• Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • What is Hospice?
  • About Us

Hospice of Southern Illinois

Premiere Local Hospice Provider

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission & Core Values
    • Care Ambassador
    • Photo Gallery
    • Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Annual Report
  • Our Care
    • Nursing Care
    • Grief Support
    • Volunteer Programs
    • We Honor Veterans Program
    • Pet Therapy
    • Our Service Area
  • Resources
    • Educational Booklets
    • Grief Support
    • Educational Programs
    • Educational Resources
    • Before I Die Wall
    • Advance Directives
    • COVID-19
  • What is Hospice?
    • Hospice Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Are You a Caregiver?
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Memorial Gifts
    • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
Home | What is Hospice? | Hospice Frequently Asked Questions

Hospice Frequently Asked Questions

Hospice Patient with Nurse

Hospice is About Living

We are here to help provide a peaceful end of life journey. While, we understand that everyone’s situation is unique, many frequently asked questions are answered below.

Contact Us

What does hospice really do?

Hospice of Southern Illinois provides specialized care services (patient care including symptom management, emotional support, spiritual support and psychosocial intervention), addressing issues most important to the patient’s needs and wants at the end of their life focusing on improving the individual’s quality of life.

How do I know when it is time for end-of-life care?

Patients are eligible for hospice care when they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness with a prognosis of 6 months or less. At that time, comfort, care, and symptom management become the primary focus, and curative treatment is no longer the patient’s choice or option.

When should hospice be called?

Hospice should be called at any time the patient has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. However, it is appropriate to discuss all of the patient’s care options, including hospice.

Where is hospice care provided?

Hospice care is provided in a setting that best meets the needs of each patient and family. The most common setting is the patient’s home. Hospice care is also provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals according to patient care needs.

Are all hospices the same?

No. “Hospice” is a medical specialty like pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, etc. Each hospice provider is a different company. All hospices have the same general philosophy but their services may differ. Some hospices are for-profit corporations, while others (like Hospice of Southern Illinois) are not-for-profit organizations. In Illinois, it is your right to request the hospice of your choice if more than one hospice serves your area.

Can my pain and symptoms be controlled at home?

Yes. Pain and other symptoms can usually be controlled in the patient’s home. If a symptom (i.e. pain, nausea or vomiting, or difficulty breathing) becomes a problem, the hospice nurse can be reached 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. There have been great advances in pain and symptom control in the past few years. Most symptoms can be controlled without the use of injections or IV medication. Hospice of Southern Illinois’ nurses assess each patients’ pain and symptom control at each visit. Hospice medical directors are always available to adjust medications.

Does Hospice provide 24-hour in-home care?

No. Hospice provides intermittent nursing visits to assess, monitor and treat symptoms, as well as teach family and caregivers the skills they need to care for the patient. Team members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions or visit anytime the need for support arises.

Can I live alone and still receive Hospice services?

Yes. Hospice of Southern Illinois accepts patients who live alone, however, part of the admission and ongoing care process is to plan and prepare for the time in a patient’s illness when 24-hour a day care will be necessary.

Can a hospice patient choose to return to curative treatment?

This is a common question- Yes. Receiving hospice care is always a choice. A patient may leave hospice and return to curative treatment if that is their choice. If the patient later chooses to return to hospice care, Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies permit re-activation of the hospice benefit.

Can I go back to the hospital and still receive hospice care?

Yes. However, many symptoms that would normally require hospitalization or an emergency room visit can be successfully managed at home by the hospice team, thus preventing the stress of hospitalization. Hospice patients generally only have the need for short hospital stays to stabilize a symptom and then are able to return home.

Is the decision for hospice care giving up hope or waiting to die?

No. Hospice is about living. Hospice of Southern Illinois strives to bring quality of life and comfort to each patient and their family. Our successes are in helping a patient and family live fully until the end. Often patients will feel better with good pain and symptom management. Hospice is an experience of care and support, different from any other type of care.

Does hospice do anything to bring death sooner?

No. Our goal is always to alleviate suffering and manage symptoms. Hospice does nothing to speed up or slow down the dying process. Our role is to lend support and allow the disease process to unfold as comfortably as possible.

Do I have to be homebound to receive hospice services?

No. Hospice is about living fully. We encourage patients to do what they enjoy as they are able. The hospice team assists patients and families in achieving their goals and dreams as much as possible.

Does hospice provide support to the family after the patient dies?

Yes. Bereavement Services follow family and caregivers for a year following the patient’s death. These services may include personal visits, providing information concerning the grief process and offering periodic opportunities for group support. Bereavement Services provides information and referral to other area resources when needed.

Not All Hospices Are The Same.
Ask for Hospice of Southern Illinois by name.

Make A Referral

Learn More About Our Hospice of Southern Illinois Today!
Call 1-800-233-1708 or Contact Us by email!

Call Hospice of Southern Illinois to learn more about end-of-life care and hospice services, 800-233-1708. Request a chat.

Get Help Now

Nursing Care
Find Your
Nearest Location

Helpful Links

  • Request More Information
  • Why Choose Us?
  • Community Events
  • Our Mission
  • Photo Gallery

What Is Hospice Links

  • Hospice FAQ's
  • Testimonials
  • Are You a Caregiver?

Company Links

  • Make a Referral
  • Make a Donation
  • Become a Volunteer
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Photo Gallery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Non-Profit 501(c)(3)
  • Non-Discrimination in Health Programs and Activities

Service Area Resources

  • Hospitals
  • Contracted Long Term Care Facilities
  • Health Departments
  • Age Smart Community Resources
  • Egyptian Area Agency on Aging
  • Shawnee Alliance for Seniors
  • Bereavement Support Group List

Hospice Resources

  • National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
  • Hospice Facts & FAQs
  • Family Caregiver Alliance
  • American Hospice Foundation
  • Hospice Foundation of America
  • Illinois State Medical Society
  • We Honor Veterans
  • Making the Move to Assisted Living
  • Financial Resources for Seniors
  • Veterans Benefits for Seniors

Contact Us

Administrative Services

618-235-1703
Send Email

Belleville Location

618-222-5905
Send Email

Marion Location

618-997-3030
Send Email

Copyright © 2023 Hospice of Southern Illinois · All Rights Reserved.