Kinds of care

What is Hospice?

Hospice is comfort-focused care for someone expected to live six months or less, provided at home or in a facility and covered in full by Medicare.

The Medicare hospice benefit covers nursing visits, medication for symptoms, equipment, aide visits and bereavement support, usually in the person's own home. Curative treatment for the terminal illness stops.

People with advanced dementia qualify, and eligibility is reassessed rather than fixed at six months.

Why it matters

It is the most comprehensive support available at the end, and most families with dementia access it far later than they could.

Sources

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Related terms

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