What is Hospice?Hospice not a "place," but a type of care. It is a unique philosophy and approach to end-of-life care that focuses on both the patient as well as their family. Hospice is holistic care, addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical concerns.Hospice Care Cost & CoverageHospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, like all hospice agencies, whether they are for-profit or nonprofit.St. Joseph Hospice also provides medication, durable medical equipment, and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis, with no charge to the patient.Hospice Care: "Your Home or Ours"St. Joseph Hospice brings comfort and supportive care to patients and caregivers, wherever they call home. Our care teams offer our full range of hospice services in the patient's or caregiver's home, senior living communities, assisted living, skilled nursing care facilities, and our own hospice care homes.The Carpenter House with locations in Louisiana and Mississippi is your resource for comfort and end-of-life care and symptom management, along with respite care, to relieve hospice primary caregivers. It is a place of peace and comfort care for those facing terminal illnesses who need around-the-clock attention.As a home-like inpatient hospice facility, The Carpenter House is more than hospiceit is a warm and comforting environment featuring a family room and family dining room, onsite chaplain and bereavement counselor to make patients and their families feel safe and at ease.Common Hospice MisconceptionsHospice means that the patient will soon die.Receiving hospice care does not mean giving up hope or that death is imminent. The earlier an individual receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to help manage symptoms and pain, address other needs and ensure a better quality of life for the patient and family.Hospice is only for cancer patientsA large number of hospice patients have congestive heart failure, Alzheimers disease or dementia, chronic lung disease, or other conditions.Hospice means giving up hopeWhen faced with a terminal illness, many patients and family members tend to dwell on the imminent loss of life, rather than on making the most of the life that remains. Hospice helps patients reclaim the spirit of life. It helps them understand that even though death can lead to sadness, anger, and pain, it can also lead to opportunities for reminiscence, laughter, and reunion.Once a patient elects hospice, he/she can no longer receive care from their primary care physicianHospice reinforces the patient-primary physician relationship by advocating either office or home visits, according to the physician preference. Hospice agencies work closely with primary care physicians and consider the continuation of the patient-physician relationship to be of the highest priority.Is Hospice Your Answer? Wondering if you or a loved one can benefit from hospice care? Take a few minutes to review the following questions that can help you decide whether hospice is the right choice for you or a loved one.  If you answer YES to four or more of these questions, it may be time to think about hospice.Been hospitalized or been to the ER several times in the past six months?Been making more frequent phone calls to physicians?Started taking medication to lessen physical pain?Started spending most of the day in a chair or bed?Fallen several times during the past six months?Started needing help from others with any of the following: bathing, eating, getting out of bed, dressing, cooking, or walking?Started feeling weaker or more tired?Experienced weight loss so that clothes are noticeably looser?Noticed a shortness of breath, even while resting?Been told by a doctor that life expectancy is limited?Hospice AlternativePatients who desire to continue curative care including chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis, etc. or symptom and pain management for illnesses such as advanced COPD and congestive heart failure can benefit from AIM Palliative Home Health. This specially designed in-home palliative care program can also benefit anyone with a life-limiting illness needing more time and information to make informed decisions about treatment and care options.This information was submitted by St. Joseph's Hospice located in Mobile, AL.  You can reach St. Joseph's at 251-675-7555 or 844-200-1104.