Orange Hospice

(714) 790-0594

Does The VA Pay For Hospice Room And Board?

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If you or a loved one is a veteran and has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and is approaching the final phase of your life and hospice care is required, you may be worrying about the costs and likely have questions like “Does the VA cover Hospice?” and “What is included?”

Does the VA Cover Room and Board in Hospice?

va hospice benefits in buena park ca

The VA does not cover hospice rooms and boarding but it does cover the hospice care itself for enrolled veterans who meet their clinical needs as part of its standard medical benefits package. There is no copay for hospice care, whether the care is provided by the VA or an organization with a VA contract.

VA Hospice Benefits

VA hospice care benefits include:

  • Hospice diagnosis-related visits by interdisciplinary staff
  • Medications
  • Supplies
  • Durable medical equipment
  • Ancillary services are outlined in the care plan
  • VA community hospices also provide bereavement support to the family

If you require more information on what is included in your VA medical benefits package, visit VA.gov

Eligibility Criteria for VA-covered Hospice Care

All enrolled veterans are eligible for hospice care so long as they meet the clinical need for hospice care.

In order to be considered eligible for hospice care, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

  1. Have a VA physician deem your life expectancy to be 6 months or less if the terminal illness runs its normal course.
  2. Your treatment goals are focused on providing comfort rather than curing. This does not exclude disease-modifying treatments.
  3. The veteran is able to make the informed decision to choose hospice care and forego curative treatment for the illness.

Alternative Options for Financial Assistance

If you are not enrolled with the VA, there are alternative options for financial assistance available, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, private insurance and various charities that seek to help provide hospice care to struggling families.

How to Apply for VA Hospice Benefits

If you are enrolled with the VA, you can apply for hospice benefits by meeting with your VA doctor, contacting your local VA medical center, or a VA social worker to determine your eligibility and start the enrollment process.

As an enrolled veteran, the VA will cover your palliative and hospice care under their standard medical benefits package.

Choose Compassionate and Professional Care at Orange Hospice

At Orange Hospice, we provide physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and bereavement care to support the patient and their family.

Contact us today at (741) 790-0594 to learn more about us and how we can provide the best tender care for your loved one.

How Long Does Hospice Care Last?

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There’s a common misconception that patients can only receive hospice for six months and that hospice is for those nearing their end of life. But this is incorrect. The main goal of hospice is to make sure the patient has the highest quality of life while controlling their pain, and the length of time this is needed will depend entirely on the patient’s individual needs.

Can You Stay in Hospice for More Than Six Months?

hospice care services in buena park ca

While the average stay in hospice is between 18 and 90 days, some patients will stay in hospice for even longer. The six-month prognosis requirement comes from medical insurance like Medicaid and Medicare, which require a prognosis of six months in order to pay for patients.

If by the end of the six-month prognosis, the hospice patient is still alive, the doctor will reevaluate the patient and issue another prognosis of six months. One of the most notable long-term hospice patients who helped shift this misconception about hospice was former President Jimmy Carter, who stayed in hospice care for 22 months.

Jimmy Carter’s 22-Month Stay in Hospice

In 2015, Carter was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma (skin cancer that spread to his brain), and while he received immunotherapy, he later chose hospice care over additional medical intervention to spend his remaining time with his family while receiving symptom management.

Carter received hospice care from home from February 2023 until his passing in December 2024. What was unique about Carter’s hospice journey was that his wife, Rosalyn Carter, entered hospice care with him as well until her passing in November 2023.

How Carter Shifted Public Perception on Hospice

Carter’s 22-month stay in hospice care challenged the public perception that hospice care is not just for patients who are close to their end of life. Instead, his journey highlighted that hospice care is a holistic approach to the mind, body, and soul while maintaining a high quality of life.  

Chief medical officer for the Hospice Foundation of America, Angela Novas, commented on how Carter’s journey could help more people learn more about the misunderstood services of hospice care. Novas had said, “It’s been massive to have the Carters be so public, “It has shed hospice in a new light, and it’s raised questions.”

Experts note that Carter’s public long-stay in hospice care contributed to an estimated 30% increase in hospice enrollment across the country and helped reshape the conversions around end-of-life care.

