Back to Hospice Basics - What You Need to Know About Continuous Care

We’re getting back to the basics of hospice, talking about Continuous Care with hospice nurse Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart.  Continuous care can be confusing.  We’re talking about when it’s used, how it works, and where it happens. Here are some highlights from this episode:             • Continuous Care (CC) is a level of care within the Medicare hospice benefit.  It’s also called Crisis Care. • CC is used for symptom management and is managed by the hospice team in the patient’s residence. • There’s no increased cost for the patient or family if CC is implemented. • Continuous Care DOES NOT have to be continuous - it can be divided into increments that benefit both patient and caregiver. • CC is used when symptoms become unmanageable, things like pain, shortness of breath, or agitation.  • CC is temporary.  Having Continuing Care DOES NOT mean the hospice team will put staff in the home 24/7 indefinitely; it’s only in place until the symptoms are resolved. • An RN or LVN has to do at least 50% of Continuous Care hours.  If medication is being administered, a nurse must be the hospice team member to provide the Continuous Care. • When the symptoms resolve, Continuous Care will be stopped, and the routine hospice care will resume. Connect with Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart: Gabby Jimenez is a hospice nurse, end-of-life doula, death and dying educator, and author.  Her website and Facebook page, which are both named The Hospice Heart, offer support for people who are either terminally ill, or caring for someone who is nearing the end of their life.  Gabby has learned from being at the bedside of about 2,000 people who have taken their last breath.  Her end-of-life doula training has helped her to truly understand the sacredness of death and dying, and what it means to be present for someone during that intimate and final moment.  You can find her information and all of her offerings on her website: www.thehospiceheart.net  Contact: thehospiceheart.net/contact Buy Gabby’s books: thehospiceheart.net/books Book Gabby to speak at your event: thehospiceheart.net/book-gabby Social Media for Gabby Jimenez Facebook (The Hospice Heart) Instagram (gabrielle.elise.jimenez) Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book your session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn Email:  [email protected] Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected]. Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)