Having a loved one who needs extra care can be difficult, especially when it comes to exploring all the options available. Whether for you or a loved one, you want to choose the right fit for the situation. One question you may be asking yourself is “what is the difference in hospice care and nursing home care?”
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is specialized care for individuals and their families living with a life-limiting illness. It treats the person, rather than the disease, and focuses on improving quality of life. Healthcare today focuses mainly on curing an illness. What if you were told there was nothing more that could be done? In hospice care, there is always more that can be done. Hospice care is compassionate. It focuses on comfort, dignity for the patient, and meaning. It’s not about counting the days you have left; it’s about making each day count.
St. Anthony’s Hospice manages symptoms and controls pain to give our patients the highest quality of life for however long they are with us. Ensuring each patient has the highest quality of life allows them to share more moments and memories with loved ones and allows them to say everything they need to say.
Care is provided wherever the patient calls home. This can be in their own home/apartment, an assisted living facility, the Lucy Smith King Care Center, or in a nursing home/skilled nursing facility. All medication, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies related to the patient’s primary diagnosis are covered under the Medicare/Medicaid hospice benefit and by most private insurances.
What is a Nursing Home or Skilled Nursing Facility?
A nursing home, or skilled nursing facility, is a residential facility that provides 24-hour care which includes meals, personal care, and medical care. It is often used as a place to recover from serious illness or surgery before returning home, for an individual who doesn’t need hospital care but cannot be cared for at home.
All nursing homes are different, so it is important to consider what all you desire for yourself or a loved one and do some research to find one that fits most of all of your needs. Some are set up more like a hospital, while others offer a more home-like feel. Medicare has a fantastic nursing home compare website where you can look at different nursing homes in your area and find the best fit for you. Check it out here.
In addition to online research of nursing homes, contact your top options and ask about the style of care, cost, and waiting list. Even better and if possible, ask to take a tour of the facility in advance and meet with the admissions director, director of nursing, or assistant director of nursing.
Hospice vs. Nursing Home
There are several notable differences in hospice care and nursing home care. First, nursing homes are physical places where care is provided while hospice is a type of healthcare than can be provided anywhere- including nursing homes. Much like a seriously ill patient at home, one in a nursing home also requires more care. The team at St. Anthony’s Hospice will bring their specialized end-of-life care to add to the care and support that the nursing home care is already providing.
Another difference is hospice care is covered 100% under Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurances. While Medicare generally doesn’t cover long-term stays in a nursing home, depending on your/your loved one’s financial situation private pay is an option, in addition to Medicaid and long-term care insurance.
While there are several differences between hospice and nursing home care, families don’t necessarily have to choose between the two. If you or a loved one have a terminal illness and require the 24-hour care of a nursing home, hospice care can be added to that at no additional cost to the family.
If you or a loved one is in need of the extra care and support that hospice care can provide, please call us at (270) 826-2326 or fill out an online referral.