Choose The Best Hospice Provider in Orange County

Choose a hospice provider for you or your loved one who understands the complex emotions during this time. Choose Orange Hospice. Our friendly and compassionate care team is committed to making our patient’s days as precious as possible for as long as they’re with us.

To learn more about our hospice services or if you have any questions, please reach out to our team at (741) 790-0594.

How to Qualify for Respite Care

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Caring for hospice patients can be emotionally and physically taxing on the hospice care team, so respite care gives caregivers a break while ensuring patients receive the care, treatment, and attention they need.

What is Respite Care?

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Burnout is something that primary caregivers can experience when they do not have enough support, work for too long, or do not take rests. To prevent this, respite care is a type of short-term relief for primary caregivers and comes with benefits like:

  • Time to focus on self-care
  • Increased or renewed energy for caregivers
  • Strengthens bonds with family
  • Reduced stress
  • An overall positive outlook

Respite care can be provided at nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, or assisted living facilities for up to 5 days per hospice benefit period. For many patients, respite care offers stimulation, variety, and a schedule change.

How to Qualify for Respite Care

The process of qualifying for respite care usually involves an assessment by healthcare professionals to evaluate the patient and the caregiver’s needs. Some key factors that will be considered include:

The patient’s health condition

The level of care the patient will need will be considered. This will include whether daily living activities like bathing, eating, dressing, and medication management are required.

Patients will also be assessed to determine if they are stable enough to be transported safely outside of their homes in order to receive inpatient respite care.

The caregiver’s well-being

The physical and emotional well-being of the caregiver is also examined. Typically, any signs of caregiver burnout are detected.

Physical signs of caregiver burnout include:

  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • High blood pressure
  • Raised heartbeat
  • Tense muscles
  • Trouble sleeping or too much sleeping

Emotional signs of caregiver burnout include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Withdrawal
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Resentment
  • Frustration
  • Guilt

Caregiver burnout can cause patient neglect and misuse of substances, and, in extreme cases, it can result in patient abuse.

How To Access Respite Care

To get respite care, you can reach out to your hospice provider and let them know that you would like to receive respite care. Each hospice will have their own policies and procedures for offering respite care to patients and their families.

Compassionate Respite Care in Orange County

At Orange Hospice, we have first-hand experience in the emotional and physical toll of caring for someone and believe in giving primary caregivers a much-needed rest. Our experienced team will coordinate respite care to ensure caregivers get the rest and relief needed to continue providing exceptional care to their families.

Call us today at (741) 790-0594 for a free consultation to learn how our caring staff can support you and your loved ones. 

What Are The Four Levels of Hospice Care

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Hospice Care in Alpharetta GA

As patients progress in their unique end-of-life journey, their needs will evolve, which is why four levels of hospice were created. Each level will meet the specific needs of the patient, and sometimes, patients will switch between levels for long or short periods. Below, we’ll explore the four different levels of hospice care.

  1. Hospice Care at Home. This is the most common type of hospice care for patients who do not require around-the-clock care. Patients with stable and controlled symptoms will benefit from this level of care without disrupting their daily routine as much. During this level, patients will receive routine care from the comfort of their homes (skilled nursing facility, memory care, or assisted living facility), including nursing care, emotional support, spiritual care, and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs).
  2. Continuous Hospice Care. This second level of care is often called crisis care and may be used when temporary 24/7 support is needed from the hospice care team. This level of care is used by patients who are experiencing moderate to severe symptoms like:
    • Severe anxiety
    • Severe and acute pain
    • Difficulty breathing 
    • Unrelenting nausea and vomiting
    • Terminal restlessness
    • Caregivers who are now unable to give the appropriate level of care

