A Guide to Choosing the Best Gilbert Hospice for Your Family’s Needs
Deciding that it is time to place a family member or loved one in hospice care is never a decision that comes easy. But there comes a time when hospice and/or palliative care is the best solution for all parties involved. Contrary to popular belief choosing hospice care is not a sign of giving up on life, but the decision to make the most of every day of the life that has yet to be lived.
A Guide to Choosing the Best Gilbert Hospice for Your Family’s Needs
So when the time comes to pick the Gilbert hospice care facility in 85295 that is right for your family’s needs, how do you know which one to pick?
Here is a guide on what questions to ask the hospice to determine if it meets the needs and standards of your family:
Ask Around
No matter what service you are looking for, asking friends, neighbors or coworkers whose opinion you trust is always a great first step. Personal experience is subjective, but can be a great indicator of how others view the San Tan hospice care facility.
Hospitals, physicians and geriatric care providers can also be a tremendous resource as they often make referrals to hospices in Arizona. Ask them about their experience with a certain hospice, if they have heard good or bad things about it, and what their overall impression of the facility is.
Accreditations and Licenses
Because you want the best care for your loved one, ask about whether they are accredited or not. While not having certain accreditations such as from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP). Being without these accreditations doesn’t meant hat the hospice is not good- having it, means that a third party has checked them out. Keep in mind that neither accreditation is required or connected to any government regulatory body.
On the other hand, if state licensing is required, make sure the facility has it.
Medicare Certification
In these days, most hospice care patients rely on Medicare to pay for their medical expenses. Therefore, it is essential that the facility you choose, is Medicare certified to ensure that your expenses are covered or reimbursed via the program.
Is the Hospice Well-Established?
You want to know how long has it been operating. The longer the Gilbert hospice care facility of your choice has been operating, the more recourse you will have when looking into them and the more likely they are to offer good hospice care. You may also want to ask about the turnover rate of key employees and caregivers as that is also always a great way to gauge how a facility is run. Happy employees stay longer and thus offer health care services without interruption and with consistency.
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What Services Does the Hospice Offer?
Of course, you want to make sure that the hospice care facility is able to meet the specific needs of your loved one and your entire family.
Most hospices, including Americare, offer the following services:
- Routine Home Care
- In-Patient Care
- Respite Care
- Continuous Care
Routine Home Care
Routine home care refers to when the hospice worker comes to your(or the patient’s) home, a senior care facility or similar environment to perform duties on an as needed basis. The frequency and type of care provided is usually defined by the care plan as well as the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG). Ask the hospice what these services entail and how the determination of services needed is made.
In-Patient Care
In-Patient care refers to the temporary stay at a around the clock hospice facility to address concerns and health problems that need intensive care and which cannot be managed in a residential setting. This branch of hospice care is designed to meet crisis as they arise, with the intent of returning to home care as soon as possible and medically reasonable.
Here, at Americare Hospice and Palliative Care, in -patient care is facilitated in The Villa, our fully equipped in-patient care center that is reminiscent of home and not a health care institution.
Respite Care
Ideally, your Gilbert hospice will offer respite care. The brunt of the care always lies with family and the primary caregivers. There is only so much care you can offer to a patient until you become exhausted and exert yourself as well. Every great hospice will offer some kind of respite care for the caregiver to gather strength and to get a much needed break from the physical and emotional strain that giving care is putting on you.
Americare, for example, offers a five day respite care program in our Villa, so that you can get the break you deserve.
Continuous Care
Continuous care describes frequent home care visits for severe medical conditions, but when a transfer to an in-patient facility is not necessary or possible.
Medical Staff
What kind of staff is working in the hospice/palliative care facility? Do you have MDs, RNs or other medically trained employees available to address health concerns and make sure that your loved one is properly cared for?
This is also important to know in case of a medical crisis or emergency. If you need someone at your home at 4 am, who will come to help you and how long will it take them to get there?
While these are only some questions you should ask and which can help you to figure out if the hospice care facility meets your family’s needs, there are many other aspects that can clue you in about the suitability of the program/facility.
Maybe your loved one is a spiritual person and would feel comfortable in a facility with religious and/or spiritual guidance. Maybe you feel emotionally overwhelmed and are afraid of when the time comes to say goodbye, in which case it is a good idea to look into what kind of bereavement services are offered.
Visit the hospice facility and get a feeling for what they are all about. A good first impression goes a long way.
Americare Hospice and Palliative Care has been caring for patients and their families for many years. We are humbled and honored by the trust that is placed in us, each and every day. With in home hospice care in Gilbert, we can help put your conscience at ease. We invite you to contact us to learn more about our East Valley hospice care services or visit us online to learn more.
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1212 N. Spencer St., Suite #2
Mesa, Arizona 85203
Office: (480) 726-7773
Fax: (480) 726-7790
Email: info@americarehospice.org
