Choosing a Hospice
While every hospice program is required to adhere to the same regulations, not every program is the same. Here are a few questions to ask when considering hospice providers:
- Do they admit patients regardless of their ability to pay?
- Do they admit patients without an advance directive?
- Will they admit a patient with no live-in caregiver?
- Is there a physician on site or on call 7 days a week?
- Do their physicians make house calls <link to SM.3.1>?
- Is bereavement support available for family members following a patient’s death?
- Do they have an inpatient facility?
While we believe Hospice of Southern Maine provides the very best hospice care in southern Maine, we encourage you to explore your options. You can search for a hospice provider on the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) Web site.