      Once the acute symptoms have been controlled, the patient can be returned to routine home care.
  3. General Inpatient Care. If the symptoms and pain cannot be controlled at home with level one and two hospice care, general inpatient care is provided temporarily at an inpatient facility. This level of care includes 24/7 monitoring and more complex medical equipment. This level of care aims to control the patient’s symptoms until their conditions stabilize and they  can return home.
  4. Respite Care. Respite care is used to give the primary caregiver a break when they are physically and emotionally exhausted to prevent burnout. According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies show that 60% of caregivers experience symptoms of burnout, hindering their ability to provide decent care. Respite care can be provided in various ways. One common way is through volunteer support, where a hospice volunteer provides companionship, emotional support, and practical support to a patient, giving the caregiver a few hours to rest, socialize, run errands, and take a break from caregiving duties. Another way is by transferring the patient to a local skilled nursing facility or assisted living facility for up to 5 days. This is only a temporary period of care where the patient will continue to receive around-the-clock care as needed, giving the caregiver a longer period of time to rest.

Choose Orange Hospice in Orange County, California

When the time comes to prioritize the quality of life over curative treatment, choose a hospice like Orange Hospice, where the caring team is committed to providing the highest level of holistic care for whatever level of hospice care our patients need. We strive to provide our patients and their loved ones a pathway to living their days with meaning and dignity.

If you have any questions about the different levels of hospice care or are learning more about how we can provide the best care for your loved ones, please contact us today at (741) 790-0594.     

Helping Children Deal With Grief

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Adults often believe that children are too young or fragile to understand the reality of death, but generally, this is not the case. Children will feel the same emotions as adults do. They may feel and show their grief in different ways depending on their age, the support they received during this time, and how close they were to the deceased.

It’s important to remember that grief is natural, and there are some age-appropriate ways to support children through this process.

  • Help For Infants and Toddlers (Ages 0 – 3). While children at this age may not necessarily understand the concept of death, they do react to the emotions of adults and can sense a change in their schedule. Signs of grief at this age can include increased crying and temper tantrums. Providing physical comfort through hugs can help soothe a grieving child. Sometimes, reading to a grieving child is a good idea to kickstart the healing process, as children may identify with a character in the book.
  • Help For Preschool Children (Ages 3 – 5). At this age, preschool children will have some understanding of death. Often, they may think that death is reversible, like in cartoons, and you’ll find they’ll have a lot of questions about death. Some signs that indicate your child is grieving include increased anxiety that comes across as demanding or clingy, withdrawal from normal behavior, and physical complaints like headaches or stomach aches. How can you help? Start by being patient and attentive. Reassure your child that the death was not their fault and that they are loved. Reading books is also good at this age.
  • Help For School-Aged (6 – 9). School-aged children are beginning to understand that death is final and may be curious about the physical details of how a loved one passed away. Answering their questions honestly and sticking to facts during this time is important. Be sure to reassure them that it’s normal to feel scared, angry, or sad. Letting children participate in the funeral or memorial can help make the situation more real and allow children at this age to find grief a growing process.
  • Help For Preteens and Teens (10+). By the time children reach ages ten and up, they may have a better understanding of death, and this is final. They’ll begin to ask more questions about death, family faith, and other beliefs as they form their own opinions on concepts like faith. During this time, you can help them cope with grief by using books, encouraging them to speak, and allowing them to participate in family rituals like memorials. 

Compassionate Support at Orange Hospice

The care team at Orange Hospice in California understands that emotional and spiritual pain is just as important as physical pain. This is why we have a team of spiritual counselors who offer nonjudgmental spiritual care and bereavement care for families of our patients. Bereavement support is available for up to 13 months after a loved one passes away because our commitment to care extends beyond the patient’s life. Hospice isn’t just about helping patients—it’s about supporting the entire family during and after this difficult journey.

To learn more about our bereavement services and how we can support your family, contact Orange Hospice at (741) 790-0594.

