Hospice

Hospice has evolved in the past decade creating services that are now available to meet a variety of client needs. The misconception that hospice is a service limited to end of life care, has been recognized for years. That is simply not true. Our strategic alliances in the community have helped us offer the best services in Hospice Care when needed according to levels of care. Our providers focus their resources on clients needs with an added emphasis on counseling and family care.

Hospice care focuses on all aspects of your life and well-being: spiritual, physical, emotional and social. There is no age restriction for hospice care; anyone in the last stages of life is eligible for these services. Some hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities provide hospice care onsite. However, hospice can and most often takes place in the comfort of your own home, thereby allowing you to remain in familiar surroundings. Clients are permitted to go on and off hospice care as needed, for example a client decides to return to restorative treatment. You may also enter the hospital for other treatment not specific to your hospice diagnosis, even when the treatment involves improving your quality of life.

Who is eligible for hospice care?

Usually for one of two reasons: A doctor has determined that the patient’s illness cannot be cured, or the negative side effects and risks of curative treatment have begun to outweigh the potential benefits. This applies to anyone of any age. Of course, if your health improves and you no longer need hospice care, you will remain eligible to reapply for hospice care if it again becomes necessary.

What services are provided?

Hospice uses a variety of specialized people and services to provide you with the appropriate level of care needed at your stage in life. These programs are tailored to each individuals needs and compensate for progressive change that arises. Among its major responsibilities, the hospice team:

• Manages the patient's pain and symptoms
• Assists the patient with the emotional and psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying
• Provides needed medications, medical supplies, and equipment
• Educates and coaches the family in care of the patient
• Provides special services such as speech and physical therapy as needed
• Makes arrangements for short-term inpatient care if pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home or the family caregiver needs respite time
• Provides bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends

A hospice team may include any combination of the following services:

• Nursing Care. Registered nurses oversee your medication and symptoms. They  educate both you and your family about what's happening. The nurse therefore serves as a liaison between you, your family and the physician.
• Social Services. A social worker counsels and advises you and your family members to ensure you have full access to the resources you need.
• Physician Services. Your doctor approves the plan of care and works with the hospice team to implement that plan of care.
• Spiritual Support and Counseling. Clergy, pastors and other spiritual counselors are available to visit you and provide spiritual support at home.
• Home Health Aides. Home health aides provide personal care such as bathing, nail care and shaving.