Why Is Arbor Hospice Different Than My Other Care Choices?
You simply won’t find an expert team more experienced in end-of-life care than Arbor Hospice. We care for more than 1,500 patients and their families each year, and have been the community’s leader in end-of-life care for nearly 40 years. Our care teams surpass all industry requirements for education and training, including physicians board-certified in hospice and palliative medicine as well as geriatric medicine. Arbor Hospice, and our affiliated partner Hospice of Michigan, are the only regional hospice providers with services for pediatric patients and their families.
When Is The Right Time For Arbor Hospice?
Ideally, care from Arbor Hospice should begin as soon as the focus of treatment changes from curing the illness to maximizing quality of life by relieving and managing symptoms and providing comfort. Often, when pain is not well-controlled or easily managed – and routine activities, such as walking, eating, bathing and dressing, have become difficult – those are signs you should consider Arbor Hospice. The decision to pursue hospice care is a personal one, but most of our families tell us they wish they had made the decision sooner. A patient, family member or healthcare professional can ask for Arbor Hospice. To receive care from Arbor Hospice, two physicians (typically, the patient’s physician and hospice medical director) must certify a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease continues its normal course. Plus, the patient must choose to forgo any further curative treatments.
If a patient isn’t ready for hospice care but still needs relief from disease symptoms or side effects of curative treatments, NorthStar Palliative Care may be an ideal option.
Does Choosing Arbor Hospice Mean There’s Nothing More We Can Do?
No, there is much more that can be done. Choosing Arbor Hospice means the focus of treatment changes from curing the illness to managing its symptoms, keeping the patient comfortable to enjoy a better quality of life, and supporting the entire family. In fact, the scope of the expert team from Arbor Hospice – including physicians, nurses, social workers, home health aides, therapists, spiritual care advisors and trained volunteers – indicates how much care we continue to provide.
Where Does Arbor Hospice Provide Care?
The Arbor Hospice team typically provides care wherever you or your loved one calls home – whether that’s a private residence, assisted living facility or nursing home. Most patients find extra comfort in being among familiar surroundings. If a patient’s care needs are too complicated to receive care at home, our expert team also can provide end-of-life care in a hospital.
How Does Arbor Hospice Help Families?
Your family is as important to Arbor Hospice as your loved one who is receiving medical care. We support your family in a variety of important ways:
- Your designated family members will be included in discussions with your loved one about options for the best plan of care.
- Family members who are serving as caregivers can receive education and training to become more skilled and confident in their capabilities.
- Our social workers, spiritual advisors and grief support managers are available for emotional and spiritual support tailored to each family member.
- When family caregivers need a break, our team can provide respite care for a few hours or up to 5 days.
- Our specialized Grief Support can help each family member cope with the loss of your loved one in ways most effective for them.
Does Insurance Cover Arbor Hospice Services?
Care from Arbor Hospice is typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance companies. Contact your insurance provider – or ask us to do so – to confirm your level of coverage for our services. If someone doesn’t have the insurance coverage or financial means to pay for our services, Arbor Hospice will provide care regardless. Thanks to generous donations from our community, no one is turned away from receiving the expert care of Arbor Hospice.