Frequently Asked Questions About Hospice

Who is eligible for hospice?

Many people mistakenly believe that a hospice patient must be bed-bound, critically ill, and unable to continue living life to the fullest. In most cases, this couldn't be further from the truth.

While the symptoms of a life-limiting illness can have an impact on how you live your life, hospice helps patients and families make the most of their remaining days, weeks, and months.

Hospice benefits are available to anyone with a life expectancy of six months or less if the terminal illness or disease runs its normal course. The patient, of course, must choose to elect hospice, and the patient's eligibility must be certified by a physician (most often the patient's personal physician in conjunction with the hospice's medical director). Often, patients and their families are referred to hospice by a physician or other medical professional (nursing home, hospital discharge planner, etc.). But in other cases, the patients and families can contact the hospice directly to determine whether this care is the right answer for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. If after learning more about hospice, you believe that you or your loved one might be eligible, here are the steps you can take to elect the hospice benefit:

1. Call  Hospice of New Mexico 505.872.2300
2. A Hospice of New Mexico Registered nurse will explain more about the services offered, ask some health-related questions to begin assessing eligibility, and answer any initial questions you might have.
3. If the patient lives within Hospice of New Mexico’s service area ,and eligibility appears to be indicated, an appointment will be scheduled for a Registered nurse to visit to conduct a more detailed assessment.
4. If this in-person review continues to indicate eligibility, the nurse will answer any of your questions and walk the patient step-by-step through the process of electing the hospice benefit. Hospice of New Mexico will coordinate the hospice certification process with your personal physician, if necessary.
5. Once patient is admitted to hospice an individualized plan of care is developed in conjunction with the patient, the family, and the entire interdisciplinary care team. The nurse will also coordinate care with the patient's attending physician, if applicable.

What are common diagnoses for patients receiving hospice?

• ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
• Alzheimer's disease
• Cancer
• General Decline
• Dementia
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lung disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's
• Stroke

If you think you or someone you love could be eligible for hospice, you don't need to have all of the answers. Just call Hospice of New Mexico and our experts will coordinate with everyone involved to determine eligibility and make any necessary arrangements.

Call Hospice of New Mexico at 505.872.2300 we are here to answer any questions you may have.

How Is Hospice Paid?

Hospice of New Mexico is a Medicare-certified hospice for patients that qualify. In addition, hospice care is covered by most Medicaid and commercial insurance plans with few, if any, out-of-pocket costs. This includes 100% coverage of the following:

• Physician consultations/visits
• RN  visits/on call 24 hours a day
• Emotional and spiritual support from social workers and chaplains
• Medications for symptom control
• Equipment such as hospital beds and wheelchairs
• Incontinent supplies
• Nutritional supplements
• Volunteer companions
• Bereavement support prior to and after death
• No cost consultation
• Routine home care in the comfort of your own home
• Respite care to provide rest and comfort to the family of caregivers

For more information and to learn whether hospice might be the right answer for you or a loved one, call Hospice of New Mexico at 505.872.2300.

Are You Living With An Illness?

If you are living with a serious illness, it can be difficult to know which way to turn.

There may be times when you feel as if you are all alone. Or you may have questions about the symptoms you may be experiencing. And there may be other times when you are surrounded by well-intentioned people who genuinely want to help and support you...... yet, they may or may not have the experience or the resources to do so.

The medical and care staffs at Hospice of New Mexico have the resources and expertise to help. Regardless of your diagnosis, whether in the areas of Cardiology, Pulmonary, Dementia / Alzheimer's or some other ailment, we have the resources to develop a care plan that addresses your specific symptoms and disease path.

As you make decisions, face challenges, adjust to changes and plan for the future, you can take comfort in knowing that the nurses, physicians, caregivers and professionals at Hospice of New Mexico are passionate about personalized care. No matter what level of care, we are committed to making your journey as positive and meaningful as humanly possible.

Hospice of New Mexico can assist you in developing your game plan. If you have questions or would like more information, please call us at505.872.2300.

Are You Caring For A Loved One?

If you are providing care for a loved one, then you know that care giving can be a heroic, sometimes difficult mission.

In fact, on a daily and weekly basis, the lives of care givers are often affected in every way possible, from the physical to the emotional to the spiritual. This is why it is so important for you, as a care giver, to take care of yourself. Experience has taught us that self-care is the key to providing consistent quality care for others who may need you and your on-going support.

The care staff at Hospice of New Mexico  understands many of your care giving challenges. With that in mind, our goal is to support you and your loved one in any and every way possible.

We do recognize that “support” is defined differently for every individual, every family and every patient. This is why our care plans are personalized and individualized to meet the unique and specific needs of every family with which we partner to provide compassionate care.

No matter what level of care, we empower care givers and patients by closely partnering with families to provide customized care and timely, relevant information for family members.

Hospice of New Mexico can assist you in developing your game plan. If you are caring for a loved one or if you know someone who may need care, please call us at 505.872.2300.

Are You Grieving A Loss?

If you are experiencing a loss, you may be wondering whether you are grieving in the proper way and if the feelings you are experiencing are "normal."

You may also have questions about how long the grieving period will last. Or you may feel the need to talk to someone about what you are experiencing.

Hospice of New Mexico has access to a wealth of information created specifically for individuals and families who are dealing with loss. We welcome you to learn more about our workshops, and services.

The counselors, professionals and caregivers at Hospice of New Mexico recognize that the bereavement process is different for every individual and every family. In order to address this dynamic, Hospice of New Mexico offers a wide range of counseling services for families and friends of patients as well as for the community at large. These include grief support, individual and family grief counseling,  and memorial services