling is covered under Medicare if your loved one or patient qualifies for Medicare-certified hospice care.

 

Inquire about our hospice care today

Call 248-516-3978 or complete the form below

If you'd like to learn more about us, feel free to visit our About and Services pages. Alternatively, if you have any other questions or concerns for us, always feel free to reach out!