What is hospice care?

Facing the end of a life is never easy. Hospice care can make it more comfortable for our terminally ill patients and their families so they can focus on their time together.

Hospice focuses on care and compassion. We neither hasten nor prolong the dying process. Instead, we focus on pain management and palliative care to maximize the quality of your remaining time with your loved ones. 

We also offer emotional and spiritual support during this difficult time.

Hospice care eligibility.

We welcome patients who meet the following criteria:

• Has been given a referral by an attending physician
• Reside in Brevard County
• Diagnosed with a terminal illness and given a prognosis of six months or less to live
• Has an available caregiver to make decisions on their behalf

Knowing when it’s time for hospice.

It can be difficult to know when it’s time to call us. Every person and every family is unique, so there is no one right answer.

Some people choose to wait, while other families have told us they wished they would have started hospice sooner to relieve the burden of caretaking and pain so they could spend more quality time together. 

Hospice assistance typically starts when a physician gives a patient six months or less to live. Hospice can only be started with a referral from your attending physician. 

We encourage you to consider these questions: 

• Are medical treatments for an end-stage disease no longer helping or working?
• Have you or your loved one had one or more life-threatening infections during the past six months?
• Have there been multiple trips to the hospital or emergency room in the past year?
• Have you noticed unintentional weight loss and/or decreased eating in combination with a serious illness?
• Does the patient have difficulty swallowing?
• Have you noticed a continued decline in the ability to live normally?
• Has a physician exhausted all treatment options and said the focus will now be on providing comfort to relieve symptoms, rather than prolonging life?
• Do caregivers need additional support to provide care to the patient?
• Is there any expectation for a meaningful recovery?
• Has a physician given a prognosis of six months or less to live?

If you or your family member is considering hospice care, please call us at 321.434.1744.

Paying for hospice care.

Hospice services are covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance plans.

Health First is a not-for-profit organization and we will never turn anyone away who cannot afford to pay for hospice care.

See a list of accepted insurances at Health First

Learn more about Medicare’s hospice benefits

Our hospice team.

We are like family at Hospice of Health First. Our team is honored to provide your family with compassionate care, specialized medical attention, and bereavement support. 

We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to care for you and your loved ones. 

• Our hospice medical director oversees your plan of care and works in coordination with your physicians to provide pain management, medical palliative care, and make home visits.
• Attending physicians are often your regular doctors and work in tandem with the hospice team.
• Registered Nurses (RNs)/ Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide comfort through pain and symptom management, routine visits and continuous care as needed as well as respite care as needed. They also coordinate care with your physician and the hospice medical director.
• Social workers can help your family with advanced directives, funeral planning, insurance eligibility, and transportation. They also provide support and counseling to you and your family as you face end-stage terminal illness.
• Hospice aides provide assistance with daily living and total care. They can also provide companionship and respite care as needed.
• Clergy or hospice chaplains, provide spiritual support and comfort to you and your family, and also assist with planning memorial services and funerals.
• Bereavement specialists are available to provide bereavement care and support for at least 13 months and provide no-cost group and individual counseling.