Hospice, whose origination dates back centuries, is providing compassionate and humane care for individuals in the final throes of incurable diseases. It used to imply a place of rest or shelter (hospitality) for tired and sick travelers who had embarked on long journeys. Now it is more of a philosophy of care. It is defined by services and care provided in addition to the setting in which they are provided—your home or a selected hospice facility.

There are many options to consider before making a decision that will work best for your family. If home hospice care is chosen, someone will need to be available on a 24-hour basis. Obviously, this is an exhausting scenario. Relatives and close friends may supply some needed respite, but often additional help is needed to handle around-the-clock needs or possible crises. Home hospice generally costs less than hospital-based or long-term care facilities. Families often opt to keep their family member in a familiar setting. Often they seek help from in-home companion care companies like Barton Home Care. If you are faced with such a selection, you will find there are many considerations to be made before choosing home health care to offer assistance.

Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMO’s and the Department of Veterans Affairs will often pay for hospice care. Some services are provided at no charge to patients who are unable to pay for them. Medicare hospice benefits are available when a doctor and the hospice medical director, who is also a physician, determine that a patient has less than six months to live.

Gerri Tyber, Operations Manager
Barton Home Care