Hospice care is a medical speciality that focuses on the comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients or their families. The goal is to help patients live out their remaining days as comfortable as possible, focusing on physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Many people think hospice care involves just one visit from a doctor every few weeks—but this couldn’t be further from the truth! In reality, most patients receive a range of services including medication management, counselling sessions, spiritual guidance and many more besides.
Are you considering hospice care for a loved one?
You are not alone. Hospice care is one of the most rapidly growing fields of medicine, with over 200 certified hospices in South Africa alone. The hospice movement began as early as the 1960s to provide comfort and dignity for people with terminal illnesses and their families.
What is The Cost of Hospice Care in South Africa?
Hospice care is a medical speciality that focuses on the comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients or their families. Hospice care does not mean that you are going to die, it simply means that you are receiving services for your illness or condition. This type of care also includes emotional support for both the patient and family. You may use hospice as an alternative to hospitalization when treatment is no longer effective or desirable; as an end-of-life approach; or in combination with curative treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. They may provide hospice services in a hospice facility (also referred to as a home), nursing home, acute care hospital (inpatient) setting, assisted living community, residential care facility, adult day health centre wing/unit/area within another facility.
What you should know about hospice?
Hospice care is a medical speciality that focuses on the comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients or their families. Hospice is available to people who have a prognosis of six months or fewer to live, although you can receive hospice care during your illness. The goal of hospice care is to provide comfort and support for both the patient and family, rather than focusing on treating symptoms with aggressive medical procedures. Hospice services include:
- Physical, emotional and spiritual support
- Pain management
- Respite care (short-term in-home health services)
- Companion services (help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing or cooking)
What is the cost of hospice care in South Africa?
The cost of hospice care in South Africa depends on the agency you choose to work with, as there is no universal policy governing how much hospice care costs. Each hospice agency charges a different rate, which is often based on your location and the type of services offered by the agency.
Of thumb, however, it’s best to expect that you’ll pay approximately R17 000 per month for full-time home care from one of our top 20 rated agencies. If your loved one is receiving palliative (end-of-life) treatment at home from an allied health professional such as an occupational therapist or physiotherapist rather than a registered nurse or doctor who specializes in pain management services then this figure could drop by about 30%.
What influences hospice care costs?
Currently, there are no universal policies governing how much hospice care costs. Each agency charges a different rate, which is often based on your location and the type of services offered by the agency. The cost of hospice care in South Africa can range from R 0 – R 2000 per month.
This guide summarizes how much you can expect to pay for hospice care so that you’ll be prepared when deciding where to receive treatment and how to pay for it.
hospice agency charges a different rate, which is often based on your location and the type of
- The cost of hospice care varies depending on the agency and its location.
- The fee can range from R 0 – R 2000 per month, but this depends on your location and the type of services offered by the hospice agency.
For example, if you live in Cape Town and are receiving end-of-life care at home, then it is likely that your monthly fees will be lower than if you were to receive similar services in Johannesburg.
Government and Hospice
Hospice care is not based on your ability to pay for it. The cost of hospice depends on your monthly income and financial situation. If you qualify for government funding, you will be required to pay a portion of the cost—this amount will vary depending on your financial situation. We encourage patients who can afford to do so to pay for their care for government funds to be used for those who cannot afford any payment at all. Costs may range from R 0 – R 2000 per month.
