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Who is eligible for care and when should we involve Community Hospice?

People often think of hospice as "the last resort" and that a person must be bedridden or unable to speak in order to receive our help. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Soon after the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness, patients and families should consider their choices so they are better able to make fully informed decisions regarding their care. The earlier Community Hospice becomes involved, the greater the benefits. In fact, many families who have experienced the services of Community Hospice say they wish they had involved us much earlier.

While illness can impact how a person lives their life, so much can be done to improve physical comfort and well-being and we are committed to helping patients make the most of every day. Many people receiving hospice care continue to enjoy social and recreational activities that are meaningful to them and we help people remain as mobile, alert and engaged for as long as their condition will allow.

Eligibility: The primary eligibility requirement for adults receiving Community Hospice care is a life expectancy of twelve months or less if the terminal illness or disease runs its normal course (six months or less for Medicare coverage to apply). The patient, of course, must choose to elect hospice and eligibility must be certified by a physician (typically the patient's personal physician or a referring physician from the hospital).

Flexibility:

• People enrolled in a program of care from Community Hospice retain full control of the decision making for their care and can decide to come in and out of the program at any time, if they like. Patients are not required to execute Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders in order to receive our care. Instead, care teams provide information to patients and families so that they can make their own decisions.
• Hospice care does not automatically end after the initial six-month or 12-month time period. Medicare and most private insurers will continue to pay for hospice care as long as a physician certifies that the patient continues to have a limited life expectancy.
• Occasionally, the quality of care provided by Community Hospice leads to improved health. When this happens, hospice services can be stopped and the patient can return to health care coverage under his/her regular insurance program. If he or she later becomes eligible for hospice again, they can re-elect to have Community Hospice care.

Illnesses and Conditions: Community Hospice cares for patients with all types of end-stage illnesses, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Complications of AIDS
• ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
• Alzheimer's disease
• Cancer
• Dementia
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lung disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's
• Stroke

We also provide services to patients with rapidly declining health, even if they do not have a specific disease diagnosis (as long as there is a prognosis of 12 months or less).

Someone I know might be eligible ... what should I do? If you think that you or someone you love might benefit from Community Hospice care, or you just want to further consider the possibility, click on How Will We Know When To Involve Community Hospice? (PDF) or call us at 904.596.6500 (866.253.6681 toll-free).

You don't need to have all of the answers. Just call and one of our admissions representatives will coordinate with everyone involved to determine eligibility and make the necessary arrangements.

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More in this section:

• What kind of care and support does Community Hospice provide?
• What services are offered and what are the benefits of receiving this type of care?
• What are the options for where I can live when receiving care?
• What are the different categories of care that are provided?
• Who makes up the team of Community Hospice caregivers?
• Who is eligible for care and when should we involve Community Hospice?
• How are services paid for?
• What are some of the misconceptions about hospice care that I should understand?
• How do I sign up for Community Hospice care?

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Call 904.268.5200 for general information or 904.596.6500 for referral and admissions information.
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