Hospice: What to Ask

When you consider a hospice program, try asking the following questions:

What services does the program provide?
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How soon can services begin?
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What kind of support can the family, and especially the caregiver, expect?
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What will a hospice volunteer do for the patient?
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What role will the general physician play?
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How will hospice keep the patient comfortable and free of pain?
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Does the program provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
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Does it offer inpatient services? Where?
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Does it offer services in nursing homes and long-term care facilities?
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Is this hospice program Medicare certified and state licensed?
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How will the hospice staff follow the patient’s wishes? What happens if they don’t?
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