Cost to the patient depends upon each patient's insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.

Hospice staff is available to the patient and family 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can feel free to call at any time. A hospice nurse is scheduled to meet the needs of patients and families after hours. If you are feeling an increase in stress, have concern about your loved one's condition, or just need reassurance, please call. The nurse will return your call within 5 to 15 minutes. If you feel that this is an emergency situation, let the operator know.

The patient is always supported in every decision he/she wishes to make. Sometimes this may mean signing out of (revoking benefit) Medicare Hospice to resume part A coverage for care which is considered curative in nature. The patient can resume hospice care by signing a new election statement.

Call the hospice and tell the operator that the patient has died. The hospice nurse will call back in 15 minutes or less. She will reassure you and give guidance on what to do until she arrives. When the hospice nurse arrives, she will assess the patient and may pronounce the patient absent of vital signs. She will call the coroner and notify the funeral home of the patient's death. the hospice nurse will provide support and assistance to allow the family to grieve as they may need.

The law requires that all deaths which occur in the home be reported to the coroner's office. The coroner may request information such as patient name, birth date, social security number, diagnosis, physician name and length of illness. The decision of who will sign the death certificate will be made.

Any equipment provided by the hospice will be removed with a phone call made by the hospice staff. Ask the nurse about unused medical supplies - sometimes they can be donated back to the hospice.

Often families wish to request donations be made to the hospice in lieu of flowers. This may be mentioned in the Obituary notice. Memorial envelopes can be made available to funeral homes. Any individual making a donation to hospice will receive a thank you note. A listing of those who made donations will be furnished to the family.