Hospice

When your loved one is facing the end of life, you want to do everything you can to provide them comfort.

IU Health Hospice provides compassionate, family-centered care to those with a life expectancy of six months or less. We focus on relieving symptoms and pain, so you can enjoy as much quality time together as possible. Our goal is to enable you to focus on what matters most to you.

We understand that everyone’s situation is different, so we offer hospice care in the environment of your choice:

a private home or apartment
hospital, if inpatient care is needed
Hospice House
long-term care facility

Hospice care is not giving up. When curative care is no longer an option, hospice will deliver what matters most to you for the rest of your life.

Your hospice care team consists of a team across many specialties including a physician, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, home health aides, grief counselors, volunteers and chaplains. Together, they work together to navigate the road that lies ahead for you.

We are dedicated to meeting your emotional, physical and spiritual needs and making sure you have as peaceful and meaningful experience as possible.

Our Hospice Services

Hospice services available from your IU Health hospice team focus on keeping your loved one free of pain and symptoms of their illness. These services include:

Physician services: A hospice medical director will collaborate with your primary care provider for your plan of care. The rest of the hospice team – nurses, social workers, etc. – carry out this plan. The plan includes medications to make sure your loved one is comfortable.
Nursing care: Our hospice nurse is your main source for information about your loved one’s condition and ongoing education for the caregivers The nurse also is the link between you and the doctor .
Home health aides: These hospice aides perform personal care tasks for your loved one including bathing, shaving, nail care and other personal hygiene tasks.
Physical and occupational therapists: Therapists will work in accordance with the plan of care to help to support your physical well-being and independence so you can complete daily activities of living to the best of your abilities and manage pain.
Social workers: When you need help with end-of-life planning, emotional support, grief support for children, access to funding sources or anything else, talk to your social worker.
Spiritual care: IU Health chaplains are available to offer comfort and speak with you and your loved one about spiritual fears and questions. Chaplains perform prayer services and rituals for various faiths and cultures.
Volunteers: IU Health Hospice Volunteers are trained professionals who provide services to the patient and their loved ones. Volunteers specialize in services such as companionship, short respite relief, shopping and errands, spiritual support and many other services. Contact the Hospice Volunteer Coordinator for more information at 317.962.0800. The We Honor Veterans Program is a special recognition program for our veteran patients to honor their service to our country.
Complementary and alternative medicine services: These services can help to improve your loved one’s quality of life. Therapies that involve massage, music and art can enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Bereavement support: You, your family and your loved one receiving hospice care might benefit from emotional support from our grief counselors. They can help you prepare for the end-of-life process. The Bereavement team will continue supporting the family for up to 13 months after the passing of your loved one.

Hospice Levels of Care

Routine Hospice Care is provided in the comfort of the patient’s home. The hospice team comes to the patient’s home for scheduled visits as frequently as the patient’s and family’s needs require.

Inpatient Respite care provides temporary relief to the patient’s primary caregiver that can be provided in a hospital, hospice facility, or a long-term care facility for a maximum of 5 consecutive days.

General Inpatient Care is provided if the patient’s symptoms cannot be managed at home. IU Health Hospice can arrange for admission to an IU Health hospital where patients are cared for until the symptoms are controlled and they can return home.

Our Approach to Hospice Care

We understand that everyone’s situation is different, so we offer hospice care in the environment of your choice:

a private home or apartment
hospital, if inpatient care is needed
Hospice House
long-term care facility

Hospice care is not giving up. When curative care is no longer an option, hospice will deliver what matters most to you for the rest of your life.

Your hospice care team consists of a team across many specialties including a physician, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, home health aides, grief counselors, volunteers and chaplains. Together, they work together to navigate the road that lies ahead for you.

We are dedicated to meeting your emotional, physical and spiritual needs and making sure you have as peaceful and meaningful experience as possible.

