Get Answers to Your Hospice Questions

Care Initiatives Hospice is here to help answer your questions regarding hospice care for your loved ones and provide the information you need to take the next steps. Below are answers to our most frequently asked questions regarding hospice care.

What is hospice care?

Hospice care enhances comfort and promotes the quality of life for individuals and their families when cure is no longer possible. Care Initiatives Hospice recognizes that a peaceful and comfortable death is an essential goal of health care. Death is an integral part of the life cycle. Intensive palliative care focuses on pain relief, comfort and enhanced quality of life. Care Initiatives Hospice recognizes the potential for growth that often exists within the dying experience for the individual and the family.

Hospice care addresses the needs and opportunities during the last phase of life by including the individual and family, trained caregivers and clinical professionals in the care giving team. This interdisciplinary approach to care focuses on the individual’s physical symptoms and the emotional and spiritual concerns of the patient and family.

When should hospice care be considered?

Making a decision to contact a hospice is one of life’s most difficult decisions. While you may suspect that help is needed, loved ones may wish to avoid what can be a very emotional discussion. Some may view hospice care as “giving up.” Some may not want to add to a growing list of caregivers. However, hospice care offers physical, emotional and financial support that helps patients comfortably, peacefully live out the last stages of life.

The time to consider hospice care may include any one of the following or other issues:

  • after diagnosis of a life-limiting or chronic disease or illness
  • an increase in calls to the doctor
  • an increase in hospital visits
  • a loss of abilities affecting daily life.

Where is hospice care?

Hospice care can be provided wherever the patient resides, which may be any one of - or a combination of - the following locations:

  • patient private home
  • family member’s home
  • nursing facility
  • assisted living facility
  • hospital

Who pays for hospice care?

Hospice care is generally paid by Medicare and Medicaid, and also covered by most private insurance providers. Regardless of level of need or where care is provided, no one facing a life-limiting or terminal illness is ever turned away from Care Initiatives Hospice because of an inability to pay.

What services does Care Initiatives Hospice provide?

Care Initiatives Hospice provides a full complement of physical, spiritual and emotional support services from an interdisciplinary team of registered nurses, social workers, aides, counselors, volunteers, therapists, doctors, and other specialized care providers. Services include:

  • visits/consultations available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • highly specialized pain and symptom control
  • prescriptions and medications
  • assistance with daily grooming and hygiene
  • housekeeping and chores
  • support and respite care for family members
  • physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or speech therapy
  • specialized therapies such as music, massage, pet and/or aroma therapy
  • grief care

What is grief care? What does grief care include?

Grief care, or bereavement support, is a vital part of the hospice philosophy of care for the patient and family. Our goal is to help individuals cope with the variety of emotions experienced after losing a loved one. Feelings may include shock, numbness, relief, depression, anger, sadness or acceptance, all at different points in time.

Care Initiatives Hospice offers specially trained individuals to assist families and caregivers though this process. We offer an organized program of bereavement services for family members, caregivers and significant others, as well as the general public. Services include:

  • letters and supportive information
  • support groups
  • memorial services
  • visits and or telephone calls

How do I refer a patient for hospice care?

Anyone may refer a patient to Care Initiatives Hospice for care. Patients may refer themselves or be referred by a friend, caregiver, relative, social worker, nurse, hospital, nursing home or physician. Our team is able to visit with patients and family members for assessment and explanation of services. To make a referral to Care Initiatives Hospice, please call any of the offices below.

Do you offer in-home care?

Absolutely. Care Initiatives Hospice provides ongoing hospice care wherever a patient resides; a private residence, a family member’s home, or a facility.

Does our personal physician continue to be our doctor?

Yes. Care Initiatives Hospice understands that your personal physician is a trusted advisor and friend to the patient and family during the weeks, months and years of treatment of many illnesses and conditions. Continuing that relationship when a patient enters hospice care is very important. Care Initiatives Hospice works to include your physician as part of your care team.

Couldn’t find the answer to your question? For more examples of compassionate care available from Care Initiatives Hospice, visit our web site, www.CareInitiativesHospice.org, or call at any time.

Care Initiatives Hospice - Albia (877) 577-8222
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Rapids (877) 577-2999
Care Initiatives Hospice - Des Moines (877) 577-2888
Care Initiatives Hospice - Greenfield (877) 577-8555
Care Initiatives Hospice - Sioux City (877) 577-3888
Care Initiatives Hospice - Waterloo (877) 577-3999