Do your nurses have CPR training?
Yes. All staff that has contact with patients must be certified in CPR prior to being assigned their first patient. In addition, our employee files are audited to ensure that these licenses are kept up to date.

What hours are nurses available?
Our nurses are available 24 hrs a day, seven days a week. We have staff on call and available should a need arise. We respond to all calls within 15 minutes and if a visit is needed, our nurse can be there within an hour of that determination.

Am I able to pick the nurse? How is my nurse selected?
Homestead Hospice puts our patients and families at the center of our care. We recognize that the relationships with our team members are just as important as the care that is provided. If we can accommodate requests, we will. As long as the nurse can get to the patient in a timely manner (does not live or work too far away from the location of the patient), we will make every effort to honor our patients and families wishes.

What credentials should they present before entering the home?
All staff at Homestead Hospice will have name badges with our company logo and their picture. They should show this to you before entering your home.

Am I expected to be in the house while the hospice staff is there?
You do not have to be in the home during the visit with the patient but they must be able to get in to the home to make the visit. Sometimes the patients are too weak to come to the door to let our staff in. Please inform our staff if there are special instructions to follow regarding entering your home when you are not there.

How long does it take to get care from the time we decide to sign up to the first day?
Homestead Hospice is known for it's quick response time to patients, families and referral sources. We will send a nurse out to admit a patient within just an hour or two of receiving the call for help. We immediately contact the primary care physician for an order to admit and call the family for the best time to meet to discuss hospice and all that we can do to help affect peace and dignity during this difficult time.

What information do you need from me to get started?
Before a patient can be admitted to hospice, we will need an order from a physician to evaluate and admit the patient if they are deemed appropriate for hospice care. To ensure patients are appropriate, the last visit notes from the doctor or latest History and Physical is requested. If we determine that the patient meets the criteria clinically, then we have the patient of family member sign the legal documents that show that hospice care has been chosen and our team will begin caring for the patient immediately.

Is there a contract that I need to sign inn order to receive hospice?
There are legal documents that must be signed before hospice services can begin. These documents include the Hospice Benefit Election Form, The Medicare Hospice Benefit Form, The patient and family rights form, and other forms. These documents are necessary to show that you have chosen hospice as the plan for care and have been informed about your rights, how the hospice program works, how it is paid for, and what is covered under the hospice benefit. Our consultant will answer any questions you have regarding these documents before you sign them.

What happens if my family member passes before care starts or during your care?
While we hope that we are called in to help before death becomes imminent, as long as the legal documents and initial nursing assessment is complete, the patient is considered a hospice patient. Whether that is for just a few hours, days, weeks or months, they have a right to the full hospice benefits. That means that after the patient dies, the family members will receive the full bereavement care for up to 13 months after the patient's death. Our chaplain and bereavement coordinator will stay in touch through letters, calls and perhaps visits to help our families through the first year grieving process.