Service Provided
What does the Hospice team provide?
Hospice of Jefferson County provides a team of professionals to help families during the final months of a loved one's life.
The Hospice team works with the patient, the family, and the patient's physician to put together a unique plan of care. The plan belongs to the patient and family, as do any changes along the way.
The Hospice team consists of Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Social Workers, Bereavement Counselors, and Volunteers. Visits are made to the patient's home as often as indicated by the plan of care, with phone support and emergency visits available twenty-four hours a day. Drugs and medical supplies that are necessary to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with the terminal condition are supplied as part of the Hospice benefit.
The Hospice team is interdisciplinary, recognizing that a life-limiting illness has emotional and spiritual dimensions for both the patient and family. Bereavement counseling is made available to family members for up to a year after the death of a loved one.
Who is eligible for Hospice?
Hospice care should be considered for anyone who has been determined to have a life expectancy of six months or less. Under current Medicare regulations and most insurance plans, the decision to elect Hospice benefits requires that curative treatment not be pursued, so it is important that the patient and family understand all their options. (The Medicaid program now allows children to receive both Hospice and curative treatment, and pilot projects are underway to test permitting concurrent treatment for adults.)
How is a referral for hospice made?
A referral can be made by the patient, a family member or the patient's physician, simply by calling the Hospice office (315-788-7323). The Hospice admissions coordinator will contact the family and schedule a home visit. A request for a home visit does not in any way obligate the patient to accept Hospice care; in fact, it is critical that the patient and family receive a full explanation of the Hospice benefit before making a decision.
Where are these services provided?
Hospice of Jefferson County is licensed by the New York State Department of Health to provide services in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties. Most patients are cared for in their own homes, but residents of adult homes, intermediate care facilities, and nursing homes are also eligible to receive hospice care. And by the end of 2011, Hospice of Jefferson County will be offering care to up to eight patients in a hospice residence, presently under construction on Gotham Street in Watertown.
What does Hospice cost?
For most patients, there is no cost for Hospice, not even co-pays. Hospice is a right for all who meet medical criteria under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and is covered by most insurance plans. A sliding fee scale is available for patients without insurance, but no patient is refused care because of a lack of means.
