FAQs & resources

we strive to enhance your quality of life

FAQS

  • Each team includes: a physician, registered nurse, certified nursing assistant, volunteer coordinator, social worker and chaplain. Our social workers and chaplains hold advanced degrees and are clinically trained. All team members are trained in the specialized programs offered by Dove Hospice and the importance of alternative therapies in the care of the patient.
  • Our clinical field teams have one of the lowest patients-to-staff ratios in hospice (which means more care and visits to our patients and their families)
  • We visit our patients in private homes, assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals, wherever they call home.
  • We have clinical care teams (nurses, social workers and chaplains) on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Our specialized programs for CHF, COPD and Alzheimer’s are supportive and focus on the patient.
  • The Dove Hospice Advanced Care Planning program provides education to the patient and family to help them make better informed healthcare decisions.
  • Our social workers and chaplains provide for the emotional and spiritual needs of our patients and their families. They honor the importance of a multi-cultural and individualized approach.
At Dove Hospice, we strive to enhance the quality of life for those entrusted to our care, as well as for those who love them. The goal of our entire team is to provide the best care possible to ease the patient’s pain, suffering and anxiety. We are up to date on the very latest medications and techniques in pain relief, utilizing current methods and even some alternative methods. Our staff provide not only for a patient’s physical needs, but also for the emotional and spiritual needs of the patients plus their loved ones.

In most cases, Dove Hospice accepts Medicare and Medicaid benefits as payment in full for our hospice services. Additionally, many private insurance companies cover hospice care. See your policy for more information. For your convenience, we have provided information regarding the Medicare and Medicaid benefits below.

Medicare

Medicare hospice benefits are covered under Medicare Part A (hospital insurance). There are several prerequisites to receive hospice benefits:

  • You meet all eligibility requirements of Medicare Part A.

  • You have been certified to be terminally ill by your physician and the hospice medical director. The certification must attest that you have 6 months or less to live.

  • You must sign a statement declaring your choice of hospice care instead of normal Medicare benefits.

  • The hospice you choose must accept Medicare.

Medicare coverage provides comprehensive medical care related to the terminal illness and includes medications, medical supplies and any medical equipment that are related to the terminal illness and included in the Hospice Plan of Care.

As a patient at Dove Hospice, you always have the option to discontinue hospice care and seek other treatment. It is important to know that treatment and services to cure your life-limiting illness are not covered under the Hospice Medicare Benefit. If you are considering treatment options to cure your illness, please consult with your physician.

For more information about the Medicare Hospice Benefit, please read the Medicare Hospice Guide, a government publication provided by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found under Educational Resources.

Medicaid

Medicaid covers hospice care in most states and the District of Columbia, Medicaid is state funded insurance offered to low-income families. Coverage varies from state to state. Please contact your local Department of Health office for more information about the Medicaid Benefit.

“Advance directives” is a general term that refers to your oral and/or written instructions regarding future medical care, in the event that you become unable to communicate.  Advance directives provide you with a way to communicate your wishes to family, friends and healthcare professionals.

By supplying Dove Hospice with a copy of your advance directives, you are ensuring that your desires will be respected no matter what and that there will be no confusion later. There are two types of advance directives — a living will and a medical power of attorney.

What are the Benefits of Advance Care Planning?

  • Provides the opportunity to discuss your values, beliefs and treatment preferences to make informed decisions.

  • Improves understanding of your medical condition and available options.

  • Clearly documents your choices for current and future medical care and treatment.

  • Identifies a trusted spokesperson (surrogate) to communicate on your behalf and ensure your wishes are respected.

  • Improves communication between all parties involved.

  • Provides guidance in completing an advance directive (e.g., living will or healthcare surrogate), if desired.

  • Ensures the treatment and care you want to receive in the future is honored.

  • Provides peace of mind to you, your family, friends and healthcare providers.

 

A living will is a type of advance directive in which you describe, in writing, your wishes about medical treatment should you be unable to communicate at the end of life. Your right to accept or refuse treatment is protected by constitutional and common law.

A living will identifies how you feel about care that is intended to sustain life. You have the ability to either accept or refuse medical care. Some of the issues to address include:

  • The use of dialysis and breathing machines
  • If you want to be resuscitated if breathing or heartbeat stops
  • Tube feeding
  • Organ or tissue donation

A medical power of attorney is a document that enables you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions about your medical care in the event that you cannot make decisions on your own. This person is referred to as your healthcare proxy.

​Advance directives give you the opportunity to make decisions about your medical care when you are no longer able to communicate. Advance directives will not be used if you still have the ability to express your own desires regarding care. For your protection, we suggest that advance directives be prepared with the assistance of an attorney.

Resources

Cardiac Care Journey program is a specialized hospice program for patients with advanced cardiac disease to provide ongoing education on the disease process, monitoring and relaxation techniques to improve overall symptom management.

Special Moments Journey Program is a specialized program for patients with end stage Alzheimer’s disease. The program was designed to support the patient and caregivers with education on the disease progression, sensory type projects and relaxation techniques to reduce agitation.

Special Moments-Alternative Therapies was designed to support all specialty programs and includes hand massage, pet therapy, music intervention, aromatherapy and Reiki.

Advance Care Planning provides the opportunity to discuss your values, beliefs and treatment preferences to make informed decisions and clearly document your choices for current and future medical care and treatment.

At Dove Hospice, we are committed to the compassionate care of terminally ill veterans and their families. We understand the selfless service and sacrifices that our veterans have made in their mission to serve our country. As a result of their experiences, veterans often have unique challenges and require specialized care at the end-of-life.

Dove Hospice has partnered with “We Honor Veterans” to ensure that our veterans have access to compassionate, quality care when dealing with a life-limiting illness. We provide our veterans with the opportunity to end their journey in a comfortable and dignified manner. At Dove Hospice, we view this as our chance to finally give something back to those who have served our country.

The VA Hospice Benefit, which essentially mimics the Medicare Benefit, covers our services in full for eligible, enrolled veterans. Those veterans who have both the Veterans Administration Benefit and Medicare or Medicaid benefits have the choice of which benefit they would like to utilize. In either case, our veterans and their families can rest assured knowing that the Dove Hospice team will provide them with the best possible end-of-life experience at no cost to them.