Will I have my own hospice team and how often will they visit?
Is hospice available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
What do hospice volunteers do?
What happens if I can't be cared for at home?
Can I be cared for by hospice if I reside in a nursing facility or other type of long-term care facility?
Do state and federal reviewers inspect and evaluate hospices?
How can I find out if a hospice provides excellent care?
Every client receiving ACH care has access to a volunteer, skilled nurse, social worker, certified nurses aide, and chaplain (also known as the interdisciplinary team). For each client and family, the interdisciplinary team writes a care plan with the person/family that is used to make sure the person and family receive the care they need. Typically, full-time registered nurses provide care to about a dozen different families. Social workers usually work with about twice as many clients. If needed, Certified Nurses Aides, who provide personal care, will visit most frequently.
All visits, however, are based on the client and family needs as described in the care plan and the condition of the person during the course of illness. The frequency of volunteers and spiritual care is often dependent upon request and the availability of these services. Travel requirements and other factors may cause some variation in how many individuals each hospice staff serves.
ACH care is available ‘on call’ after the administrative office has closed, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. ACH has nurses, social workers, and chaplains on call at all times. To reach our ‘on call’ staff, please call the direct office line and you will be forwarded to an ACH staff member.
ACH volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to individuals and their loved ones including running errands, preparing light meals, staying with a client to give loved ones a break, and lending emotional support and companionship to individuals and loved ones.
Because hospice volunteers spend time in homes, each hospice program generally has some type of application and interview process to assure the person is right for this type of volunteer work. In addition, hospice programs have an organized training program for their volunteers. Areas covered by these training programs often include understanding hospice philosophy, confidentiality, working with families, listening skills, signs and symptoms of approaching death, loss and grief and bereavement support.
A growing number of hospice programs have their own hospice facilities or have arrangements with nursing homes, hospitals or inpatient residential centers to care for people who cannot be cared for at home. However, the cost to live in these settings may not be covered by your insurance. An ACH social worker may be of assistance for financial need.
Hospice services can be provided to a person who has a life-limiting illness wherever they live. This means a person living in a nursing facility or long-term care facility can receive specialized visits from hospice nurses, Certified Nurse’s Aides, chaplains, social workers, and volunteers, in addition to other care and services provided by the nursing facility. ACH and the nursing home will have a written agreement in place in order for Auburn Crest Hospice to serve residents of the facility.
Yes. There are state licensure requirements that must be met by hospice programs in order for them to deliver care. In addition, hospices must comply with federal regulations in order to be approved for reimbursement under Medicare. Hospices must periodically undergo inspection to show they are meeting regulatory standards to maintain their license to operate. Licensure and Certification then permit the hospice to bill Medicare for reimbursement.
Many hospices use tools to let them see how well they are doing in relation to quality hospice standards. In addition, most programs use family satisfaction surveys to get feedback on their services and make improvements. This is your opportunity to give feedback on the care that you and your loved one received. There is a copy of ACH’s family satisfaction survey in the admit packet for you to review. You may also fill out the form online at www.auburncrest.com.