Frequently Asked Questions

We know you have questions, so we have included the most often asked questions and answers here. Need to know more? Just call us – we are glad to help.

Hospice | Coastal Hospice at the Lake | Stansell House | Palliative Care | Compass Care | Spiritual Care | Grief Support | Pediatric Care

Hospice
How do I know if it’s time for hospice?

Once you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, you may request hospice at any time. Our goal is to make it possible for you to make the most of the time available. Hospice is particularly critical if a patient lives alone or their family is unable to care for them. There’s no one right answer. Call us and we can help you determine where hospice should come into play on your schedule.

Can I receive hospice care if I live in a nursing home or assisted living facility?

Yes, you can! When you speak with our Access Department, please ask them for details. 

Can I keep my doctor while I receive hospice care?

Yes! Our goal is to support you, not to replace them. We will coordinate with your doctor(s) office(s) as needed.

How much does hospice cost?

Hospice is a FREE benefit of Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. All hospice services are at no cost. 

Do you ever charge for anything?

Costs for room and board are incurred for stays at Coastal Hospice at the Lake and Stansell House (except for general in-patient and respite care – those are covered), but no patient is ever turned away and financial assistance may be available. 

What will Medicare and Medicaid cover?

Each cover everything we offer except room and board at our facilities (except for room and board when admitted under general in-patient and respite care). 

What does private insurance cover?

Everything we offer except for room and board at our facilities. 

Coastal Hospice at the Lake
How long can I stay at Coastal Hospice at the Lake?
Coastal Hospice at the Lake is usually considered for a short term stay of a few days up to a week or two. Patients tend to come to The Lake for situations such as a supervised change in medication, to provide respite care for a caregiver, or at end-of-life for pain management.
Can my family and friends visit me?
Yes, family and friends can visit. During COVID-19, the number of visitors who may visit at one time may be restricted.
If I stay at Coastal Hospice at the Lake, will I be charged?

All services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or insurance, but yes, room and board are billed if the stay is not considered general in-patient or respite care. Please note that no one is ever turned away, regardless of their ability to pay.

Macky & Pam Stansell House
What is the Stansell House?
Stansell House is the Lower Eastern Shore’s first residential home hospice. It offers options for a longer-term stay, featuring 12 bedrooms suites with private bathrooms, a kitchen area, sunroom, porch and family room.
How long can I stay at Macky & Pam Stansell House?
Most patients stay with us here for weeks or even months, depending on their situation, especially if their family cannot care for them or they are not safe alone at home.
Can my family and friends visit me?
Yes, family and friends can visit. During COVID-19, the number of visitors at one time may be restricted. Please call Stansell House for more information.
What does it cost to stay at Macky & Pam Stansell House?

All services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or insurance, but room and board are billed to the patient. Please note that no one is ever turned away, regardless of their ability to pay.

Palliative Care
What is palliative care?
When someone is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, it does not mean that all life stops! People can often go months, even years, before reaching the end of life. Palliative care steps in during this time to help manage needed services that can keep patients active and their pain manageable.
Is it covered by Medicare, Medicaid or insurance?
Yes, palliative care is covered by all three.
What role will my doctor play?
We will coordinate with your doctor(s) to make sure you are receiving the medication and services you need. Many doctors call us their “eyes and ears” in terms of monitoring your progress.
Will I need specialized care in my home?
Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care does not offer specialized care in the home at this time.
Coastal Care Navigators
What can Compass do for me?
Compass is a free non-medical program for people suffering from serious illness – such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer and kidney failure – that can connect you to support at home and increase your quality of life. Services might include free transportation to and from doctors’ appointments, meals, wheelchair ramps, volunteer support and much more.
Is there a charge for Compass Care?

Coastal Care Navigators is a free non-medical program from Coastal Hospice.

Will the services you connect me with charge us?
We typically connect clients with organizations that provide transportation, food, sitting services, utility assistance programs, limited medical equipment, and ramp construction, and for the most part there is little or no charge.
How long can I receive support from Coastal Care Navigators?

There is no defined limit to how long we will work with our clients.

Spiritual Care
What if I am not a religious person?
Spiritual care does not need to be religious. Sometimes a patient or family member just needs someone to speak with; someone who will listen and encourage. While our chaplains do represent a variety of faiths and are glad to minister to those who wish, that should not scare away someone who wants to be heard or just visited without religious overtones.
Can I choose not to be visited by a spiritual counselor?
Yes! Participation is completely voluntary.
Can you help me find a faith leader in my religion?
Yes. Our eight chaplains represent many Christian denominations, Catholicism and Judaism. If your faith is not represented, we will help you reach out to a leader in your faith.
Grief Support
Can anyone attend a bereavement program?
Yes! Our bereavement programs are open to the public, whether you have had a family member in hospice or not.
When do grief support groups meet?

Please visit the Grief Support page for a list of meetings and other resources.

When are the next Remembrance Ceremonies?

We hold a ceremony each year in each of the four counties we serve (Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester) and all are open to the public. The dates are on our websites calendar, in our Coastal Hospice Newsletters and on our social media pages.

Pediatric Care
Is hospice care available for children?
Yes, it is. You can learn more on the Coastal Kids Supportive Care page on our website.
Are there grief programs for children?
Yes, we have two major programs. Camp Safe Harbor offers three-days of programs and fun for kids 6-12 each summer in conjunction with Salisbury University, and Hope & Healing with Horses is a one-day interactive program for kids 6-14 at a local horse farm in the fall.

https://individual.carefirst.com/individuals-families/mandates-policies/machine-readable-file.page

This link leads to the machine-readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.

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