How to Choose the Right Hospice Provider

How to Pick The Right Hospice Provider for Your Loved One

Deciding to go into hospice is never easy, not for the patient, their family, or even their doctor. It’s an emotionally charged time, and as a family caregiver, you want to ensure your loved one receives the compassionate, quality care they deserve. Finding the proper care starts with picking the right hospice provider in your area. Much goes into this decision, but with the right guidance, you can make a sound choice. Here are some tried-and-true steps to choosing a hospice provider for your loved one:

1. Research Credentials and Licensing

First, search for hospice providers in your area. Before going any further, do some research into their credentials and licensing. All hospice organizations must be certified by Medicare to receive reimbursement, which ensures they meet basic federal standards for care. Accreditations for organizations like the Joint Commission are also a sign of quality care. If you can’t find credentials clearly stated on their website, reach out to the provider. A reputable hospice care agency will have no problem telling you about its accreditations.

2. Evaluate the Care Team

The quality of hospice care largely depends on the professionals providing it. Ask about the qualifications and experience of team members, including physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains. Find out how long staff members typically stay with the organization, as high turnover rates can indicate workplace issues that might affect care quality.

3. Ask About Emergency Care

Here’s one of the most important questions to ask hospice: how do you respond in an emergency? Learn whether staff will be available to help your loved one 24/7 and how they decide what constitutes an emergency. This can give you peace of mind going forward.

4. Assess Communication and Support Services

Good communication is essential to any hospice service. Talk to potential providers about their communication policies. How often will you receive updates? What methods do they use to keep families informed? In addition to understanding their communication style, you’ll want to dig deeper into their support services. Note if they offer any kind of spiritual support or bereavement social services for patients and families.

5. Look at their Approach to Pain Management

Hospice care isn’t about curing an illness; it’s about keeping patients comfortable and living out their final months with dignity. To that end, pain and symptom management is critical. Discuss this with each hospice provider and learn their protocols for adjusting medications and treatments as a patient’s condition changes. You might also ask about their experience with other patients who have your loved one’s condition. Different illnesses require different expertise, and you want a team familiar with the challenges associated with your loved one’s diagnosis.

6. Don’t Forget About Finances

While Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans cover hospice care, coverage details can vary. Ask potential providers to explain what their services include and what costs might not be covered. Whenever possible, request a clear breakdown of any potential out-of-pocket expenses, such as certain medications, medical equipment, or additional services. Some hospice services, like Agape Hospice & Palliative Care, offer outstanding hospice care at no cost to families.

7. Trust Your Instincts

Sometimes, you’ll come across a hospice provider with all the right credentials and extensive hospice services. Yet, something still feels off. If you have any apprehension about a certain provider, don’t feel bad about taking them out of the running. Your instincts matter, and more often than not, they’re correct. The relationship between you, your loved one, and their hospice team is deeply personal, and you should only choose providers that make you feel comfortable.

Choosing a Hospice Provider With Confidence

A loved one’s move to hospice comes with lots of crucial decisions, the most important of which being the hospice services you choose. Thankfully, picking the right provider is simple for families in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Agape Hospice & Palliative Care offers the gold standard in hospice care and specializes in a wide range of conditions. Contact us today for information on how we can help your family.