Southern California
Hospice Care
When planning to begin hospice care, either for yourself or a loved one, there are some important steps to take to ensure that you receive the best possible care.
When looking for a hospice care provider, it is important to find a provider that is approved by whatever financial assistance you may be using, be it Medicare or private insurance. Additionally, you will want to find a hospice service that offers a full range of team members to meet both patient and family needs.
Once you have narrowed down your hospice provider search, plan to meet either in-person or through video chat so you can talk directly to the medical and hospice professionals. Here are some examples of good questions to ask a hospice before starting a care plan:
- What measures are in place to respond to patient crises?
- What services are offered through this program?
- Are the hospice team members all certified or licensed within their respective fields?
- Is the hospice accredited?
- If you are planning to be the primary caregiver within a patient’s hospice team, it may also be useful to ask about how extensive the support, training, and resources are for family members who choose to assume that role.