Hospice

Care that offers comfort to patients and their families

For more than 30 years, Henry Ford Hospice has provided care for our patients and their family/caregiver unit at end of life with a focus on quality and helping patients live every day the best way possible.  Our team of expert physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, home health aides, registered dieticians and bereavement specialists work together to provide professional, comprehensive, compassionate, patient centered care.

Providing Comfort Care

Hospice provides pain management, symptom control, and comfort care focused on improved quality of life when a person no longer benefits from a curative treatment plan. Your nurse and doctor are available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support, education, and assess for immediate needs and provide intervention to address those needs. 

Who pays for hospice services?

Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies. Coverage typically includes, your hospice clinical team, supplies, equipment, medications for symptom control and pain relief related to your hospice diagnosis. The main expense not covered by insurance would be room and board if you live in a nursing home or residential facility. In addition, Medicaid eligible patients and some with hospice coverage by your private health insurance may receive additional benefits, such as reimbursement or coverage for room and board.

• No patient is refused care due to lack of financial means to pay for services. A social worker can assist with a financial assessment to determine your ability to pay. 

Levels of Hospice Care

• Routine Care: This is the day-to-day level of care for the majority of patients in hospice.  Routine Care is symptom control comfort care, with the focus on quality of life not curative therapies, that can be provided wherever you are located. Routine Care consists of your hospice team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and home health aides working together to deliver a plan of care that is individualized to your needs. You will receive visits from each member of your hospice team as needed for assessment, follow-up, spiritual/emotional support and medication adjustments.  
• General Inpatient Care: General Inpatient Care is provided for acutely uncontrolled symptom management that cannot be provided in any other setting outside of an acute care facility. General Inpatient Care is started when other efforts to manage symptoms have been ineffective. General Inpatient Care cannot be provided in a private residence or an assisted living facility. General Inpatient Care can be provided in an acute care facility, such as a Medicare-Certified hospital or nursing facility that has a registered nurse available 24 hours a day to provide direct patient care. General Inpatient Care requires intense nursing monitoring and interventions for uncontrolled symptoms, therefore you are visited daily by your Hospice RN and have 24-hour care provided by the facility nursing staff.
• Respite Care: Inpatient Respite Care is an available care option designed to provide temporary relief to your primary caregiver for a maximum of 5 consecutive days. Respite care can be provided in a long-term care facility that has sufficient nursing personal present on all shifts to guarantee your needs are met. 

Ask your physician if Hospice is right for you

Your physician can help you decide if Hospice is right for you. Henry Ford Hospice encourages your family physician to continue managing your care once you are admitted to hospice. The hospice team and hospice medical director will work with your doctor to create a plan of care driven by your needs and wishes and those of your family and loved ones. A patient can sign out of hospice anytime for any reason. In addition, we transition patients from hospice care if they exhibit a marked improvement in their condition.

The hospice team will explain the process and coordinate follow up care with your physician.