Guidance And Support

See hospice care in a whole new light

Hospice care. It's a hard conversation, too often not had. When navigating challenging circumstances around health and aging, it's all too common that misperceptions, avoidance, and fear make families hesitant toward hospice—the care that might help them most.

But when we have these hard conversations–when we honor every day within the span of a lifetime–we can elevate the end-of-life journey to be as dignified as the rest.

Hospice care is an invaluable guide and resource on that journey.

To shed some light on the transformative power of hospice care, we invite you to share in the story of Tim and his family. By embracing a plan that honored his wishes, Tim's final days became a period of clarity and connection—granting him a sense of control, a measure of peace over outcomes, and making his final days the best they could be.

Find the Support
That Fits Your Role

From Last Moments to Lasting Memories

Time with your loved one is precious. We want you to have all the time you can. But it's not uncommon that families avoid or delay hospice care—not wanting to take an unwelcome step toward final outcomes. We offer an alternative viewpoint: hospice can bring a greater quality of life to your entire family the sooner it begins. By facilitating conversations, we can relieve some of the burden of planning, remove lingering hidden questions, and free you up for time together spent more focused on connection.

There's no need to navigate this alone

If you're considering hospice care for a loved one, we know the number of considerations can be overwhelming, confusing, and straining. When feeling caught up in the whirlwind of emotional, financial, health, and family decisions to be made, hospice exists to guide you through it. Personal consultations, individualized care plans, and support from trained chaplains and social workers facilitate the planning discussions that bring you closer together. Honor your loved one's wishes. Navigate the unknown now with guidance, and give more of your energy to each other.

“Everything about the process with Commonheart was simple. They made sure to take everything off of my plate so my focus could be on being present and spending time with my mother. I'm not sure I fully appreciated their help and guidance the way I should have while it was all happening, but I want to say thank you for all of it now. You were all a blessing to me.”

About Hospice

What is the role of hospice?

Hospice is a guide through the end-of-life experience. As advisors and advocates, we help patients and their families navigate the details of an unfamiliar and emotionally challenging process.

What kinds of care and services are provided by hospice?

Hospice care focuses on the comfort, quality of life, and dignity of people who are terminally ill. Hospice teams include doctors, nurses, social workers, and home health aides, all with specialized training for the following services:

Physical care
Emotional and spiritual support
Social support
Therapy services
Advance care planning

Does hospice provide medical treatment?

Hospice is not a medical care provider. Our role is as an advocate to the patient and their wishes. We educate and support caregivers in providing care accordingly. We consider the holistic portrait of the patient’s wellbeing, their family, and spirituality, to ensure that medical approaches align with goals for treatment.

Does hospice provide round-the-clock care?

No, hospice does not typically include custodial care of day-to-day tasks, such as eating, bathing, and cleaning. Instead, hospice care complements the work of caregivers, in-home or at a senior living community. Many providers, however, do have relationships with 24-hour on-call nurses that can respond to pain management needs.

If I want 24/7 care support for my loved one, is this an option that could be provided?

Hospice can provide 24-hour care in some unique situations, such as when a patient is experiencing uncontrollable symptoms (pain, difficulty breathing, or nausea) or acute symptoms that can't be managed by the primary caregiver. The cost is determined on the patient's insurance coverage. While Medicare covers 24-hour hospice care, it may not cover all expenses.

Where does hospice care take place?

Hospice can be provided in many settings – in a private home, senior living community or hospital. The setting is often determined by how much care the individual needs and if this is provided at a community, by paid caregivers, or by family.

When is the ideal time to start considering hospice?

Explore hospice early, as it may result in months of rich quality time, alleviated stress, and meaningful care for loved ones.

What is the difference between hospice and assisted living or nursing homes?

Assisted living and nursing homes typically provide personal care services, nursing care, and rehabilitation services. Their staff are the primary caregivers for their residents. A patient not living in a community may have a different caregiver, whether that be a family-member or home care aide. Hospice is a patient advocate and life-planning service that plays an advisory role to whoever the patient’s primary caregiver is.

How is hospice care paid for?

Hospice care is primarily paid for through Medicare, which covers the majority of costs for eligible patients. Most people with Medicare won't have any out-of-pocket expenses for hospice care. Other options include private insurance plans and Medicaid, depending on individual eligibility and state regulations. Commonheart offers financial assistance for individuals without insurance or with limited means.

How do you decide the type of care that’s right for the patient?

We provide a free, non-obligatory, introductory meeting and information session to learn what matters holistically to the patient and their family. Questions include:

What misconceptions or fears do you have?
What does your support structure look like?
Who are people involved in your care that you want included in conversations?

Hospice and You

How does hospice include or impact people who are close to the patient?

In addition to managing symptoms of the patient's illness, hospice supports families and loved ones by providing emotional support, bereavement care after death, and a dignified environment in which patient and family can focus on quality time during final days.

My loved one doesn’t think they need hospice yet. Should we wait until they are ready?

Life planning decisions are best navigated in a calm state of mind. Waiting until a patient sees their own need may also mean letting their decline progress in ways that could be prevented with earlier discussion. Encourage your loved one to consider hospice, before physical, mental, or emotional challenges limit their ability to share final wishes and fully engage in life planning discussions.

What can I do to make hospice a better experience for my loved one?

Be a supportive presence and encourage their agency in decision-making. End-of-life care is something they’ve earned by way of a rich and full life. They will feel more confident and empowered to make it a comfortable and peaceful experience according to their own wishes with your support.

What challenges are normal to face during discussions about hospice with my loved ones?

Humans maintain a strong will to live. There may be resistance to acknowledging the inevitable. This is especially true among adults who still have ambitions or unresolved feelings about their past, spirituality, or relationships. This may impact how receptive they are to having end-of-life discussions.

It’s important to acknowledge hesitations. You don’t have to resolve everything before taking the step towards hospice. In fact, hospice exists to help you and your loved ones navigate challenges so you can find clarity together.

Grief Support Video Series

While no two people experience grief the same, there are many common challenges and emotions that we encounter as human beings. In helping families throughout our 30+ years in service, we’ve learned some lessons about navigating this period of life. In partnership with our chaplains, we’ve built a series to make these lessons available to you. We invite you to share in these moments whenever you feel like you could use some extra care and direction.

Now Playing: What About Personal Belongings