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Hospice is About Living: Hospice Care FAQs
Hospice. It’s a word that holds so much weight, yet very few families grasp the full extent of hospice care benefits.
When someone is facing a terminal illness or declining due to age, there are many emotions involved for everyone walking the journey together. It’s one of the reasons Wellspring encourages families to have meaningful conversations long before the time comes. Because in a moment of crisis, it can be harder to listen, make decisions, or navigate changes.
We often meet families who reach end-of-life care without a plan in place or a clear understanding of their options. There are questions about what to expect, and families may not know their loved one’s wishes. This can lead to confusion, tension, and additional emotional stress among family members. At Wellspring, the goal of hospice care is to ease stress and give patients the care they deserve, whether that is at home or in a hospital setting.
To help you navigate these conversations, the Wellspring Hospice Team is sharing the 10 questions families ask most often about hospice care.
How do doctors determine when someone qualifies for hospice care? Can families request an evaluation?
Family members can request a hospice evaluation. To determine eligibility, providers look at current health, patterns of decline (weight loss, functional decline, cognitive decline), new diagnoses, or repeated medical complications. Generally, a patient’s medical information is needed from their physician or hospital to make a recommendation for hospice care. If a family believes their loved one may qualify, a hospice provider can help them talk with their physician about what is needed.
How does hospice care help family?
Many people who have utilized hospice services say it helped them regain a sense of safety and control during a time that often feels unpredictable. When someone is terminally ill, their body has often been working hard for a long time. Hospice helps the patient and the families plan for how to live in a way that supports comfort and well-being. Together, with a hospice nurse, you can talk through ways to live as fully and comfortably as possible. At Wellspring, our hospice nurses provide education on how to care for a loved one so you can feel confident being part of the process. If desired, we have a chaplain who can provide spiritual support. We also have clinical support staff who help ensure the patient’s needs are met and they are well cared for.
Does insurance cover hospice services?
Most insurances include a hospice benefit, and Wellspring verifies this before services begin. Hospice staff, medications, supplies, and equipment related to the terminal diagnosis are typically covered expenses. We encourage you to speak with your doctor and reach out to a local hospice provider who can walk you through these details.
Does hospice speed up the dying process?
Hospice doesn’t speed up the dying process. Only God knows the number of days you have on this earth. The medications and support we provide do not speed up the dying process. Medications are given at the lowest doses needed for comfort. Medications are only increased as appropriate to meet the patient’s needs. Our goal is to make a person’s time on earth more comfortable physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Can I choose between at-home hospice care or a hospital setting?
Yes, you can choose at-home hospice care, assisted living, a nursing home, adult foster care, or independent living. Hospice is usually used in a hospital only when a person’s symptoms can’t be managed at home, and it is typically short-term. Once hospice services are needed, your hospice provider and your physician will help determine the best environment for you or your loved one to receive care.
How long does it take to qualify for hospice care? When does hospice care start?
At Wellspring, it usually takes less than 48 hours for a person to start receiving hospice services. This is fully dependent on the physician or hospital sending the qualifying information and documentation so the patient can be admitted into our hospice benefit.
For at-home care, how often is a nurse in the home? What happens when the nurse isn’t there?
Nurses visit one to three times a week, depending on the person’s needs. Early on, visits may feel more frequent as the hospice provider develops a care plan and meets with family. After that, the frequency of visits is based on the person’s level of need. Even when a nurse isn’t on site, support is always just a phone call away.
Is hospice only for people at the end of life?
People receiving hospice care are evaluated every couple of months. If there is a decline, hospice services continue. Wellspring has cared for people who remained on service for more than two years. A person can also be discharged from hospice if symptoms are managed and they are showing stability without decline. They can return to hospice at any time if the need arises. Hospice does not change the course of the illness, but it provides support along the way.
What are the benefits of hospice care?
The benefits of hospice are shaped by what you need and how you choose to use them. Hospice can be especially meaningful if you lean into the support available for you and your loved ones. Having conversations now about what matters most at the end of life helps ensure that when difficult decisions arise, you will already have a plan in place.
Hospice is truly about living. We know life is precious, and we know time is precious. At Wellspring, we want to help you live in a way that brings comfort and allows you to cherish the time you have with the people who mean the most in your life. Hospice gives you and your family the freedom to focus on quality time and meaningful moments. You no longer have to spend your days going to doctors’ appointments and taking medication that could potentially have negative side effects. You get to choose what medication you want to take, and you can begin to care for your mind, body, and spirit.
If you believe hospice is something families use only in the final days before a loved one passes away, you are not alone. Our hope is that your understanding expands to see the fullness of what hospice can offer, because when used to its potential, hospice truly is a gift. It’s a gift that allows us to be intentional about how we live while also navigating the reality of a terminal illness that will one day call a loved one to their heavenly home.
Why should I choose Wellspring for hospice care?
If you live in the Great Lakes Bay Region within a 50-mile radius of Frankenmuth, Michigan, we would be honored to be your hospice provider. The Wellspring hospice program offers all standard hospice care services, and we don’t stop there. Through the support of generous donors who understand the importance of hospice care, we are able to provide chaplain services, bereavement services, a bereavement camp for children, music therapy, and more—all at no cost.
If Wellspring can support you, your family, or your congregation, please reach out to our hospice team at
