How Can Someone Receive Hospice Services?

People who have been given a prognosis of six months or less are eligible for hospice care. Anyone can refer a person to Hospice of Rutherford County. However, the patient’s doctor must state the person has six months or less to live. Efforts to affect a cure must have ended.

When should a decision about entering the hospice program be made, and who should make the decision?

At any time during a life threatening illness, it is appropriate to discuss all of a patient’s options, including hospice. The decision always belongs to the patient, but the primary physician must determine if the patient is appropriate for hospice.

Should I wait for my doctor to talk about hospice or should I bring it up?

The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice at any time with the doctor. It is always appropriate for patients or family members to call Hospice of Rutherford County for more information about hospice care.

Does Hospice Only Care for Cancer Patients and the Elderly?

No. Hospice serves people of all ages in Rutherford County, North Carolina, and northern Spartanburg County, South Carolina with all types of terminal diagnoses such as AIDS, Alzheimer’s Disease, ALS, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, etc. Hospice has cared for patients from six weeks old to 102. The patient’s doctor must state the person is terminally ill, has six months or less to live and is not seeking curative treatment.

Does Hospice do anything to speed up the dying process?

No. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. Death is seen as a natural part of life.

Who Pays for Hospice Care?

Hospice of Rutherford County serves terminally ill patients and their families regardless of their ability to pay. People who are eligible may access the Medicare/Medicaid Hospice Benefit that covers all care, equipment, and medications related to the terminal illness.

Many insurance companies now offer hospice care as part of their coverage, as well. However, Hospice of Rutherford County is a nonprofit organization whose income from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance does not meet expenses. Community support is essential if Hospice is to continue to serve terminally ill patients and their families, as well as provide grief counseling for people who have lost a loved one.

Hospice relies on generous, caring people, businesses, churches, industry and foundations to support traditional Hospice home care and grief counseling programs. Families may want to designate memorials to Hospice, churches may want to contribute to the operating budget and businesses and industry may want to assist in funding a program. All contributions to Hospice are tax deductible as allowed by IRS regulations.