FAQs

Hospice is not a place, but a philosophy of care. It is a specialized type of care that focuses on comfort, quality of life, and dignity for individuals facing a life-limiting illness. Instead of focusing on a cure, hospice care focuses on managing pain and other symptoms (like anxiety or shortness of breath) so that a patient can live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice care also provides vital emotional and spiritual support for the entire family, not just the patient.

This is a very common question. Both focus on comfort and symptom management. The main difference is timing and eligibility:

• Palliative Care: Can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, even alongside curative treatments (like chemotherapy or radiation).
• Hospice Care: Begins after the decision has been made to stop curative treatments, when the illness is considered terminal with a prognosis of six months or less (if the disease runs its natural course).

Many families tell us they wish they had started hospice sooner. Hospice is not just for the last few days of life. Care can begin when a physician certifies that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less. The “right time” is when the focus of care shifts from curing the illness to maximizing comfort and quality of life. Starting hospice earlier allows the patient and family to get the full benefit of the care team, including symptom management, emotional support, and building a trusting relationship.

A patient is eligible for hospice if they meet the following criteria:

• They have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
• Two physicians (typically the patient’s attending physician and the hospice medical director) certify that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less.
• The patient (or their healthcare proxy) chooses to receive comfort care rather than curative treatment.

Hospice care is provided wherever the patient calls home. For most people, this is their private residence. It can also be provided in a:

• Nursing home
• Assisted living facility
• Independent living facility
• Inpatient hospice facility (for short-term, acute symptom management)

The Favoured Hospice team comes to you.

Hospice care is 100% covered by Medicare Part A with no out-of-pocket costs. It is also covered by most Medicaid plans and private insurance policies. This comprehensive benefit typically covers:

• Visits from the hospice care team (nurse, aide, social worker, chaplain)
• Medications related to the hospice diagnosis
• Medical equipment (like a hospital bed, oxygen, or wheelchair)
• Supplies needed for care
• Bereavement and counseling services for the family

Our team at Favoured Hospice will help you verify your benefits and understand all the details.

No. This is a common misconception. Hospice isn’t about giving up; it’s about changing the focus of hope. Hope for a cure is transitioned to hope for comfort, peace, and quality time. Hospice focuses on “living,” helping the patient make the most of every day, free from pain and distress, surrounded by the people and things they love. It’s about adding life to days, not just days to life.

Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient and family. Your Favoured Hospice team includes:

• Skilled Nurses: To manage pain and symptoms.
• Hospice Aides: To assist with personal care like bathing and dressing.
• Medical Social Workers: To provide emotional support and help with planning.
• Chaplains/Spiritual Counselors: To offer spiritual support, regardless of faith.
• Trained Volunteers: To provide companionship and respite for caregivers.
• Bereavement Support: To help the family navigate grief for up to 13 months after.

Yes, absolutely. A patient has the right to revoke the hospice benefit at any time for any reason. If their condition improves, their disease goes into remission, or they simply decide to pursue curative treatment again, they can be discharged from hospice. A patient can always re-elect the hospice benefit later if they become eligible again.

Starting the conversation is easy and does not require a commitment. Anyone—a patient, family member, friend, or physician—can make a referral.

1. Call us at 612-477-1770 for a no-obligation consultation.
2. We will answer all your questions and, with your permission, contact the patient’s physician to confirm their eligibility.
3. We will schedule a time to meet with you and your family to discuss your needs and develop a plan of care.