Page 14 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - August 2019 - 26-08

Page 14
Senior Times - August 2019
Neurological
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If you need help with any of these conditions, you may benefit from an inpatient skilled nursing rehabiliatation stay.
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The answer is yes; depending on their health conditions, one or both of these services could significantly improve your older adult’s quality of life. But deciding which service can be confusing, so it’s important to understand the key differ- ences and benefits of palliative care vs. hospice care.
Palliative (PAL-ee-uh-tiv) care is medical care designed for people with serious health conditions.
The primary goal of palliative care is to improve quality of life for patients and family. Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, nausea, loss of appetite, dif- ficulty sleeping, and depression.
support than they get under traditional medical care including family guidance, support, and grief counseling.
Choosing Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care
Palliative: Anyone with a serious illness, no matter how long they’re expected to live.
Hospice: Someone with an illness who may not live beyond six months. This doesn’t mean they’re definitely going to die, but they’re sick enough that it could be a possibility.
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Palliative: Some treatments and medi- cations may be covered.
Hospice: Yes, Medicare will pay for hospice care charges.
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Could Palliative Care Or Hospice
Care Help Your Older Adult?
Palliative Care
Palliative care can be used during any stage of a serious illness. Palliative doctors are specialists with extra train- ing and experience in pain management and symptom control. They help seniors and family caregivers cope with the side effects of medical treatments, fears, and caregiver stress. By relieving symptoms, palliative care often improves someone’s ability to tolerate medical treatments and their ability to recover.
Palliative: Yes, seniors could receive palliative care and curative treatments at the same time
Hospice: Generally no. Hospice focus- es on treatments and medicines that relieve symptoms.
Another significant benefit of palli- ative care is that these doctors can help families make difficult medical decisions. They’ll take the time to discuss pros and cons of various treatment options, answer questions, and address concerns. Without that expert guidance, it can be even more stressful to make tough medical deci- sions.
Palliative: Some treatments and medi- cations may be covered.
Hospice: In most U.S. states, Medicaid pays for all hospice care charges, but not a hospice residence. Check with local hospice companies to make sure.
Hospice Care
Palliative: No. Palliative care services are flexible and based on what your older adult needs, so coverage will depend on what services or treatments they’re using.
Hospice care is for patients who are ill enough for a doctor to certify that they may not live beyond six months. That sounds scary, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a death sentence. It just means that every six months, your older adult will need to be reevaluated to see if they are still eli- gible to continue with Hospice Care.
The main goal is to make your older adult as comfortable as possible. Hospice uses a combination of pain and symptom management plus emo- tional and spiritual support for seniors and families.
Hospice: Yes, most insurance plans cover hospice care.
Hospice programs are great for seniors in advanced stages of non-curable illness, very frail, or extremely aged. For example, someone with advanced demen- tia might qualify.
Palliative: At home, in an assisted living community, in a skilled nursing facility, in a hospital.
Hospice: Wherever your older adult lives: at home, in an assisted living community, skilled nursing facility, or hospital. Some hospice organizations also have facilities where people can live (hospice residence) or get short- term care for severe pain or symptom management.
Under hospice, doctors coordinate treatments so your older adult can feel as good as possible. Medical professionals visit the older adult. This is a huge relief for people who are too frail or ill to go to the doctor’s office.
9. Is end-of-life care offered?
On-call help and support is also avail- able – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Palliative: This depends on the provider – be sure to ask.
Hospice: Yes, hospice organizations have end-of-life experts on staff.
What many people don’t know is that hospice care offers families much more
1. Who can get this type of care?
2. Can seniors continue to receive treatments to cure their illness?
3. Is it covered by Medicare?
4. Is it covered by Medicaid?
5. Is it covered by private insurance?
6. How long can the care continue?
Palliative: It depends on your older adult’s needs and their insurance cov- erage (Medicare, Medicaid, or private). Hospice: As long as your older adult qualifies for hospice.
7. Who provides the services?
Palliative: Hospitals, hospice organiza- tions, skilled nursing facilities. Hospice: Hospice organizations, hos- pice programs based out of a hospital.
8. Where are these services provided?