By Susan Acocella, VITAS Healthcare General Manager

A main concern for most people faced with terminal illness is whether they’ll be able to die wherever they call “home.” Hospice care helps eliminate that worry, making it possible for people to spend their final moments of life in their preferred surroundings.

By definition, hospice is intended to help terminally ill people remain comfortable during the last six months of their lives. The care can be administered at the patient’s home, hospice inpatient units as well as hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities or residential care facilities.

Hospice is an end-of-life care option tailored to the needs of each patient and family. It includes expert pain management, but also goes beyond medical care, by providing emotional and spiritual support. The care is provided by interdisciplinary teams of palliative care experts, including physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement specialists and volunteers. Routine home care is available in accordance to the patient’s individualized plan of care. Continuous care, during a brief period of crisis, can be available for up to 24 hours a day. Medicare pays for hospice services. Many states have established Medicaid coverage for hospice, and almost all private insurers and managed care plans provide coverage for hospice care as well.