Helping a loved one make the transition to hospice care is a difficult challenge to face for many family members, but a new resource from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) helps caregivers offer valuable information as well as much-needed peace of mind.Choosing a Quality Hospice is a 4-page questionnaire that helps family members choose the best hospice provider based on the unique needs of their love ones. It offers information about locating a facility in their area and presents important questions such as:
Is the hospice Medicare certified?
Does the hospice own or operate a care facility to provide home-like care in a hospice residence, hospital or nursing home?
What services do volunteers offer, and if requested, how quickly will a volunteer be available?
If I need to go to a hospital or nursing home which ones does/doesn’t the hospice work with?
Additional questions focus on protocol with regard to emergency situations, as well as how many patients are assigned to each caregiver, what extra services are provided, and what type of training is required for hospice volunteers.
Because spouses, children and others often rely on healthcare providers for information, the NHPCO worksheet can help facility staff point them in the right direction and ease some of their concerns about choosing the right hospice care.
Says NHPCO President J. Donald Schumacher, “Choosing a hospice to care for yourself or a loved one in the final days and months of life is such an important and stressful process. Each hospice offers unique services and partners with specific community providers—so it’s important … to find the one with the services and support that is right for you.”
To find out more, visit the NHPCO’s website at: http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm.
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