Hospice Care

nurse_patient.jpgFrom the moment of diagnosis, we are here to help.  Suncoast Hospice understands the challenges you may be facing. As a patient, your concerns and preferences will guide your care and options. Care is available to everyone regardless of diagnosis.

Suncoast Hospice is available for you, your family and caregivers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We provide care and support to help you live your life as comfortably and meaningfully as possible. We are here to help guide you through a situation that may have you feeling powerless.

Suncoast Hospice care includes:
  • A patient and family care team of hospice and palliative medical professionals who treat your pain and symptoms and provide support for your family and caregivers. Volunteers are part of the team.
  • Integrative medicine combining traditional medicine with alternative therapies to ease pain and discomfort.
  • Suncoast Hospice house stay if needed to get excessive pain and symptoms under control.

Is It Time for Hospice?

How will you know when it is time for our care? While you may not be able to answer that question with any certainty, it’s never too soon to ask for help. Suncoast Hospice will answer your questions and help you find the right care at the right time. Suncoast Hospice’s services aren’t just for those who are terminally ill. We offer palliative care, support for caregivers, palliative services and homecare for those living with chronic conditions or recovering from surgery or injuries.
 

Whatever your diagnosis, determining the right care at the right time begins with a conversation.

Gather Information: Call Us

Suncoast Hospice staff and volunteers have the training and expertise to guide you through the entire information-gathering process,discuss all your care options and help you determine the right care for you and your family. When you call Suncoast Hospice, you will be encouraged to ask the questions you may have been afraid to ask.

With your first call to Suncoast Hospice, we can begin to:
  • Assess your needs by listening to your concerns and asking questions about your illness, current care and how you wish to live the rest of your life
  • Help you make decisions about what's right for you or the person you are caring for
Ask Your Physician

The following are some questions you may want to ask your physician:
  • How do you expect my condition to change in the next year?
  • What symptoms might I experience?
  • Will I be able to go about my daily routine and care for myself?

Will the treatments I am pursuing or may pursue:

  • Cure or slow down my illness or do they focus on managing my symptoms and quality of life?
  • Increase or decrease my pain?
  • Make me feel sick?

Other questions:

  • How have other people responded to similar treatments?
  • How will treatment affect other parts of my body?
  • How long will treatment last?
  • What other treatment choices could I consider?

Turning to Suncoast Hospice is not about giving up, it's about getting help. The most life-affirming thing you can do is seek assistance and comfort for yourself or someone else. Most of our patients and families say that they wish they had called us sooner—that Suncoast Hospice honored patients' dignity and enhanced their quality of life.

What Happens When You Call?

When you call Suncoast Hospice, there’s always someone available to speak with you. Our professional hospice staff and trained volunteers have the expertise and knowledge to address your questions or concerns. 
 
For Those Seeking General Information:

If you are wondering if it’s time for hospice care, a call to Suncoast Hospice is the best place to start. With one phone call we can begin to:
  • Assess your needs by listening to your concerns and asking questions about your illness, care and how we can best serve you.
  • Help you make decisions about care that’s right for you or the person you are caring for. It's never too soon to ask for help.
If it's determined that an at-home visit is advisable, you may expect to hear from Suncoast Hospice within 24 hours to schedule a visit.
 

Paying for Suncoast Hospice Care

Living with an advanced illness is stressful enough without having to worry about how you will pay for hospice care. As a community hospice, we ensure that all those in our community who need hospice care receive it. Our services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, private health insurance and private pay.
 

Suncoast Hospice services covered by these plans include:
  • Nursing care
  • Medications, medical equipment and supplies required for your hospice care
  • Any necessary short-term inpatient care
  • Home health aides and homemaker services
  • Physical, speech and occupational therapy
  • Social work, counseling and spiritual care
  • Dietary counseling
  • Hospice volunteers
  • Grief and loss counseling for you and your family
About the Medicare Hospice Benefit
Once you start receiving hospice services, Medicare begins paying for your care under its Part A (hospital insurance) benefit. When your care is covered by the Medicare hospice benefit, you may also be covered by your original Medicare plan for any services unrelated to your hospice care.

The only out-of-pocket expense you may be asked to pay is a $5 co-pay for any prescription drugs required to manage the pain and symptoms related to your hospice diagnosis. However, if you choose to remain enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan while receiving hospice care, you will have to pay your plan’s monthly premium.

About the Medicaid Hospice Benefit
For some, insurance coverage is just not financially possible. If you are uninsured and in need of hospice services for yourself, your child or other family members, you may apply for Medicaid and perhaps receive Suncoast Hospice services under a Medicaid plan. Once enrolled in Medicaid, all hospice services listed above will be covered for you or your family member.

We understand that sometimes people find themselves ineligible for a government plan and unable to pay for managed care or private insurance. For anyone in that situation, we are able to provide services thanks to the generous contributions made to our Suncoast Hospice Foundation.

 





If you need care or know someone who does, we are here to help.
Request services now or call us at (727) HOSPICE | 467-7423.