Twin Lakes Hospice, Inc.

What is Hospice?

A comprehensive, medically directed, team-oriented program of care that exists to provide support, care, and comfort for terminally ill patients and their families at home or in a home-like setting, establishing pain management and symptom control as clinical goals, and understanding that psychological and spiritual pain are as significant as physical pain.

Palliative care focuses on comfort and quality of life rather than cure and prolongation of life. Palliative care is the foundation of hospice services, however the principles are applicable to any setting where care is being provided to the terminally ill.

Hospice is here to help

• Twin Lakes Hospice, Inc. offers a comprehensive program of care and support for patients with a limited life expectancy. Hospice also eases the practical burdens on your entire family by offering a coordinated system of physical, emotional, financial and spiritual care.
• Twin Lakes Hospice, Inc. affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
• Twin Lakes Hospice, Inc. is committed to serving patients regardless of age, gender, nationality, race, creed, sexual orientation, disability, diagnosis, or ability to pay.
• Your own physician will remain in charge of your Medicare care; control of pain and other physical symptoms will be a top priority.
• Your family can help with your medical care as much as possible, with support, training, equipment and supplies provided by the Hospice home care team. In most cases, you can begin receiving our services at home within 24 hours of your decision to choose Hospice care.
• Twin Lakes Hospice, Inc. works in conjunction with area hospitals and extended care facilities, for patients who need inpatient care.

Who pays for Hospice care?

Studies have shown hospice care to be no more costly, and frequently less expensive than conventional care during the last six months of life. This is because less high-costing technology is used, and family, friends, and volunteers provide much of the day-to-day patient care at home.

Hospice care is a covered benefit under most private insurance plans, including HMO's, and managed care organizations. In addition, hospice is a covered Medicare benefit, and is some states is a covered Medicaid benefit.

THE MEDICARE HOSPICE BENEFIT

Medicare covers hospice care through qualified hospice providers. The Medicare benefit is designed to meet the many needs of patients with a terminal illness and to help their families cope with the problems and feelings related to this difficult time.

Services are provided in the home with inpatient services available as back up. Long term inpatient care (hospital stays) is not conducive to the hospice philosophy.

ELIGIBILITY

Any individual entitled to Medicare Part A benefits and certified by their attending physician as being terminally ill is entitled to use their Medicare benefit under hospice if they meet the hospice admission criteria.

ELECTION OF THE HOSPICE BENEFIT

• The hospice benefit is a benefit elected by the patient and family. This decision does affect your regular Medicare.
• Hospice is designed to be the single source of all health care related to your terminal illness.
• The Medicare hospice benefit is divided into benefit periods. Before the end of each benefit period, the patient's eligibility for hospice care is reevaluated by the patient's attending physician and/or medical director and is either recertified as terminally ill or discharged. The patient has the option of revoking hospice care at any time.

THE MEDICARE HOSPICE BENEFIT COVERS

• Nursing services on an intermittent basis
• Physician services
• Drugs, including outpatient drugs for pain relief and symptom management
• Physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy
• Home health aide and homemaker services
• Medical supplies and appliances
• Short-term inpatient care, including respite care
• Medical social services
• Spiritual, dietary, and other counseling
• Trained volunteers
• Bereavement services

Our goals

• To make you as comfortable as possible; and to enable you to participate in life as fully as possible.
• To help your family and friends remain lovingly attentive to your needs, by offering them education, counseling, and support. 

Hospice Cares for You as a Whole Person

Our care begins with your admission to our program. As a Hospice patient, you are encouraged to retain control in every way possible over the decisions affecting your own life.

Your special needs and the needs of your family will be met by a hospice care team who works together to design a plan tailored to you. This team includes your physician, a nurse, a home health aide, a social worker, the chaplain, and a volunteer(s).

Contact Us

Clinton Office 725 E. Ohio St Clinton, MO 64735 View Map Toll Free: 1-800-328-5446 Direct Line: (660) 890-2014 Fax: (660) 890-2018 Email Us

Warsaw Office 304 Main St Warsaw, MO 65355 View Map Direct Line: (660) 438-9700

Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Association 3905 Stonewall Avenue Independence, MO 64055 (816) 350-7702 Fax: (816) 350-7708