Adviser LeadingAge New York Winter 2014 Winter 2014 | Page 29

Having the Hospice Conversation
Talking about hospice care with
a resident or their family can be
challenging. However DePaula has
adopted a straightforward approach.
“You have to be very careful how you
bring up hospice to a family. You don’t
want to scare a family member into
thinking ‘this is it.’ So when we talk about
it, we tell them hospice is different in an
assisted living than in a hospital – it is
an adjunct to the care they are already
receiving. I go over the qualifications they
need to be accepted into hospice. I let
them know that residents experiencing
multiple hospitalizations, congestive
heart failure, advanced lung disease or
any serious, progressive illness could
be eligible for hospice care, but that
hospice is available for individuals whose
prognosis can be measured in months
rather than years of life.

what the family member has already been
thinking,” DePaula said.
Hospice Buffalo was recently awarded the
national “Hospice Honors” designation for
providing the best patient and caregiver
experience. The prestigious annual review,
established by Deyta, recognizes the top
hospice agencies that continuously provide
the highest level of satisfaction as measured
from the caregiver’s point of view.

Laura Nemmer, MSW, of Hospice Buffalo’s Assisted Living
team talks with Jeanne of Clare Bridge.

“I let them know that it’s a good idea
when things start to change to have a
system in place so that they have a team
here to help them. I also inform them that
hospice is a fully covered Medicare and
Medicaid benefit and that most insurance
plans cover hospice services. It alleviates
a lot of their fear because if a resident is
progressing in dementia, it’s a lot to put
them through to move them. The families
welcome the Hospice Buffalo team for that
reason. It relieves their anxiety because
they’re usually stressed about decision
making. It helps to have a professional
come in from the outside and confirm

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