Hospice focuses on providing care primarily in the patient’s home. Its primary aim is to improve the quality of life among patients diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death; instead, it puts a high value on patients’ comfort, dignity, respect, and wishes. Unlike palliative care, which focuses on symptom management and emotional support for patients at any stage of a serious illness, hospice care often involves a shift away from curative treatments.

Hospice is not a place but a plan of care for patients with incurable medical conditions. An interdisciplinary team made up of physicians, nurses, home health aides, volunteers, social workers, and counselors work closely with patients to create a unique care plan to ensure their quality of life. Hospice care professionals are trained to address issues most critical to the patients’ medical, emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual needs to live their lives entirely without pain until the end of their lives.

Hospice care includes the services:

• Nurse and home health aide visits
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Medication for pain and symptom management
• Respite care for patients at home, hospital, or nursing home
• Crisis management for severe symptoms
• Grief programs and follow-ups for bereaved loved ones
• Assisted living visits
• Crisis care

Hospice patients and families receive care for an unlimited amount of time, depending on the course of illness. Holding Hands Hospice does not set a fixed limit on care duration that a patient may continue to receive hospice services in Dallas. In most cases, patients under hospice care are given a six-month prognosis or less. In essence, a patient who agrees to receive our hospice care in Dallas primarily to enhance comfort rather than curative interventions.

However, our hospice care in Dallas doesn’t end after six months. Some patients may live well beyond their prognosis, which means a plan of care may continue if the attending physician certifies a patient’s eligibility, and the patient wishes to continue receiving hospice care service and not curative treatments.

No. Our hospice care in Dallas is provided to anyone with a life-limiting condition, regardless of age.

False. Our hospice care in Dallas is all about living. Holding Hands Hospice aims to improve patients’ quality of life and comfort under our hospice program. In some cases, patients will feel better while receiving our excellent pain and symptom management services.

Private insurers and Medicaid agencies provide hospice care coverage if a doctor determines their terminally ill patient has six months or less to live. Patients under our hospice care program in Dallas willingly agree to receive care and comfort support. If a patient’s illness improves or if a patient decides to seek curative treatment, he or she may leave our care at any time. Consequently, patients may also return to receive hospice care treatment whenever they wish to.

Our hospice care in Dallas involves periodic visits from physicians, nurses, home health aides, and other interdisciplinary team members. There are instances wherein we provide 24-hour care for patients suffering from severe pain and acute symptoms. Family members and private caregivers mainly provide care support.

Our hospice services in Dallas are provided to a terminally ill patient regardless of where they live. Patients living in nursing homes assisted living facilities or any other long-term facility will receive specialized visits from our team of hospice care nurses, health aides, social workers, and volunteers. A written agreement between our organization and care facilities will state that our team will provide care for a resident in their facility.

Private insurance companies and HMOs offer hospice benefits. Medicare for individuals age 65 years or older receive hospice benefits. A person with a prognosis of six months or less will receive full Medicaid benefits if they wish to participate in the Texas Medicaid Hospice Program. Under this program, patients electing hospice care agree to waive their rights to other Medicaid services that include treatments to cure their terminal illness. Consequently, patients may still receive other forms of treatment that are not related to their terminal medical condition.

Yes. Our hospice care service in Dallas can control pain and other symptoms in the patient’s home. In case a symptoms/s becomes worse, family or caregivers may reach our hospice nurse 24/7 to provide acute care management. We use advanced and effective care strategies to alleviate pain and control symptoms for our patients. We carefully assess patients’ pain and symptoms during visits and introduce a care plan that enhances their comfort and quality of life. Our hospice physicians are responsible for prescribing and adjusting medications based on the needs of our patients.

Yes. We provide grief programs to family members and caregivers following a patient’s death. Our hospice care grief service in Dallas includes personal visits, education about the grief process, and periodic group support sessions. We also provide referrals to other professional assistance when needed.

Hospice, including all costs associated with medications, therapies, and care support, are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most individual insurance providers as part of hospice benefits. Medicare for

individuals age 65 years or older receive hospice benefits. A person with a prognosis of six months or less will receive full Medicaid benefits if they wish to participate in the Texas Medicaid Hospice Program. Under this program, patients electing hospice care agree to waive their rights to other Medicaid services that include treatments to cure their terminal illness. Consequently, patients may still receive other forms of treatment that are not related to their terminal medical condition.

While our hospice care services in Dallas do not cover full-time caregiving, it can lighten the financial burden on families and caregivers, who may otherwise need to pay out-of-pocket for medications and other treatments required by patients.