Frequently Asked Questions
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Many people are frightened by the word “hospice,” but at SolAmor, we focus on improving the quality of life for patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses. We work together with patients, families and primary care physicians to create a plan of care that allows patients to live in comfort and in control of their surroundings. Listed below are a few frequently asked questions to help you gain a more complete understanding of hospice and its services.
What exactly is hospice?
Hospice isn't a place but a philosophy, and at SolAmor, we believe no one should die alone. Our services range from medical and personal care to psychosocial and spiritual support for patients as well as education and grief management for their families. We go wherever you need us, from hospitals and nursing centers to assisted living facilities and private homes. We use normal business hours for routine visits, but nursing and support services are available as needed after hours, including weekends and holidays.
Isn’t hospice only for people who have a few days left?
Many hospice patients enjoy life much as they did prior to being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Often, families delay using hospice assistance until they are too exhausted and overwhelmed to enjoy the final months with their loved one. By contacting SolAmor earlier in the process, patients and their families are able to benefit more fully from our various services, such as supportive counseling, assistance with personal affairs and avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up hope?
Hospice is available to anyone with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live if that illness were to run its course. At SolAmor, we assist patients by providing both comfort care and quality of life.
Will hospice allow the patient and family to be involved in making treatment decisions?
At SolAmor, we put patients and their families at the center of care. Our trained professionals provide information and guidance and encourage open and ongoing communication.
Isn't pain part of the dying process?
Our staff is specially trained to help control the patient's level of pain while helping to ensure the highest possible quality of life. Furthermore, we focus on more than the physical symptoms; we provide emotional and spiritual support to the patient as well as his or her family members.
Hospice isn't a place but a philosophy.
When is hospice appropriate?
A patient is eligible for hospice care when his or her physician determines that, if the disease is allowed to follow its normal progression, the patient will have six months or less to live. To initiate a referral, contact us and one of our team members will schedule an assessment to determine whether hospice care is appropriate and desired.
Will hospice care hasten the disease’s progression?
At SolAmor, we focus on pain control, comfort care and symptom management. This approach does not hasten the disease’s progression. In fact, some patients do better when their pain and symptoms are well controlled.
Does accepting hospice care mean medical treatment ceases?
Although aggressive curative treatment is discontinued, comprehensive pain management and other palliative care helps ensure that patients are comfortable and pain-free, enabling them to continue participating in daily activities.
What expenses are covered?
Hospice care is typically reimbursed by Medicare and operates under Medicare’s federal guidelines, but other payor sources, such as Medicaid and private insurance, often reimburse under those same guidelines. Under the Medicare hospice benefit, expenses such as medications, equipment and supplies associated with the hospice diagnosis are covered 100 percent with no deductibles or co-pays.
How does the company ensure that my health information will remain confidential?
SolAmor abides by a Notice of Privacy Practices Policy, a copy of which is available for you to download.
We provide both comfort care and quality of life.
Company's Nondiscrimination Policy
As a recipient of Federal financial assistance, SolAmor Hospice does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the ground of race, color, or national origin, or on the basis of disability or age in admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs and activities, whether carried out by SolAmor Hospice directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which SolAmor Hospice arranges to carry out its programs and activities.
This statement is in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 80, 84, and 91.
In case of questions, please contact:
Facility Name: SolAmor Hospice
Contact Person/Section 504 Coordinator: Administrator
Telephone number: Contact Local Hospice Agency
TDD or State Relay number: 7-1-1
What on-line resources do you recommend?
We've compliled a list of several organizations that you may find useful in understanding various common diseases as well as palliative care.