The following are typical questions we receive regarding various aspects of the Hospice program. If you do not find the answer to your question below, please call us at 314-729-4400.

How does someone qualify for St. John's Mercy Hospice care?
A person is eligible for hospice care once he or she is certified by a physician as having a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less.

Does the patient need to be in the hospital or a nursing home?
No. The philosophy of hospice is based on the belief that people with advanced illness can live and die among friends and family in familiar surroundings. St. John's Mercy Hospice desires that the patient's last days be spent in dignity at home or a homelike setting.

Is it true that only cancer patients can receive hospice care?
No. Although nearly 70 percent of the patients admitted to hospice programs throughout the nation have conditions related to cancer, other common diagnoses include heart and lung disease, AIDS, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease.

After being admitted to hospice, can I go outside of my home and be active?
Yes! St. John's Mercy Hospice encourages patients to enjoy every activity life has to offer. We suggest patients and their families continue to celebrate life together.

What arrangements do I need to make for the live-in nurse?
Hospice does not provide a nurse to live with the patient and family. Our team is available to be accessed 24 hours a day, but we do not stay with the patient around the clock. We do have trained volunteers to spend time with patients as a service to the family, and these can be requested through the patient's nurse.

How do I pay for the services St. John's Mercy Hospice provides?
Hospice is covered 100 percent by Medicare and Medicaid. Most insurance companies also cover hospice care. The mission of St. John's Mercy is to respond to God's call to serve each other through health care. This allows us to care for the patient regardless of the patient's ability to pay. Through the generous donations and contributions of our hospice friends, a memorial fund has been created for patients who may lack insurance. We believe no one should be denied the services St. John's Mercy Hospice provides because they cannot afford it.