“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” - 1 Peter 5:4

Hospice FAQ

Compassionate Hospice Care for Southeast Missouri

Have questions about hospice care? Want to learn more about Crown Hospice of Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff? View our answers to a few of our frequently asked questions below. 

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General Hospice Questions

Hospice care is for anyone who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, meaning their primary care physician or specialist has told them that aggressive treatments would no longer be effective in curing their illness.

While traditionally for terminal cancer patients, hospice care is for any life-limiting illnesses and can include, but isn’t limited to:

  • Alzheimer’s
  • Heart Disease
  • Parkinson’s

“Palliative care” is similar to hospice in that it helps patients manage the symptoms and effects of their illness, but it is care that is received during any stage of a patient’s treatment – typically when there are curative treatment options still available.

Crown Hospice care is paid for through:

  • Medicare
  • Missouri Medicaid
  • Private Insurance

Crown Hospice is also happy to work with unfunded patients to provide hospice care services at little to no cost to ensure that all patients have excellent care at the end of their lives.

Hospice care may start after the patient is told that treatments can no longer cure their illness. In this case, hospice begins when the patient is told that they have six months or less to live.

Crown Hospice of Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff always welcomes consultations with patients who are unsure if they qualify for hospice care. Many of our hospice patients and their families have said that they wish that their loved one would have started hospice care sooner because of the quality of life improvements that it provided.

A patient can start hospice care with Crown Hospice at any time. We understand that admissions can happen outside of the traditional workweek, and we are happy to help accommodate.

Visit our contact page for more information on how to get in touch with us.

Yes, if a patient begins to show signs of improvement, they can leave to return to treatment. Patients are allowed to discharge themselves at any time from hospice care and return as needed.

Our hospice consultations are carried out by a registered nurse who visits the patient and assesses their condition.

If your loved one is on the fence about hospice care, suggest having a free personal consultation from one of our healthcare professionals.

No, we bring hospice care to wherever your loved one is or is most comfortable. We provide care at:

  • Patient’s homes
  • Assisted-living facilities
  • Nursing home facilities
  • Other skilled-care facilities

No, hospice and palliative care focus on symptoms and pain management. The medical team assigned to you will look at your current list of medications to best manage their pain. Medications are changed on a case-by-case basis, depending on how they affect the patient and their quality of life.

Questions for Caretakers and Family

The patient and the patient’s family always maintain the patient’s rights and responsibilities. While we help give end-of-life care to patients, the patient and their family remain in charge of decisions moving forward.

Yes. We offer many caregiver relief services as well as grief and bereavement counseling for the first 13 months after the passing of a loved one. Learn more about our bereavement services here.

Questions About Crown Hospice of Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff

  • Palliative care and symptom management: Our team of medical professionals works with your loved one’s primary care doctor to develop a care plan to comfort your loved one. Registered nurses come on a regular basis to check on the patient’s status to see how they are doing.
  • Personal care and day-to-day assistance: Nursing assistants and volunteers and aides help caregivers by carrying out tasks such as doing laundry, cleaning around the house, picking up groceries, and more.
  • Spiritual support: Hospice chaplains offer spiritual support for the patient and the patient’s family. This service is optional as we serve people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
  • Social services: Social workers help patients and their family make sure they have the resources they need.
  • Companionship: Volunteers help to make sure that your loved one has someone by their side whenever they are in the final days of their life. None of the patients at Crown Hospice of Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff will ever pass alone.

For more information on our services, visit our services page.

Yes. If a patient wants their primary care physician or specialist to be informed of their treatment, Crown Hospice will send updates on the patient’s progress.

Yes. Medical equipment is included in the hospice benefit covered by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or through our hospice donations.

A patient or caretaker can access someone from Crown Hospice 24/7 on the phone. We also have staff ready to assist caretakers and patients whenever a staff member is needed in person.

There are many reasons to choose Crown Hospice; too many to encapsulate on a single page, but here are a few top reasons why you should consider choosing to utilize our services:

Excellent Continuity of Care

Each patient’s care team remains the same throughout their time in care. This way, the patient and the patient’s family can develop a strong, trusting relationship with their care team.

Nonprofit Hospice Care Provider

Our patients and patients’ families won’t have to worry about poor service in exchange for high-profit margins. We focus on delivering quality care to every patient we admit into our service.

Excellent On-Call Care

Caregivers have a lot on their plates; our on-call service is designed to help caregivers and patients through difficulties while their care team isn’t there. If a team member can’t resolve the problem over the phone, we can send someone to assist the patient and caregiver.

Patients Have Someone By Their Side at the End of Life

Everyone deserves to have someone by their side as they pass. We make sure that if a family member of the patient can’t be by their side, a Crown Hospice companion or care team member will be there with them.

Have More Questions? Contact Us.

We Are Ready to Help You and Your Loved Ones

Have additional questions about Crown Hospice or the hospice care process? Reach out to us today. Our staff is ready to answer any of your questions about Crown Hospice, obtaining a hospice care referral, our bereavement support services and much more.