FAQ

Hospice is a Medicare Part A funded program to care for and support people with terminal diagnosis as well as their families and loved ones. Lucky Hospice is a service that is tailored for individuals facing a life-limiting illness. Our hospice team’s MAIN focus is on comfort and quality of life, as determined by the patient or their POA. Together we focus on the patient and their loved one’s addressing needs on every level – physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual. You may be considering hospice due to noticing:

• Progressive loss of function
• Repeated hospitalizations
• Current medical treatment outweighs the benefit
• Decline despite curative treatments
• Decision to stop curative measures

A specialized Registered Palliative Nurse will come to your loved one’s bedside. Curative treatment is a strong focus along with comfort. Learn More

Medicare Part A funded program provides care and support to people with terminal diagnosis as well as their families and loved ones. Hospice’s main focus is COMFORT, not CURE.

It is for people who have been diagnosed to have about 6 months or less to live if the illness runs its normal course.

Hospice is usually provided in the patient’s own home, where they find peace and comfort. However, it can also be provided in a Nursing Home or other settings. 9 out of 10 adults say they would prefer to live out their lives peacefully at home with their loved ones, rather than in a hospital or nursing home.

Your doctor and the hospice team will work with you and your family to set up a plan of care that meets your needs. Your plan of care includes the following services:

• Hospice Doctor
• Bereavement Counselors
• Nurses
• Spiritual Counselors
• Home Health Aides
• Volunteer
• Social Worker
• Case Manager

Lucky Palliative Services, Inc. will be available on call 24/7.

Four levels of Care: The hospice team will make the determination when a level of care change is needed and which is the most appropriate.

• Routine Home Care is provided whenever the patient resides at home or in a Skilled Nursing Facility.
• Acute Inpatient Care is provided during periods of crisis in a Hospice Inpatient Unit or Skilled Nursing Facility.
• Continuous Care is provided during periods of crisis when a patient remains at home while acute symptoms are being resolved.
• Respite Care is provided in a Skilled Nursing Facility if the usual caregiver needs rest for a period of 5 days when needed, on an occasional basis.

Services to the patient generally are available for 6 months prior to when the death is expected. Since no one can accurately predict the date of death, Medicare provides flexibility. If the patient lives longer than 6 months, the patient can still get Hospice Care, as long as the Hospice Doctor recertifies that the patient is still terminally ill. You can keep your doctor as a secondary so your PCP will be kept in the loop. While you are on hospice, the Hospice Doctor will be primary in case of emergency in the middle of the night or when medication changes need to be made.

Hospice Care is given in benefit periods. You can get hospice care for two 90-day periods followed by an unlimited number of 60-day periods. At the start of each period, the hospice medical director or other hospice doctors must recertify that you’re terminally ill, so you can continue to get Hospice Care. A benefit period starts the day you begin to get Hospice Care and it ends when your 90-day or 60-day period ends.

• Election of Hospice Benefits and Informed Consent
• Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities
• Plan for Caregiver’s Services
• Request for Confidential Communications regarding Medical Information
• DNR/DNI (Do Not Resuscitate / Do Not Intubate)
• POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)

You always have the right to stop Hospice Care at any time for any reason. If you’re eligible, you can go back to hospice care at any time.

• Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
• Medications related to terminal diagnosis
• Incontinent Supplies (Diapers, Pull-ups, Chux, Wipes, etc.)

• Treatment intended to cure your terminal illness
• Prescription drugs to cure your illness (rather than for symptom control or pain relief)
• Care in an emergency room, inpatient facility care, or ambulance by your hospice team or is unrelated to your terminal illness.

Always contact your hospice team before you get any of these services, or you might pay the entire cost.

• Be informed of your rights in a manner which you understand
• Make informed decisions regarding proposed and ongoing care and services
• Have complaint heard, reviewed, and if possible, resolved
• Confidentiality of information, privacy, and security
• Be involved in the care planning process
• Be treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of dignity and individuality, including privacy in treatment and in care for personal needs

• Inform the hospice of advance directives or any changes in advance directives, and provide the Hospice with a copy.
• Cooperate with your primary doctor, hospice staff, and other caregivers by providing information, asking questions, and following instructions.
• Provide a safe home environment in which care can be given.
• Obtain medications, supplies, and equipment ordered by your physician if they cannot be obtained or supplied by the hospice.
• Treat hospice personnel with respect and consideration.
• Sign the required consent and releases.

• RN Assessment
• Medications/ Comfort Pack
• Equipment
• All Disciplines Go Out