Good Shepherd Hospice provides individuals an important option of choosing how to live the remainder of their lives. Patients, families, primary care physicians and hospice staff work together to create a plan of care that allows patients to live in comfort, at peace and in control of their care and surroundings.
If you or your family has any questions regarding hospice care, please do not hesitate to contact a Good Shepherd Hospice admissions counselor or your primary care physician. The Good Shepherd Hospice Admissions Department can be reached at (863) 682-0027 or 1-800-544-3280.
Isn't hospice only for those who are bedridden and very ill?
Many hospice patients are able to enjoy life much as they did before their diagnosis. Often, patients and families delay accessing hospice assistance until they are too exhausted and overwhelmed to enjoy the remaining year of life. Individuals who call Good Shepherd Hospice earlier are able to benefit from the support hospice can provide: supportive counseling, assistance with saying good-byes and getting personal affairs in order while preventing unnecessary hospitalizations.
Will hospice treatment hasten the progression of my disease?
Good Shepherd Hospice's palliative plan of treatment manages the symptoms of a patient's disease and does not hasten the disease's progression. In fact, some patients do better when their pain and symptoms are well managed.
Does becoming a hospice patient mean that I will no longer receive treatment?
Good Shepherd Hospice is not about stopping treatment; it's about a different kind of treatment. While aggressive curative treatment is discontinued, comprehensive pain management, symptom control, or other palliative care treatments begin to ensure that individuals are comfortable and pain-free, enabling them to continue participating in daily activities.
Will my home be turned into a hospital ward?
Good Shepherd Hospice enables patients to live in the most comfortable, homelike setting possible. Doctors, nurses, volunteers and other health care professionals are guests in a patient's home, offering care suggestions based on the patient's needs and wants. At all times, the patient or patient's guardian is in complete control of his or her care.
What if I can't afford to pay for Good Shepherd Hospice's services?
No one is refused care due to inability to pay. Good Shepherd Hospice has historically provided millions of dollars in unreimbursed care each year. Hospice accepts Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, and has a sliding fee scale for those who are admitted with no insurance or government assistance.
As a hospice patient, will I lose my freedom to travel?
Good Shepherd Hospice can refer patients to more than 4,100 hospices throughout the country, enabling them to travel while continuing to receive pain and symptom management.
Can I discontinue hospice care whenever I choose?
Yes. As with any other agreement or directive made with Good Shepherd Hospice, patients may withdraw from hospice at any time.
If I do not feel ready for Good Shepherd Hospice services at this time, can I accept them later?
It is difficult for patients and families to realize the full physical, emotional and spiritual benefits Good Shepherd Hospice has to offer if they wait too long to accept our services. However, if you are not eligible at this time or do not feel hospice is right for you yet, we will work with you to begin services when the time is right.
