Hospice is available to people with the Medicare benefit even if their Medicare benefits are managed by an insurance company. However, the hospice services must be offered by a hospice that is approved by Medicare and the patient must meet the requirements of Medicare. Managed care companies must inform their enrollees about the hospice benefit. The patient does not need to be referred by the insurance company and does not need to disenroll from the insurance company. Nursing Home Care People may need to stay for a short or long time in a nursing home.
Short stays are usually for rehabilitation or as a transition from the hospital to the home.
Also, short stays can be used to give caregivers of ill patients a chance to go on vacation or get a break. The patient can stay in a nursing home for a brief period while the caregiver gets some relief from the burdens of caregiving. Long stays are usually for people who are ill or disabled and have no family or friends to care for them. Sometimes the needs of the ill person are just too much for the family to handle. Nursing homes are staffed with licensed practical and registered nurses , nurse's aides and therapists .