What To Know About Hospice, The Type Of Care Opted By Jimmy Carter

Topline

Hospice care aims to provide physical and emotional comfort—not a cure—to patients with serious illness that are nearing the end of their life.

Key Facts

Hospice is a form of medical care that focuses on maximizing comfort for a patient with a serious illness believed to be in the last six months of their life.

Medical providers do not aim to cure a hospice patient’s illness or prolong their life, but instead provide treatment for pain and other symptoms and emotional and spiritual support.

Hospice care is often provided at a patient’s home, though it may be offered at a hospice care facility or hospital, and involves regular visits from the hospice team, which can include nurses, doctors, social workers, therapists and spiritual advisors.

Services provided under hospice care can include medication for pain relief, medical equipment, speech-language pathology services and dietary counseling.

The Hospice Foundation of America recommends considering hospice care when a patient’s physical or cognitive health declines despite medical treatment, if a patient wants to prioritize physical comfort over physically debilitating and unsuccessful medical treatments, if a person is in the end stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, or if a physician estimates a life expectancy of six months or less.

Healthcare providers are concerned patients seek hospice treatment too late: More than half of Medicare beneficiaries received hospice for 30 days or less in 2018 and more than a quarter received care for under seven days, too short of a period to fully benefit from hospice care, according to a National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization report.

Common Questions

Is hospice care covered by insurance?

Many hospice care patients are eligible for Medicare, which covers the cost of hospice so long as a doctor has certified the patient is terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less and the patient chooses hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered treatments. Other health insurance providers have hospice benefits, though the extent to which services they cover may differ, according to the Hospice Foundation of America.

What’s the difference between hospice care and palliative care?

Palliative care similarly aims to maximize comfort for patients with serious illness, though patients do not need to be nearing the end of their life. Patients undergoing palliative care can also receive treatment to cure their illness, while hospice patients are no longer receiving curative treatment.

When should patients start thinking about hospice care?

Hospice care can be most beneficial when patients take advantage of it early, according to the Hospice Foundation of America. Studies suggest patients wait too long, often until their final days or weeks of life, to begin hospice care and do not experience its full benefits. Beginning hospice care earlier can minimize hospital visits and alleviate pain and other symptoms.

Does hospice involve 24/7 care?

Most hospice cases do not include 24/7 care. Hospice instead involves regular visits from members of the patient’s hospice team, who are available by phone 24/7 if concerns arise. Much of the day-to-day care is provided by family and friends, according to the National Institute on Aging.

Can a patient choose to leave hospice care?

Yes, patients can choose to leave hospice and return to pursuing curative treatments without a doctor’s consent. Hospice caregivers can also discharge a patient if the illness is no longer terminal with a prognosis of six months or less.

Do hospice patients go off all medication?

Medication prescribed to cure or control terminal illness will stop, according to the National Institute on Aging. Patients can continue medication to treat other symptoms or conditions.

Do hospice patients stop receiving food and water?

Hospice patients are not denied food or drink if they want it. Near the end of life, the body gradually loses the ability to digest and process food and liquid and minimal amounts of food or water may be required. If a patient stops eating or drinking, continuing to offer food and water or providing artificial nutrition and hydration may lead to other health issues.

News Peg

Former President Jimmy Carter, 98, has chosen to enter hospice care at his home instead of further medical treatment, the Carter Center announced Saturday. Carter has faced health issues and a series of hospital stays in recent years, including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain, though he was later declared cancer-free, and a series of falls. Carter is the oldest living former U.S. president. Tributes for Carter flooded social media over the weekend, including from President Joe Biden, who tweeted his admiration for “the strength and humility you have shown in difficult times.”

Further Reading

What is Hospice? (Hospice Foundation of America)

Frequently Asked Questions About Hospice Care (National Institute on Aging)

Former President Jimmy Carter To Receive Hospice Care (Forbes)