Utah Hospice Care: How to pay for Hospice Care, Licensing and Regulations, and Questions to ask
Salt Lake City is the capital and most populous city of Utah. Salt Lake City has a thriving festival culture. Various festivals happen throughout the year, celebrating the diversity of the valley’s communities. From culture, food, religion and spirituality, to dance, music, spoken word, and film, almost any type of festival can be found. Many of the festivals have been ongoing for decades. These features and more have led to Salt Lake City becoming a preferred location for senior citizens to retire and seek care
Utah is known for its natural beauty and national parks. Sightseers from all over the country come to experience the majestic nature Utah offers. The cost of housing and the cost of living is lower than the national average. Utah is a beautiful location for those considering senior care.
- Utah Hospice Care: How to pay for Hospice Care, Licensing and Regulations, and Questions to ask
- About Hospice in Salt Lake City
- Considerations when looking for care in Salt Lake City
- Cities Near Salt Lake City
- Local Hospitals and Healthcare Providers
- Local Resources and Links
- Signs it may be time to look into hospice care
- What is Palliative care and respite care and how are they different from hospice?
- How to pay for Hospice Care?
- Who Pays for Palliative Care?
- Questions and inquiries
- Search other areas for Hospice Care
Signs it may be time to look into hospice care
What is Palliative care and respite care and how are they different from hospice?
Let’s discuss what makes them different:
Palliative Care
Palliative care refers to any care that alleviates symptoms, whether there is hope of a cure by other means or not. Both palliative care and hospice care are intended to provide comfort for the individual and family. This care focuses on easing pain and discomfort to help people have the highest possible quality of life. It is appropriate at any stage of life, not just end of life.
Respite care
Taking care of a loved one who is terminally ill can be exhausting and emotionally draining for family members, and especially if family members are the caregivers. Respite care provides relief for those looking after the terminally ill individual. They may be checked into temporary hospice and provide a much needed break for family caregivers.
Hospice
Hospice care is an option for people who have a life expectancy of six months or less. In place of ongoing curative measures, hospice involves palliative care (pain and symptom relief), enabling the individual to live their final days with purpose, grace, dignity, and support from family and staff. The purpose is for the individual to spend their final days in a comfortable, familiar environment, with their loved ones enabling them to focus their attention with help of staff. Some hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities offer hospice care on-site – however, it is most often provided in the person’s home.
About Hospice in Salt Lake City
Utah provides one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The serene environment makes it a calming and suitable place for senior care of all sorts, including hospice and palliative care. End of life care requires empathy from caregivers, allowing family and close friends the peace of mind and closure with their loved ones, under their terms. Utah hospice care is a concept of care, not a specific place of care. It is for those who have been living with a terminal illness or only recently received a serious diagnosis of six months or less life expectancy. This specific type of care is there to ease the burden of 24-hour care. It provides a respectful, comfortable care setting for your loved one’s final months and weeks or days. It is an option to consider and can be especially helpful for families, or those seniors without family to provide end-of-life care.Hospice care in Utah is licensed and regulated by the Utah Department of Health. The hospice team works under the direction of the patient’s family physician, who continues to provide primary medical services. At Hospice for Utah, our medical director consults with the patient’s primary physician in caring for the patient and visits patients wherever they reside.
Considerations when looking for care in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is home to 200,478 people and there are 15 hospice care providers to choose from within the area.
Summers are hot, frequently reaching above 100 °F, while winters are cold and snowy. The Rocky Mountains to the east and north usually block powerful polar highs from affecting the state during the winter.
