For You
Maybe you feel overwhelmed right now with everything that’s happening to you or someone you love. But if you think you have to face these challenges alone, please think again. We’re here to help. Because you matter.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get the answers to your questions, talk to someone about your situation, or bring your loved one onto San Diego Hospice service. We’re ready to help you with information, choices and knowledgeable, compassionate assistance.
HERE ARE SOME BASIC FACTS AND TERMS TO GET YOU STARTED.
What are hospice and palliative care?
Both are part of a full program of support for you or someone you love who is living with a life-limiting illness.
Palliative care (or palliative medicine) is the prevention and relief of suffering by a specialized medical team that focuses on managing symptoms, relieving pain and improving quality of life, whatever the diagnosis.
Hospice care is a form of palliative care. It usually refers to the care of patients with a life expectancy of six months or less. It’s the term used by Medicare and other health agencies to describe the kind of team-based care that focuses on comfort, quality of life, pain and symptom relief.
You mentioned a specialized medical team provides the care. Can you tell me more about the team?
It’s an interdisciplinary team of specialists focused on your needs (patient and family) – medical, spiritual, emotional and family related. Our teams include a nurse, social worker, spiritual counselor, home health aide, volunteer and a supervising hospice physician. We focus on the patient as a whole person as well as the family. The goal is always to provide the best possible quality of life for as long as life lasts. Because you matter.
Where do I go for hospice care?
Many people have the impression that “hospice” means hospital – a place to go to get care at the end of life. But that’s not the case. Palliative medicine and hospice care are a philosophy of care – an approach to the care of someone with a life-limiting disease that stresses comfort vs. cure and quality of life for as long as life lasts.
Most people prefer staying at home in familiar surroundings. We provide care wherever it works best for the patients – whether that is a residence, community care center, hospital or skilled nursing facility. We care for more than 1,000 patients a day all over San Diego County, from Camp Pendleton down to the Otay Mesa border. Or in our own facilities, the Inpatient Care Center in Hillcrest or Glenbrook skilled Nursing Center in Carlsbad.
Who pays for hospice care?
Medicare, Medi-Cal, TRICARE, HMO’s, private insurance providers, individual pay and philanthropic contributions.
HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO GET MORE INFORMATION, DEPENDING ON YOUR NEED.
For immediate help, or to get a patient on hospice care call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at:
619-688-1600 or Toll Free at 1-866-688-1600
Trained specialists in hospice access will answer your questions. If you’re considering hospice care, they will help you understand the process and take you through it. They will work with you, your physician, extended family members and help you enroll you or your loved one onto hospice care, with the approval of the family/attending physician. If hospice is determined to be inappropriate at this time, our trained specialists have other resources to help you as well.
Your call is completely confidential. We believe you have the right to be informed about hospice choices and care. That includes confidentiality.
If you want to know more about hospice care and San Diego Hospice programs before making a decision you can…
- Call us at 619-688-16000 or toll free at 1-866-688-1600
- Fill out an online referral form to start the process
(click here).
Our goal is to meet your needs as quickly, competently, and compassionately as possible. That’s how we’ve become the leader in the relief of suffering. Because YOU MATTER.
IF YOU WANT INFORMATION BUT AREN’T SURE WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK, HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENT ONES WE ANSWER:
- Is “hospice” a place someone goes to die?
- What does a hospice do that a hospital doesn’t? How does it work?
- What do you mean by a hospice team?
- We’ve had the same physician for many years and we don’t want to give him/her up. What happens to our physician’s role if our loved one goes on hospice?
- Aren’t all hospices basically the same, offering similar services?
- What kinds of services should I expect from San Diego Hospice?
- Do I need a doctor’s permission to go on hospice care?
- Who pays for hospice care? What does it cost?
- What’s a referral?
- As a caregiver, I need some help when things get overwhelming. Do you help the families?
- We used to belong to a church, but since Mom got so sick, we haven’t been able to go. Do you have any spiritual counselors available?
- How long does a patient stay on hospice care?
- How long does it take to get a patient on hospice care?
AT ANY TIME, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS at 619-688-1600, toll free at 1-866-688-1600 or email at info@sdhospice.org.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS OF SAN DIEGO HOSPICE AND THE INSTITUTE FOR PALLIATIVE MEDICINE:
The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice
Each year, more than 200 physicians in training participate in clinical rotations in pain and symptom management at The Institute for Palliative Medicine, researching new care techniques and the potential for new medicines that ease pain and suffering.
We are a teaching affiliate of the University of California, San Diego Medical School and we work with world health organizations when they request help in palliative medicine education.
The Center for Grief Care and Education at The Institute for Palliative Medicine
Offers extensive bereavement and professional education services countywide.
The Children’s Program at San Diego Hospice
provides hospice services to infants, children, and teens affected by serious illness and is the only dedicated program of its kind in the region. It also offers a perinatalsupport program.
HIV/AIDS Case Management
Provides comprehensive team support aimed at long-term independence for those living with HIV/AIDS in San Diego County.
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