Hospice Care Program
Preparing for the death of a loved one is incredibly hard. The CareFirst Hospice Care Program focuses on helping members receive the compassionate and quality care they deserve.
What is hospice care?
Hospice care concentrates on managing pain and other symptoms so that the patient may live as comfortably as possible. Hospice care is a type of palliative care. The difference is the care is specially designed for a member facing advanced illness in the last months of life.
Unlike traditional hospice benefits, there is no limit on how long you receive care at home. Members can enter the program at any stage and may receive ongoing curative treatments.
How does the program work?
Care is provided in your home by a team of hospice professionals. A home care registered nurse will meet with you and create a plan specific to your needs, including these areas:
- Current health status, medications and nutrition
- Pain level and symptoms
- Ongoing curative treatments and doctors involved
- Home safety concerns or risk factors
- Home care services or medical equipment needed
- Family’s needs in caring for the member
What types of services are provided?
CareFirst partners with agencies who can:
- Provide needed drugs, medical supplies, and equipment
- Coach families on how to care for their loved one
- Deliver special services, such as speech and physical therapy
- Make short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, or the caregiver needs respite time
- Provide bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends
This program is available to eligible members in the CareFirst service area (Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia).