These are hard conversations. Having them early gives your parent a say in what happens.
Hospice or palliative care?
| Palliative care | Hospice | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Any stage of a serious illness | Expected 6 months or less to live |
| Treatment | Can continue treatment to cure | Focus on comfort instead of cure |
| Where | Hospital, clinic, or home | Usually at home or where your parent lives |
| Paid by | Regular insurance | Medicare Part A hospice benefit, Medicaid, most insurance |
Ask the doctor for a referral. You can also call hospice agencies directly to ask questions.
Planning a funeral
Talking about wishes ahead of time, like burial or cremation, service or no service, takes pressure off later. If your parent buys a prepaid funeral contract, get a written copy and keep it with their other papers in the parent info binder.
After a death: the first weeks
- Get several certified copies of the death certificate from the funeral home.
- Make sure Social Security knows. The funeral home usually reports the death.
- Find the will and any trust papers.
- Contact banks, pension plans, and life insurance companies.
- Ask an attorney whether the estate needs to go through probate court.
- Keep paying important bills like home insurance until the estate is settled.
Grief support is available through hospice programs, even for families who didn’t use hospice.
Common questions
Does choosing hospice mean giving up?
No. Hospice shifts the goal to comfort and quality of life. People can leave hospice if they change their mind or their health improves.
Who pays for hospice?
Medicare Part A covers hospice for people whose doctor expects they have 6 months or less to live if the illness runs its normal course. Medicaid and most private insurance cover it too.
This guide is general information for Michigan families. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice.Read the full disclaimer