How to pay for the rising costs of health care? Concerns over these costs are shared not only by elected officials, but by almost every family across the country as well. Many baby boomers are caring for their aging parents just as they are facing their own health care issues. Yet, for almost 30 years, the Medicare Hospice Benefit has provided a model for financing end-of-life care. This benefit can bring great relief to families during one of life’s most difficult times. The

If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, you know bath time can be a real battle. Your loved one or resident may say “I just had a bath!” or “Get away from me!” Sometimes, the individual can even become aggressive. Why do people with dementia struggle so much with bath time? First, people with dementia often don’t understand the “why” of bathing. They simply don’t recognize the need anymore. In addition, bathing involves many small steps (going to t

As your loved one progresses through a serious illness, it’s only natural that he or she will face difficult emotions: fear, anger, sadness and much more. Yet not all people can express these emotions clearly. Perhaps your loved one is tearful, withdrawn, irritable or very worried. You may notice personality changes or feel that your loved one is distressed, but not know how to help. Below are some suggestions for how to connect and accompany your loved one through this diffi

There are many myths and misconceptions about hospice care. The lack of understanding can create a barrier that prevents people who need and qualify for the benefit from actually receiving hospice care. We thought it would be helpful if we answered some of the most commonly asked questions in this week’s blog update. Hospice FAQ Q: How do patients pay for hospice care? A: Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance plans will pay for hospice services. T

When asked, the majority of people will say that if given a choice they would prefer to die at home and not in a hospital setting. Avoiding unnecessary trips to the emergency department is key to supporting that wish and helping patients and their families create a more positive end-of-life experience. A study published in Health Affairs shined light on some tough end-of-life statistics: Over half of those who were not receiving the support of hospice visited the hospital at

To help support both patients and family caregivers at the end-of-life, Medicare provides four levels of care under the hospice benefit. They are: routine home care, continuous home care, general inpatient care (GIP), and respite care. This guide should help you better understand the differences between each of these types of care. Routine Home Care. This is the type of hospice care familiar to most people. The full complement of hospice services ranging from nursing care to