Here are some questions to ask when you’re looking for a good hospice program:

• What services does this hospice provide?
• What kind of support is available to the family and caregiver?
• What roles do the patient’s doctor and the hospice doctor play?
• What do hospice volunteers provide?
• How will hospice meet our spiritual and emotional needs?
• How does hospice keep the patient comfortable?
• How are hospice services provided after hours and on weekends?
• How and where does hospice provide short-term inpatient care?
• Can hospice be brought into a nursing home or long-term care facility?

Medicare and private insurance, including new long-term care policies, cover most hospice services for anyone with less than six months to live. Check with your insurance provider for specifics on your coverage of hospice services. The following is a list what Medicare will cover:

• Physician services for the medical direction of the patient
• Regular home visits by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, plus 24 hour on call service.
• Home health aide and services, such as dressing and bathing
• Social Work and counseling services
• Chaplain services for the patient and family, if desired
• Medical equipment, such as hospital beds
• Medical supplies, such as bandages and catheters
• Drugs for symptom control and pain relief
• Volunteer support to assist patient and family
• Dietary counseling

Keep in mind that hospice care is intended to supplement caregiving provided by families or other loved ones. Medicare will not cover primary caregiving. For those who don’t have family or other loved ones to provide care, hospices will work with the patient to find the care they need to be safe at home or help them move to another setting. New long-term insurances policies cover these caregiving expenses when Medicare doesn’t.