Our Hospice Services

Hospice services available from your IU Health hospice team focus on keeping your loved one free of pain and symptoms of their illness. These services include:

Physician services: A hospice medical director will collaborate with your primary care provider for your plan of care. The rest of the hospice team – nurses, social workers, etc. – carry out this plan. The plan includes medications to make sure your loved one is comfortable.
Nursing care: Our hospice nurse is your main source for information about your loved one’s condition and ongoing education for the caregivers The nurse also is the link between you and the doctor .
Home health aides: These hospice aides perform personal care tasks for your loved one including bathing, shaving, nail care and other personal hygiene tasks.
Physical and occupational therapists: Therapists will work in accordance with the plan of care to help to support your physical well-being and independence so you can complete daily activities of living to the best of your abilities and manage pain.
Social workers: When you need help with end-of-life planning, emotional support, grief support for children, access to funding sources or anything else, talk to your social worker.
Spiritual care: IU Health chaplains are available to offer comfort and speak with you and your loved one about spiritual fears and questions. Chaplains perform prayer services and rituals for various faiths and cultures.
Volunteers: IU Health Hospice Volunteers are trained professionals who provide services to the patient and their loved ones. Volunteers specialize in services such as companionship, short respite relief, shopping and errands, spiritual support and many other services. Contact the Hospice Volunteer Coordinator for more information at 317.962.0800. The We Honor Veterans Program is a special recognition program for our veteran patients to honor their service to our country.
Complementary and alternative medicine services: These services can help to improve your loved one’s quality of life. Therapies that involve massage, music and art can enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Bereavement support: You, your family and your loved one receiving hospice care might benefit from emotional support from our grief counselors. They can help you prepare for the end-of-life process. The Bereavement team will continue supporting the family for up to 13 months after the passing of your loved one.

Hospice Levels of Care

Routine Hospice Care is provided in the comfort of the patient’s home. The hospice team comes to the patient’s home for scheduled visits as frequently as the patient’s and family’s needs require.

Inpatient Respite care provides temporary relief to the patient’s primary caregiver that can be provided in a hospital, hospice facility, or a long-term care facility for a maximum of 5 consecutive days.

General Inpatient Care is provided if the patient’s symptoms cannot be managed at home. IU Health Hospice can arrange for admission to an IU Health hospital where patients are cared for until the symptoms are controlled and they can return home.

IU Health Hospice has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for hospice Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. This recognition is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing the highest national standards for safety and quality of care and is committed to continually improving patient care.

Hospice Transitions

Hospice Transitions is for patients who are still seeking treatment for terminal illness or patients who are not emotionally ready to consider hospice care. This program includes:

One informational visit with an IU Health Hospice professional
Three follow-up phone calls within 30 days of starting the transitions program
IU Health Hospice will be available to the patient up to 30 days at no cost to the patient

Why IU Health for Hospice Care

IU Health Hospice has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for hospice Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. This recognition is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing the highest national standards for safety and quality of care and is committed to continually improving patient care.

Hospice Transitions

Hospice Transitions is for patients who are still seeking treatment for terminal illness or patients who are not emotionally ready to consider hospice care. This program includes:

One informational visit with an IU Health Hospice professional
Three follow-up phone calls within 30 days of starting the transitions program
IU Health Hospice will be available to the patient up to 30 days at no cost to the patient

Hospice FAQs

What is hospice?

Hospice is not a place, but a state of mind, a philosophy of care and an insurance benefit.

Hospice care is provided when you or your loved one have decided to switch from curative care to comfort care after you’ve been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.

How do I pay for hospice care?

Hospice is a benefit you are entitled to if you qualify for Medicare Part A and/or Medicaid. It pays for 100% of hospice services. Many private insurance providers include hospice as part of your coverage. However, with private insurance, you may be responsible for co-pays and/or out-of-pocket costs.

Who is eligible for hospice care?

Anyone who has an illness that, if it runs its natural course, has a life expectancy of six months or less. It is also available if you have a terminal illness and no longer wish to seek curative treatment.

Hospice is a big decision. How do I know if it is right for a loved one or me?

It is a big decision, and you should talk to your family and/or doctor if you are able. However, if you’ve decided that quality of life is what matters most to you and your family, hospice may very well be for you. Hospice still treats symptoms and manages pain. Hospice encourages you to be as active as you can be for as long as you can be. We will walk with you on this journey, supporting not just you, but your family too.

How can I volunteer with IU Health Hospice?

It’s as simple as calling one of our offices and asking for an application. Once you’ve returned your application, one of our volunteer coordinators will reach out to you to set up an interview.