Care Services FAQs

Hospice care usually takes place in whatever setting an individual calls home. This includes private homes, long-term care facilities and assisted living communities. Care Dimensions also has the unique ability to offer our patients and families care at the Kaplan Family Hospice House or the Care Dimensions Hospice House when additional help with symptom management is needed.

Receiving hospice care does not mean giving up hope or that death is imminent. The earlier an individual receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to stabilize a patient's medical condition and address their needs, so they can make the most of every day.

Today’s hospice patients also included those with congestive heart failure, COPD, Alzheimer's/dementia, renal failure, chronic lung disease and numerous other diagnoses as well.

The Medicare benefit, and most private insurance, pays for hospice care as long as the patient continues to meets the necessary criteria. Patients may come on and off hospice care, and re-enroll in hospice care, as needed.

All licensed hospice programs must provide certain services, but the range of support services and programs can vary widely. Some programs are not-for-profit and some hospices are for-profit. Care Dimensions is a non-profit organization and the largest and most comprehensive hospice provider in Massachusetts. Care Dimensions offers specialized programs to meet the clinical and psycho-social needs of different types of patients, and also offers an extensive array of complementary therapies including Reiki, massage, music therapy, and even pet therapy to improve patients' quality of life.Care Dimensions services also include Palliative Care, inpatient hospice care at the Kaplan Family Hospice House and the Care Dimensions Hospice House, and grief support at the Bertolon Center for Grief and Healing in Danvers, our Waltham office and several locations in the community. 

Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, and emotional support. The quality of life for the patient and all caregivers is of high priority. The supportive care given relieves some of the burden for many family caregivers (i.e., medications and equipment management) and provides emotional, spiritual and grief support for all.

Insurance coverage for hospice is available through Medicare and Medicaid along with many private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations.  In addition, once on their hospice benefit, many patients’ expenses are substantially reduced due to savings on prescription medications and medical equipment as long as they are related to the patient’s terminal diagnosis.  In fact, no co-pay is required for medications required to treat a hospice patient’s terminal diagnosis. 

Hospice care is appropriate at the time of the terminal prognosis, regardless of the patient’s physical condition. However, to be eligible for the Medicare home care benefit (VNA), it is required that patients be homebound. Many of the patients served through hospice are even able to travel for special events if they feel well enough.

According to most Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance hospice benefit programs, hospice services may be provided to terminally ill beneficiaries with a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease runs its normal course. However, if the patient lives beyond the initial six month time period, he or she can continue receiving hospice care with an unlimited number of sixty day re-certification periods.

Hospices work closely with the primary physician and specialists and consider the continuation of the patient-physician relationship to be of the highest priority. We communicate frequently and update physicians on patients' conditions.

Patients always have the right to reinstate curative care at any time, for any reason. If a patient’s condition improves or the disease goes into remission, he or she can be discharged from a hospice and return to aggressive, curative measures, if so desired. If a discharged patient wants to return to hospice care, Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies and HMOs will allow readmission.

When faced with a terminal illness, many patients and family members tend to dwell on the imminent loss of life rather than on making the most of the life that remains. Hospice helps patients reclaim the spirit of life and reframe hope. There's now hope for comfort, special moments together and making the most of every day. It helps them understand that even though death can lead to sadness, anger, and pain, it can also lead to opportunities for reminiscence, laughter, reunion, and love.