Hospice Communities near Salt Lake City, Utah
Auburn Crest Home Health Utah, Llc
Draper, Utah 84020
Onesource Home Health
Millcreek, Utah 84117
Everest Home Health, Llc
Bountiful, Utah 84010
Solstice Home Health, Llc
Salt Lake City, Utah 84124
Symbii Home Health South
Murray, Utah 84107
Independence Home Health
Farmington, Utah 84025
Quality Home Health
Murray, Utah 84107
Renew Home Health Inc
Murray, Utah 84107
Aspire Home Health
Taylorsville, Utah 84123
Ashby Health Care
Draper, Utah 84020
Cities Near Salt Lake City
- Sandy – 17 miles south
- Farmington – 17 miles north
How to pay for Hospice Care?
Medicare, private health insurance, and Medicaid (in 43 states) covers hospice care for patients who meet eligibility criteria.
Private insurance and veterans’ benefits may also cover hospice care under certain conditions. In addition, some hospice programs offer healthcare services on a sliding fee scale basis for patients with limited income and resources. To get help with your Medicare questions call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit www.medicare.gov. Additional information about how to pay for hospice care can be found at the Public Policy Institute of the AARP.
Who Pays for Palliative Care?
Medicare, Medicaid, many insurers, and healthcare plans will cover the medical portions—physician and nurse services—of palliative care.
Veterans may be eligible for palliative care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Check with your doctor and healthcare plan to see what insurance will cover in your particular situation. Unlike the comprehensive hospice benefit, there is no comprehensive palliative care benefit.
Questions and inquiries
Is Hospice only for those who have cancer?
No. It is for anyone with a terminal illness who has been given a prognosis by their doctor of six months or less.
Do only elderly people use these services.
It is for all age groups during the final stages of their life. The intention is to allow people to enjoy the closeness of family and a comfortable environment in the last stages of their life.
Do people on hospice die immediately?
This care does not hasten death. Though, studies have shown people often live longer than those with the same or similar illnesses who do not choose hospice.
Are all hospices the same?
The United States offers thousands of hospices. Most engage in Medicare, which requires certain services for the person in care. So, there is a standard operating procedure.
How can I afford Hospice care? Is it expensive.
Hospice care is covered by Medicare Part A, and your personal insurance.
Is Hospice is only provided in the individual’s home?
NO, Care is provided wherever the person is, which could be a long-term care facility or a hospital. Being take care of at home is always an option.
Local Hospitals and Healthcare Providers
Holy Cross Hospital – Salt Lake
1050 E S Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Intermountain Healthcare Hospital
324 10th Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
St. Mark’s Hospital
1200 E 3900 S, Millcreek, UT 84124
LDS Hospital Emergency Department
8th Ave &, C St E, Salt Lake City, UT 84143
University Medical Center
1525 2100 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84119
Local Resources and Links
Ability First Utah Non profit organiation that provides support services to individuals of all ages and types of disabilities. Individuals must have a physical, mental, cognitive or sensory disabilities to qualify for services. 5 core services are provided free of charge, Peer support, Independent Living Life Skills Training, Individual and system change advocacy and Nursing Home & youth transition services. Other services we provide are Equipment Loan Bank and Assistive Technology evaluation services and transportation to and from program services and to transportation to and from vital community resources.
Utah Department of Human Services, Division of Aging & Adult Services Utah Aging & Adult Services. Helps older Utah residents to be as independent as possible for as long as possible through advocacy, development and delivery of policies, programs and services which support and empower the elderly and their families.
Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services We provide services in compliance with the Older Americans Act which includes, NCW, AW, TAP (a State funded program for adults 18-59, Medicaid eligible), MOW, Rides for Wellness, FGP/SCP, Senior employment, RSVP, SHIP/SMP, Ombudsman, Elder Abuse, Legal Service referral. Our mission is: Promoting independence through advocacy, engagement and access to resources.
Adult Protective Services APS is a social services program that serves older adults and adults with disabilities who are in need of assistance. APS workers investigate cases of abuse, neglect or exploitation, working closely with a wide variety of allied professionals such as physicians, nurses, paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement officers.
Eldercare Locator This is a great resource to search for specific care in specific counties and cities. This database is a nationwide resource that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings
Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.
Search other areas for Hospice Care
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