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What is hospice care?
Hospice care is provided to a patient and their family when treatment or a cure is no longer an option. Hospice care is provided with an interdisciplinary approach to comfort care that utilizes nursing, social work, grief and bereavement counseling, inter-faith ministry, home health aides and volunteer services. Hospice care is available when a patient has received a six month prognosis, as determined by the patient's primary care physician.
Where is hospice care provided?
Hospice care can be provided by Mid-Fairfield Hospice in a home setting within our geographic service area in Fairfield County, Connecticut, which includes the towns of Darien, Fairfield, New Canaan, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Southport, Weston, Westport and Wilton.
Hospice care can also be provided at Norwalk Hospital or at a contracted skilled nursing facility or assisted living facility within our service area.
Mid-Fairfield Hospice has contracted with Waveny Care Center, Wilton Meadows, Meadow Ridge, Ridgefield Crossing, Laurel Ridge, Westport Healthcare Center and Honey Hill. We also provide hospice care at The Greens at Cannondale, Sunrise and Meadow Ridge Assisted Living as well as at The Village and The New Canaan Inn.
Is hospice care only for patients with cancer?
Hospice care is for any person who has a life-limiting or terminal diagnosis. Mid-Fairfield Hospice cares for many patients with end-stage lung disease (COPD), Alzheimer's disease and end-stage cardiac disease (CHF) as well as cancer.
Are there other hospice locations that patients can go to for end-of-life care instead of the home setting?
There are four levels of hospice care available from the Medicare Hospice Benefit: Routine Hospice, Respite, Continuous Care, and General Inpatient Care. Mid-Fairfield Hospice has contracts with many facilities for all levels of hospice care.
Is there an age requirement for hospice patients?
There is no age limit for hospice care. Mid-Fairfield Hospice has provided care for patients from age 3 to 110 years old.
How is hospice care paid for?
For patients who are Medicare-eligible, there is a Medicare Hospice Benefit under Part A. The Medicare Hospice Benefit pays Mid-Fairfield Hospice a daily rate to provide hospice care to the beneficiary. The all-inclusive program pays for durable medical equipment, prescription medications related to the terminal illness, nursing care, home health aides, volunteer services, inter-faith ministry, social work services, grief and bereavement counseling, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
For those who are not Medicare-eligible, Mid-Fairfield Hospice has contracts with various health insurance companies. |
| What makes Mid-Fairfield Hospice unique among hospices? |
| • | Mid-Fairfield Hospice was one of the first non-profit home hospice organization in Fairfield County. It was founded by community members in 1981. Our volunteer board of directors consists of devoted community leaders who care passionately about quality end-of-life care. Mid-Fairfield Hospice became an affiliate of Nursing & Home Care in 1995 to provide a more extensive continuum of home health care and hospice services. |
| • | Mid-Fairfield Hospice is licensed, accredited and Medicare-certified as a hospice home care organization. We are also accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). |
| • | Mid-Fairfield Hospice has the largest volunteer and grief and bereavement programs in the area. |
| • | Through generous community support, we are able to provide free care for uninsured patients as well as respite care and hospice care for patients with limited insurance. |
| • | 98% of our clinicians are Master's prepared and have advanced degrees in their field of expertise. |
| • | Our clinicians and volunteers provide alternative forms of healing and pain management, including Reiki, Mindfulness Meditation and Aromatherapy. |
| • | Our volunteers and clinicians are available to help patients create audio and video reminiscences about their lives to comfort children and other family members after the patient has died. Volunteers are an essential part of the work; they provide compassion and comfort when family members need it most. |
| • | Volunteers also keep bedside vigil when a patient is alone and in need of comfort. |
Who can refer a patient to hospice?
Anyone can make a referral to Mid-Fairfield Hospice - physicians and their assistants, the patient themselves or a family member, friends (with the patient's permission), clergy and other home health care agencies that do not offer hospice services.
Is there an alternative to hospice care if a patient is actively receiving treatment?
Mid-Fairfield Hospice provides a unique program called Life Focus in which patients can actively pursue curative treatment for their illness but still benefit from the care that the hospice team can provide. In this case, patients would utilize their regular health insurance or Medicare and not access the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Some patients eventually elect to receive hospice care; others decide to remain on Life Focus. The decision is entirely theirs.
Does Mid-Fairfield Hospice provide bereavement services?
Bereavement services are provided to caregivers and loved ones for 12 months after a patient has died. We offer more than 20 grief and bereavement workshops, caregiver and bereavement support groups, and one-on-one counseling services.
We also provide community bereavement programs for people who are not associated with Mid-Fairfield Hospice but are bereaved and in need of care. |
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