Services

What Are The Four Levels of Hospice Care?

Hospice is comfort care brought to every patient, whether in a private home, a nursing home, assisted living community, residential care facility for the elderly, or hospice house. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has defined four kinds, or “levels,” of hospice care. One patient may experience all four levels, perhaps in just a week or ten days of hospice services. Another patient may experience one level of care over several months of his or her hospice care. Each level of care meets specific needs, and every hospice patient is unique.

Every Medicare-certified hospice provider must provide these four levels of care: VITAS supports patients and families who choose hospice care at home, wherever home is. Routine visits from a home hospice care team ensure comfort and dignity. Diagnosis-specific equipment, supplies, and medication are provided at no cost.

Extreme Anxiety or Sadness

While anxiety and sadness are normal reactions to loss, seek help if they seem severe or disabling. If you have a history of anxiety or depression, it might be worthwhile to be proactive and seek help.

Intense Physical Reactions

While physical manifestations of grief such as fatigue, aches, and pains may very well be related to the stress experienced in grief, any persistent physical complaints ought to be evaluated by a physician. Be sure your physician knows that you are grieving a significant loss.

Grief That Is Disabling

Seek counseling if grief is critically interfering with key roles in work, school, or at home, especially if you cannot seem to minimally function in those roles.

Intense Inability To Speak

An intense inability to speak of the person who died or an extreme unwillingness to make any changes in the deceased’s room If these or other minor events trigger intense reactions, they should be evaluated.

Destructive Behaviors

While anger is a natural part of grief, intense anger or thoughts of hurting others should be a sign to seek help.

Self-destructive Behaviors

Thoughts of suicide, excessive drinking, or excessive use or dependence upon prescription medications or illegal drugs are signs that one should seek immediate help. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by dialing 9-8-8.

Support Groups

Many grieving people wonder if they would benefit from joining a support group. Support groups are a time-tested method of help for people struggling with all sorts of difficulties. But groups are not magic; there are no words that can be uttered within a group setting that can make grief disappear. Many people report comfort in the companionship of group support and benefit from knowing they are not alone in their experience of grief.

Validation

Grief is experienced in so many ways—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Being with other grievers can reaffirm that one is not going crazy, which is a common concern of people who are grieving. While every loss is unique, having the support of others who have experienced loss and understand can be comforting.

Talk to us

Have any questions? We are always available to answer all your questions and accommodate to any needs you may have.