We know how important it is to be home during your hospice care, surrounded by familiar objects in the place you live. After all, your home is where you made wonderful memories and spent time with those dearest to you. If possible, we strive to provide hospice services in your home.

But there are times when that is not possible. Patients who have complications, continued nausea, multiple fractures and conditions that require continuous monitoring are often best served in our inpatient hospice centers. How long can you stay in inpatient hospice? We’ll review the qualifications and see if you or your loved one qualifies.

“At 3HC, our inpatient hospice services provide a comforting, quiet, homelike environment that is nothing like a busy hospital or nursing home,” said  Rhonda Creech, Kitty Askins Hospice Center, Hospice Inpatient Facility Clinical Director. “It’s an environment with 24/7 care where we welcome visits from family and loved ones.”

If you want to know more, contact us, and our family will be happy to help your family.

How Long Can You Stay In Inpatient Hospice?

What Qualifies Someone for Inpatient Hospice Care?

First, let’s take a look at the qualifications to be admitted to hospice care:

• You must have a life-limiting illness
• You must have a prognosis of six months or less to live
• You must have stopped all curative treatments

You also need a referral for hospice, but anyone can refer a patient: their doctor, a relative, a neighbor—even the patient themselves!

Length of Stay In Inpatient Hospice Care

There are three levels of care at the Center: General Inpatient, Respite, and Residential

• General Inpatient Care may be utilized when the hospice patient’s medical condition warrants a short-term inpatient stay for management of uncontrolled symptoms that cannot be feasibly managed in another setting. The length of the short-term stay varies per patient.

• Respite Care is short-term (5-day max) inpatient care provided to the patient only when necessary to relieve the family members or other patient caregivers from the physical and emotional strain of care for a terminally ill friend or relative. Placement is subject to bed availability.

• Residential Care is appropriate for more medically stable hospice patients who require more assistance than is available in their home setting or have a home environment not conducive to their care needs. The length of stay is typically longer than General Inpatient Care and Respite Care stays; however, it still varies by patient.

We know this can be confusing, and we also recommend that you speak with your Medicare representative to get a complete picture of the requirements for inpatient care benefits.

Where Do Patients Receive Inpatient Care?

We provide care wherever the patient calls home. That may be a hospital or a skilled nursing facility. However, patients can also receive hospice treatment at one of our inpatient hospice care centers.

These centers were specifically designed with you and your family in mind. It is a peaceful, relaxing environment that offers solace for those facing the next step in their life’s journey.

Our patients can receive inpatient care at the Kitty Askins Hospice Center, or the SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House.

Can You Visit Someone In Inpatient Hospice Care?

Yes! In fact, we encourage visitors as long as the patient’s condition is stable.

Visiting someone in inpatient hospice can be an emotional time, and it often may be difficult to know what to say or where to start. Following are some activities you might want to consider:

• Share a playlist of their favorite songs
• Look through old photo albums together
• Record an oral history of family events
• Bring small gifts such as comfortable slippers or a personalized blanket. Not sure what gifts would be appropriate? We’ve compiled a useful list to help you.
• Invite a grandchild to see them–we do allow children to visit hospice patients, although there are several factors to consider, such as can they be adequately supervised along with the child’s age and maturity level.

3HC’s Inpatient Hospice Services Provide Comfort For Those You Love Most

For decades, we’ve served families from the Triangle to the NC Coast, helping them as if they were members of our own family. With a dedicated healthcare team including doctors, nurses, social workers, volunteers and chaplains, we offer both inpatient and outpatient care.

Do you know of someone who could benefit from hospice services? Want to learn more about who we are and how we can help you or your loved one? Contact us for more information.