What Makes Non-Profit Hospice Care Better Than For-Profit?

One of the most common misconceptions held about hospice care is that it is expensive. Unfortunately, this myth prevents thousands of terminally ill patients and their families to not receive the care they deserve. The truth is that hospice care is 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid. For those not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, as well as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, also offer the hospice benefit

If you do not have health insurance, nonprofit hospice organizations, such as Unity, offer CommUnity Care, a financial assistance program ensuring everyone, regardless of financial means, has access to quality end-of-life care.

Hospice Services that are Covered Under the Hospice Benefit:

• Prescription and over-the-counter medications for symptom management and pain relief, medical equipment, and supplies related to life-limiting illness such as:
• Spiritual support and guidance based on your personal beliefs by specialty trained chaplains
• Assistance with daily activities of living including bathing, dressing, mouth care, skin care, grooming, toileting, and incontinence care by a certified nursing assistant
• Emotional and social support offered by specialty trained social workers
• Dietary counseling
• Clinical support and education to manage the physical symptoms of your illness by a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse
• Expert pain and symptom management to achieve optimum comfort overseen by a medical doctor and nurse practitioner
• RN phone support 24 hours per day
• Visits, as needed, from your hospice care team in your private home, assisted living facility, nursing home, inpatient hospice facility, or  hospital room
• Development of personalized plan of care based on ever-changing disease progression, needs, wishes and lifestyle
• • Medications for pain, anxiety, depression, shortness of breath and other symptoms
  • Commode
  • Nebulizer
  • Hospital bed
  • Walker
  • Wheelchair
  • Oxygen
  • Bandages
  • Catheter
  • Incontinence and skin care products
  • And more…
• Short-term respite care at an inpatient hospice care facility or skilled nursing home for up to five days at a time to provide temporary caregiver relief to avoid or relieve “caregiver burnout”
• Volunteer support including companionship, vigil sitting during life’s final hours, spiritual enrichment, and certified pet therapy visits
• Lab and other diagnostic tests necessary to achieve optimum comfort care
• Grief support before and after death offered by licensed grief counselors and social workers