Weldon C.
Weldon C.
20:28 18 Nov 24
The caregivers that assisted our family were always professional, and compassionate! This enabled my family member to live in our family home, witch kept his Independence and personal identity intact which meant a lot to him thank you thank you all
My Nurse Concierge Nursing S.
My Nurse Concierge Nursing S.
05:07 15 Nov 24
I've worked as a nurse for quite some time, and I'm a passionate home care nurse. I've worked for many different home health and hospice agencies, and one of my favorite agencies to work with is Orange Hospice. I truly admire their philosophy of reaching out to the community and listening to what people say about what they want for their care. Moreover, they do put their patients as a top priority, and I see the difference that they are making in other people's lives. I'm glad to have found a good agency to introduce to people who need hospice services.
Weldon C.
Weldon C.
18:07 14 Nov 24
The caregivers that assisted our family were always professional, and compassionate! This enabled my family member to live in our family home, witch kept his Independence and personal identity intact which meant a lot to him thank you thank you all
Sung P.
Sung P.
05:25 14 Nov 24
"Exceptional Care and Compassionate Support!"Our family recently experienced the incredible support of Orange Hospice, and we couldn't be more grateful. From the very beginning, we were met with warmth, empathy, and professionalism. The entire team went above and beyond to ensure that our loved one was comfortable and cared for with the utmost dignity.The nurses and care coordinators were always attentive, answering all our questions and providing updates with kindness and patience. They made sure not only that our family member was at ease but also that we, as a family, felt supported throughout the entire process.What stood out the most was the genuine compassion of the staff. They didn't just treat it as a job; they truly cared about our loved one's comfort and our family's well-being. The level of personalized care and emotional support we received was beyond our expectations.If you're looking for a hospice service that truly cares, I highly recommend Orange Hospice. They made a difficult time so much more bearable for our family, and for that, we are deeply thankful.
Weldon C.
Weldon C.
22:03 13 Nov 24
The caregivers that assisted our family were always professional, and compassionate! This enabled my family member to live in our family home, witch kept his Independence and personal identity intact which meant a lot to him thank you thank you all
sook C.
sook C.
22:30 12 Nov 24
I really liked Orange Hospice's services. My mother was well cared for by the staff, they were all very caring and compassionate to my mother and my family. Thank you so much especially to Natt and the rest of the team for the loving care you gave to my family.
Darlene F.
Darlene F.
18:48 08 Nov 24
I positive .my Aunt would have never received the level of care that Orange Hospice has provided. I only need to text Nat and literally within hours I have whatever meds, weekly texts from.the urses in detail listing all her vitals, her conversation , her well.being alert etc. I.consider myself and our family extremely fortunate to.have been provided this level of care. Believe I have heard horror stories from my friends concerning their loved ones. My Aunt just celebrated her 96th birthday omOctober 18th. That would not have been possible withoutOrange Hospice. A shout out to Kathy for her detsiled weekly assessments . You have definitely extended her life. Thanks to all of you
Walker P.
Walker P.
05:14 08 Nov 24
This is an excellent hospice company. As a DON at one of the leading Skilled Nursing Facilities in the Orange County area I would 100 percent recommend this company. Always professional and on point. All nursing services are on point.
Nam P.
Nam P.
15:54 30 Oct 24
I can't express enough gratitude for the compassionate care my loved one received at Orange Hospice. The staff were incredibly attentive, providing not just medical support, but also emotional comfort during a very challenging time.Thank you
Maurice L.
Maurice L.
00:14 23 Oct 24
Orange Hospice delivered exceptional service that truly exceeded our expectations. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering support during a difficult time. Their team was consistently available whenever we needed assistance, ensuring that our family member received the highest level of care. We were particularly impressed by their compassionate approach and extensive knowledge, which provided us with comfort and confidence throughout the entire process. Thank you, Orange Hospice, for your remarkable dedication and support.
Sydney P.
Sydney P.
23:24 22 Oct 24
Orange Hospice was a true blessing for our family as they cared for my grandmother with such tenderness and respect. The staff was attentive, patient, and always went above and beyond to ensure she was comfortable and well-cared for. They also provided emotional support for our family during a very difficult time. The compassion and professionalism they showed made a huge difference, and we are forever grateful for their kindness. We couldn’t recommend Orange Hospice enough for anyone needing hospice care.
Maile F.
Maile F.
16:32 27 Aug 24
I am deeply grateful for the Orange Hospice team. The staff consistently went above and beyond to provide our whole family with comfort and care when we needed it most. The warm and compassionate environment offered our family much needed support during a difficult time and we will always be grateful for everything they did to help us during this time.
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