Hospice Levels of Care
Levels of Care
The Medicare Hospice Benefit provides for four distinct levels of care. Hospices that are Medicare certified are required to provide services at each level of care.
Routine Home Care
This is routine care provided to the patient wherever the patient is living, whether that is in the home, Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home. 96% of hospice care is provided at this level.
Criteria: Any patient eligible for hospice is eligible for this level of care.
Length of service: As long as the patient is deemed appropriate for hospice services and meets the Medicare criteria for hospice care.
Visit Frequency: Visit frequency is established by the individualized plan of care and patient needs. Nursing Staff is available 24/7 through our on-call services.
Respite
Respite is provided when the family or caregiver of the patient needs some time away from the intensity of caregiving. Respite is provided in contracted beds at local nursing homes or hospitals.
Criteria: Any hospice patient is eligible for respite.
Length of service: Respite care is limited to a maximum of 5 consecutive days at any one time.
Visit Frequency: Visit frequency is the same as for routine home care. Nursing Staff is available 24/7 through our on-call services.
Inpatient Care
Inpatient care is provided at a hospice inpatient unit, local hospital or contract Nursing home that has 24-hour a day on site Registered Nurses.
Criteria: Patients that are in the last stages of living (actively dying) or who have uncontrolled symptoms that cannot be managed in the home, Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home are eligible for inpatient care.
Length of service: Inpatient care for the actively dying ends at the end of the patient's life. For those with uncontrolled symptoms, inpatient care is provided until symptoms are resolved. Medicare guidelines generally limit inpatient care to a 14-day stay.
Visit Frequency: Visits are made daily by the nurses and Certified Nurses Assistants. Social Work and Chaplain visits are made on an as needed basis. Nursing Staff continues to be available 24/7 through our on-call services.
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