Answer: Before providing care, a hospice clinician, the patient’s
personal physician(s), and the hospice physician confer on the patient’s disease
history, current physical systems, and life expectancy.
A hospice representative meets with the patient and family to discuss the hospice
philosophy of care, services available, pain and comfort levels, expectations, advanced
directives, the support system available, financial and insurance resources, medications,
and equipment needs. Patients are asked to sign an informed consent for care. From
the information gathered, a “plan of care” is developed. As the patient’s condition
changes, this plan is regularly reviewed and revised.
The plan of care provides the hospice staff, the patient, and the family with details
about what services and support visits (nurse, social worker, aide, counselor, spiritual
care, and volunteer) to expect, in addition to what medications, therapies, supplies,
and equipment will be used. It also outlines what training the patient and family
can expect and how they will participate in the care.
Caregivers are generally asked to provide a safe, comfortable environment, help
with feeding, bathing, turning, and giving medications. Caregivers are also advised
to alert the hospice of any changes in the patient’s condition.
Additionally, the plan of care includes bereavement service needs, as hospice also
provides support for caregivers following the patient’s death.
Copyright 2008 Hospice Foundation of America. All Rights Reserved.
