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Anita: Many people have
heard the term hospice,
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but most don't really understand
what it means.
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Yes, hospice provides care for people
with a terminal illness.
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But hospice isn't only about dying.
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Hospice is about living as fully
as possible
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for as long as possible
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with a team of compassionate people
focused on alleviating suffering and pain.
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Hospice care brings comfort,
dignity, and peace
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to help people with a life-limiting
illness and provides suport
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for their family and friends who love
and care for them.
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Donald: You know, the research shows
that some patients actually
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improve when they enter hospice.
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It's because of the intensity of the care
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and because people have stopped some
of the treatments that often
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make them feel a lot more ill than
they had been feeling.
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Anita: Here are 10 things about hospice
you should know if you or a loved one
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is facing a serious illness.
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Hospice is not a place.
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It is high quality medical care focused
on comfort and quality of life.
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Hospice is paid for by Medicare,
Medicaid, and most insurance plans,
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and usually doesn't cost
the patient anything.
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Hospice serves anyone with a
life-limiting illness,
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regardless of age, type of illness,
who you are, or where you live.
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Hospice serves people of all
backgrounds and traditions.
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The core values of hospice,
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allowing the patient to be with family,
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including spiritual and emotional support,
treating pain,
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these cut across all cultures.
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Research has shown the majority
of Americans would prefer to be
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at home at the end of their lives.
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Hospice makes this possible
for most people.
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Hospice also serves people
living in nursing homes
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and assisted living facilities.
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And hospice patients and families
can receive care for
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6 months or longer.
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A person can keep his or her referring
physician while getting hospice care.
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Hospice offers grief and bereavement
counseling to the family
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and to the larger community.
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To get the most out of what
hospice can offer,
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it's better to have care for more
than just a few days.
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Donald: You know you actually don't have
to be eminently dying to
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receive hospice services.
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It's a benefit that we designed to care
for people during the last 6 months of their lives.
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A person can remain in hospice services
with certification from your doctor
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that you are still
in fact terminally ill.
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Anita: The best time to learn more
about these hospice facts
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is before someone in your family
is facing a healthcare crisis.