Hospice is a special kind of care designed to promote comfort and support to people who are facing a life-limiting illness. Hospice is unique in that it provides support not only to individuals but to their entire family. This type of healthcare focuses on caring and comforting, not curing. It offers choices, helps preserve dignity and seeks to maintain the highest quality of life.
Eligibility requirements
Hope Hospice seeks to primarily serve Allegheny and surrounding counties. Care is provided to individuals experiencing the end-stage of their disease process. Many diagnoses are covered, including the following:
- Cancer
- Cardiac Disease
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Pulmonary Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Neurological Disorders
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- ALS
- Liver Disease
- Renal Disease
- Respiratory Disease
You are eligible for the Medicare hospice benefit when you meet the following conditions:
- You are eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance)
- Your doctor and hospice medical director certify you as having a life-limiting illness
- You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of routine Medicare covered benefits for your life-limiting illness *
- You receive care from a Medicare-approved hospice program
*Medicare will still pay for covered benefits for any other health problem that are not related to your life-limiting illness.
Hospice is also covered by Medicaid, and most private insurances and managed care plans. The administrative staff of Hope Hospice can assist you in verifying hospice coverage if there is any question.
Where is hospice provided?
Hospice can be provided in whatever setting you call your home. This may be a private residence, assisted living facilty, personal care home, nursing home, or other retirement community. In all settings, family members can be assured that their loved one will receive exceptional care and support from all of the hospice team members.
Hospice can also be provided under an inpatient status in a hospital if the individual requires a level of care unable to be provided at home.
Offered services
Hope Hospice, Inc. provides the following comprehensive services for the individual and their family:
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on-call nursing services for emergencies
- Physician services
- Visits by a Registered, skilled nurse
- Social services /counseling
- Pastoral services
- Hospice Aides to provide personal care
- Patient and family teaching done by the hospice team
- Nutritional counseling
- Supportive care by trained volunteers
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, if needed
- Symptom management and pain control medications
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Short-term inpatient and respite care can be provided as deemed necessary by medical social service
- Bereavement follow-up
- Support groups
Hospice team
Services are provided by a team of Hope Hospice professionals including: a medical director, registered nurses, hospice aides, spiritual care coordinator, bereavement counselor, social worker, pharmacist, and volunteers. We work closely with the individuals primary physician in the establishment of the plan of care. The primary physician as well as the medical director continues to provide medical direction throughout the course of care. Our pharmacist specializes in compounded medications which are extremely valuable in treating pain and symptoms when an individual can no longer take traditional medicines.
Referrals
Referrals to Hope Hospice can be made by a physician or other healthcare professional, the individual, family or friend.
An assessment will be completed by a registered nurse to determine if the person is appropriate for hospice care. The attending physician must approve the hospice admission and certify that the individual has a life-limiting illness. Early referrals are encouraged so the individual and family can receive greater benefit from hospice services.
Contact us
For referrals or other questions about Hope Hospice, please call (412) 367-3685 0r (877) 367-3685. Our normal business hours are Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Calls after 5:00 PM and on weekends are received by our answering service and forwarded to the hospice representative on call. All medical emergencies are handled by registered nurses who are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.