Hospice Care FAQs

Get the answers to the most commonly asked questions about in-home health care.

What is Home Health Care?

Home Health Care is care provided for the treatment of an illness or injury.  Home health care will help you get better, regain your independence, and become self-sufficient.

Who is eligible for home health care?

There are several requirements for receiving home health care:

• You must have a doctor prescribe home health care.
• You must need either skilled nursing care on an intermittent basis or therapy services (i.e., physical/occupational/speech therapy)
• You must be restricted in your ability to leave home (“homebound”), and your homebound status must be certified by a physician.
  This means that you require the help or supervision of another person, or you use a supportive device such as a cane or walker. You can leave the home as often as you need for medical treatment. You are allowed brief and infrequent absences from the home for some non-medical reasons, such as an occasional trip to the barber/beauty shop or a walk around the block.

What is hospice care?

Hospice care is specialized care designed to provide support to you and your loved ones during an advanced illness.  Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life, rather than a cure.

Who is eligible for hospice care?

• Your hospice doctor and your regular doctor (if you have one) certify that you’re terminally ill (with a life expectancy of 6 months or less).
• You accept palliative care (for comfort) instead of care to cure your illness.
• You sign a statement choosing hospice care

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is a specialized area of medicine dedicated to pain and symptom management in all patients.

Who is eligible for palliative care?

Palliative care, unlike hospice care, is appropriate to all stages of the disease process including those undergoing treatment for curable diseases, those living with a chronic disease as well as those nearing the end of life.

Who pays for home health care, hospice, and palliative care?

Medicare may pay for your home health care, hospice, or palliative care if you meet certain eligibility requirements.

Additionally, your private insurance, workers compensation or AHCCCS plan may also cover home health care, hospice or palliative care.  We would be happy to check your eligibility and benefits.

Why should I choose THEMA Health Services?

• Our care team brings advanced experience to the treatment of each patient.
• We integrate the patient’s medical needs along with their emotional and spiritual needs to achieve the highest level of function
• We work closely with your physician to establish the most effective plan of care for you
• We are a licensed, bonded, and insured agency.
• We complete background checks on our staff