Hospice
All Care Hospice is about living life to the fullest, everyday, in comfort. The goal of hospice care is to enhance the quality of a person’s life, while optimizing the time spent with family and friends. Hospice support empowers patients to live with dignity, grace and fulfillment. With a focus on caring, not curing, patients receive services wherever they call home, which is often in their home, a nursing home, hospital, or residential facility.
Hospice Referrals
- 781-598-7066
- 781-598-3571
Interdisciplinary Care Team
Our team of nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers work with the patient’s physician and our Medical Director to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support for the patient and family.
Hospice care is available 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. Most importantly, All Care Hospice offers patients and families control over the final aspects of their lives, ensuring their last days are lived on their own terms, with their wishes respected, their decisions enforced and their dignity assured.
Nursing
Care focused on providing compassionate care to patients who are nearing the end of life.
Home Health Aides
Personal care and support to patients who are receiving services.
Medical Social Work
Support focused on the emotional, social, and practical needs of patients and families.
Spiritual Support
Emotional, spiritual, and sometimes religious care provided to patients and their families.
Volunteers
Support and respite for patients and families that ensures comfort, dignity, and emotional support
Grief & Loss Support
Emotional and psychological care provided to family members and loved ones after the death of a patient.
What Hospice Care Includes
Medications
All medications related to the terminal illness.
Medical Equipment
Medical equipment such as hospital bed and oxygen.
Education
Patient and caregiver education on what to expect with hospice.
Specialty Programs
Congestive Heart Failure
Program focusing on managing symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid buildup to maximize comfort and quality of life during the end stages of the disease.
Dementia Sensory Interventions
Program that uses sensory activities to stimulate the brain and improve the quality of life for people with dementia.
Dementia Support for the Caregiver
Dementia caregiving can be physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding, especially as the disease progresses and end-of-life care becomes a priority. Program offers resources to ease the burden on caregivers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on providing comfort and support to individuals who are in the final stages of a terminal illness. The goal of care is not to cure the illness but to manage symptoms, alleviate pain, and improve the quality of life.
When should a patient consider hospice care?
A patient should consider hospice care when their illness is no longer responding to curative treatment, and they have a prognosis of six months or less to live if the illness follows its usual course.
How does hospice care work?
Hospice care is delivered by an interdisciplinary team who work together to manage symptoms, provide emotional and psychological support, and address the spiritual and social needs of both the patient and their family.
Where is hospice care provided?
Hospice care can be provided in various settings, depending on the patient’s needs and preferences. These settings include the patient’s home, a skilled nursing or assisted living facility, or anywhere the patient calls home.
What services are provided by hospice care?
Hospice care offers a wide range of services, including: pain and symptom management, personal care, emotional and psychological support, spiritual care, respite care, and bereavement support.
Does hospice care mean giving up on treatment?
Hospice care does not mean giving up. It shifts the focus from curative treatments to providing comfort and improving the patient’s quality of life. Patients can still receive medications and treatments to manage symptoms.
How long can a person receive hospice care?
Hospice care is typically provided for patients with a prognosis of six months or less to live. However, if a patient’s condition improves or stabilizes, they may be discharged. Care can be restarted if the patient’s condition worsens and they again meet eligibility criteria.
Who is eligible for hospice care?
Hospice care is available to individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness, typically with a prognosis of six months or less to live. Eligibility depends on the patient’s medical condition and whether they are no longer seeking curative treatments.
How much does hospice care cost?
Hospice is often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. For those who qualify, hospice care is provided at no out-of-pocket cost. However, it’s important to confirm coverage details as coverage can vary depending on the specific insurance plan.
Can a patient still receive care from their regular doctor while in hospice?
Yes, patients can continue to see their regular doctor while receiving hospice care. However, the hospice team typically takes over the primary responsibility for the patient’s care related to the terminal illness, coordinating with the patient’s primary doctor to ensure consistent care.
How is pain managed in hospice care?
Pain management is a core focus of hospice care. The care team works to control pain through medications, such as opioids (e.g., morphine) or other pain relievers, as well as alternative therapies like massage, aromatherapy, and relaxation techniques.
What happens when a patient passes away in hospice care?
When a patient passes away, the hospice team provides support to the family and assists with any final arrangements. The care team will help with post-death care as well as notifying the necessary authorities.
Can family members help care for the patient in hospice?
Yes, family members are encouraged to be involved in the patient’s care. Hospice teams support families with training and guidance on how to care for the patient at home.
What are hospice volunteers?
Hospice volunteers are individuals who donate their time to support patients and families. Volunteers may offer companionship, provide respite care for family members, assist with light housekeeping, run errands, or offer emotional and spiritual support.
Is hospice care only for cancer patients?
No, hospice care is available to individuals with any terminal illness, not just cancer. It can be provided to patients with conditions such as heart disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, COPD, and many others.
All Care Hospice Outcomes
The Hospice Satisfaction Survey collects feedback on the experience of family members who cared for a patient who passed away while receiving end of life services. All Care’s outcomes from this CAHPS Family Satisfaction Survey far exceed other Massachusetts hospice providers.
What Our Hospice Families Are Saying
“The help and support I received from my husband’s hospice nurse was beyond helpful and beyond my expectations. Everyone at All Care was wonderful and I could not have been more grateful.”
Patricia
Hospice Family Member
“After years of having little to no control over her daily living, All Care Hospice gave my mom the gift of agency over her body one last time. Because of them, we were able to honor her wish to live out her final days at home, rather than in a hospital bed. She was able to die with dignity and grace. There is no greater gift.”
Sue
Hospice Family Member
“The hospice nurse took amazing care of my wife. Her patience, calmness, and expertise made this very difficult time so much better. I will never forget what she did for our family along with everyone else involved in her care.”
James
Hospice Family Member
Hospice & Palliative Care Educational Programs
All Care offers a wide range of educational programs led by experienced hospice professionals to educate clinicians and caregivers on the benefits (and challenges) of hospice. Many programs offer contact hours (CEU) for eligible clinicians.
Send Us a Message
Please do not include any Personal Health Information in this form (diagnosis, medications, member/patient ID, Medicare or Medicaid number, social security number). If you wish to discuss such items, call our office at 781-598-7066.