FAQ’s

Patients whose physicians have given a prognosis of approximately six months or less, if their disease follows its normal progression, qualify for hospice care.

As long as the physician continues to certify the appropriateness of the patient for hospice care and the patient’s condition remains the same or gradually decline.

Hospice is paid by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans.

Hospice can be provided in the patient’s home, a loved one’s home, nursing facility or hospital. Most anywhere you call home.

The nurse will visit the same day or within 24 hours of referral to go over services/needs and sign any necessary forms. A complete physical assessment will be done by the nurse, who will collaborate with the physician on the hospice plan of care developed with the patient and family. Education will be given to the patient and family regarding daily care and comfort measures. A nurse will follow up either by phone or in person the next day.

Hospice covers basic medical equipment like hospital beds and wheelchairs, as well as items like dressing change supplies, and medications that are related to the terminal illness. Things not covered by Solomon Valley Hospice include nutritional supplements, over-the counter or personal hygiene items, such as tissues, lotion, shampoo, etc.

Room and board in extended care facilities that accept Medicaid is billed by hospice for patients who have Medicaid.

Visits will vary according to the patient and family needs. Most patients are initially seen by a nurse two to three times per week, but visits may be more or less frequent based on the needs of the patient and family.

A patient may receive therapy to the extent that it would add to the patient’s safety and quality of life.

Hospice is a visiting service and does not provide in-home hourly care. If you are interested in hiring hourly care, our social worker can provide you with resources.

Hospice is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Our on-call nurse will be more than happy to help you. Please call 785-738-7508.

We ask that you call Solomon Valley Hospice first for all of your urgent needs. We will facilitate any care you may need. This will ensure that your care needs can be handled in the way that you desire.

By calling hospice first, we may be able to help keep the patient from having to be admitted to the hospital. If we are unable to control the patient’s symptoms at home, hospice will arrange for the patient to be directly admitted to the hospital for symptom management, bypassing long stays in the ER.

The patient and his or her family can decide to discontinue hospice care at any time. Hospice will ask you to sign a revocation form if you no longer want hospice services.

Yes, this is possible if the patient can tolerate travel. Please notify hospice of any change of residence or transfer to another geographic area. When a patient travels outside of the 40-mile service area, Solomon Valley Hospice must be contacted so the patient can be transferred to another hospice that can provide needed care.

You will call hospice and we will send a hospice staff member to the home. We notify the physician, the medical examiner and the funeral home. You will not need to call 911.