Frequently asked questions

There isn't a single specific point in an illness when a person should ask about hospice and palliative care; it very much depends on the individual. However, if the person is currently benefiting from treatments intended to cure the illness it's not time for hospice. Once a person has exhausted all treatment options, the conversation with his or her physician can be discussed. TMC Hospice can come out at any time to offer information about hospice.

These may be some signs that it may be time to consider hospice or palliative care:

• You've made multiple trips to the emergency room, your condition has been stabilized, but your illness continues to progress significantly, affecting your quality of life.

• You've been admitted to the hospital several times within the last year with the same or worsening symptoms.

• You wish to remain at home, rather than spend time in the hospital. You have decided to stop receiving treatments.

• Your physician has told you there are no more treatment options.

For people with chronic diseases, palliative care provides relief from symptoms that flare up frequently and reduces symptoms that are negatively impacting a person's quality of life. Palliative care, which is sometimes called comfort care, is usually provided before hospice. As each person's care plan is different, palliative care also can be combined with hospice when the time is appropriate.

Some of the advantages of hospice care include:

• Interdisciplinary care team - provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary care from a team of professionals and volunteers. This care involves physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains and trained volunteers to meet the needs of the patient and their caregivers.

• 24-hour care availability: We offer 24/7 support of a registered nurse for phone triage or home visits.

• Cost reduction: Choosing hospice usually means a reduction in out-of-pocket expenses for medications, durable medical equipment and medical supplies.

To qualify for care at TMC Hospice, a patient:

• has a life-limiting diagnosis and life expectancy of about six months or less. It doesn’t have to be a cancer diagnosis; it can be any disease in its last stages, such as end-stage cardiac, renal, Alzheimer's, etc.

• isn't receiving curative treatment for the terminal illness (chemo, experimental drugs).

• has a physician who will certify that the illness is terminal.

• lives in our service ares, which includes Tucson, Oro Valley, Saddlebrook, Vail, Marana, Benson, Green Valley, Pomerene and St. David.

Absolutely not. A patient needs a diagnosis of a terminal condition and a life expectancy of six months or less. Many patients aren't referred to hospice until they are very close to death, missing out on much of what hospice has to offer. Misconceptions about hospice and lack of awareness of benefits and services also contribute to underuse.

Please reach out to TMC Hospice at any time in the disease process. We can help guide the patient and family through the health care journey. If we can't help, we have many community resources to help both patient and family.

Cost of hospice services are reimbursed under Medicare and most private insurance providers. Patients must have Part A coverage for Medicare. Most private insurers provide coverage, though it might not be specifically mentioned in their policies. Not all services are covered by insurance, but as part of Southern Arizona’s community nonprofit hospital, TMC Hospice makes every effort to provide needed care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. TMC Hospice benefits from the generosity of the community, including through fundraising efforts by the TMC Health Foundation and its designated Hospice Fund.

Hospice can be revoked at any time, so if you were on hospice and decided to seek more aggressive care, you could call TMC Hospice to discontinue care. We can always sign the patient back onto services once the aggressive treatment is done. Aggressive treatment would include, but is not limited to, chemo or radiation treatments, or experimental treatments.

We can provide information at no cost or obligation to you. You can call (520) 324-2438 to ask questions or to arrange for an informational visit. There is absolutely nothing to lose by calling.

We are available to talk with any patient and family who are struggling with making decisions in advanced diseases, to provide support, help them identify the questions, find answers and navigate healthcare to make decisions based on accurate information that matches their values and beliefs.