Need hospice in Waxhaw NC

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 6, 2005

hospice is providing quality comfort care in a person's own home when one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or life expectancy of less than six months. services routinely include skilled nursing, social worker, home health aide, chaplin or bereavment counselor and volunteers who run errands, read newpapers, help prepare meals or sit a spell to allow family time out of the home.

in the us, medicare pays 100% for the cost of care and medications directly related to the diagnosis. managed care companies sign contracts to provide similar services. if your uncle has medicare he is free to choose any organization. if he has manged care insurance, a call to the insurance company will determine which hospice will provide services. a physician needs to certify the life expectancy and usually the doctor makes the call on the patients behalf. if your uncle is without insurance, most non-profit hospice programs that have an established relationship with his physician (cause they would get referrals for other clients) should be able to provide services for him.

most hospice patients die at home in their own beds, sofa or favorite recliner chair. only if all avenues have been exhausted to maintain someone at home, are patients moved to an inpatient setting. depending on the hospice program their may be a fee involved at that time or free if covered by other grant monies. one should ask upfront before signing for a hospice program, if inpatient unit required what fees are necessary.

in the philadlephia area, inpatient care runs about $100.00/day if long term care needed as no caregiver and patient bedbound. many hospice programs in philly area now designed for patients who live alone without a caregiver.

here are websites that can help locate a hospice or homecare program.

find a hospice program - the national hospice and palliative care ...

search the national hospice & palliative care organization database.

home care and hospice agency locator

international hospice locator:

http://www.hospiceinformation.info/...ternational.asp

hope this helps. pm me if assistance needed as part of my daily job responsibilities to arrange home/hospice care.

Jolie, BSN · Jan 6, 2005

My husband's uncle has end stage esophageal cancer and has less than 3 months to live. The family is looking for hospice services. Does anyone know of a reputable hospice in Waxhaw NC? The one my husband's aunt looked into was talking about a $2000.00 deposit, which doesn't sound right. Fast replies would be greatly appreciated. I live in IL so I am not familiar with the hospice services offered in NC.

Do I remember correctly that Waxhaw is not far from Charlotte? I would imagine that there would be a hospice service in Charlotte. And I agree that requiring up-front payment sounds odd, unless your uncle is uninsured. I hope they find the care he needs soon.