Hospice

A registered nurse continually evaluates a patient's needs and works closely with them and their family to determine the best ways to meet these needs. Services include:

• Health assessments/Palliative care
• Catheter insertion
• Wound and skin care
• Ostomy care
• Pain control/management
• Teaching care management through proper use of diet, medications, and comfort measures
• Educating the patient and their family on the disease or disability to better help them meet their needs and cope with the illness

The hospice nursing aides provide support with personal care needs as appropriate to each individual patient. Nursing aides, under the guidance of a registered nurse, assist with the patient's personal care needs, such as bathing, exercising and walking.

Hospice social workers assist in evaluating social and emotional factors that affect a patient's health. Services include:

• Arranging services and assistance to meet the financial and social problems related to the illness
• Advocating for the patient and caretaker to have as much control as possible over the patient's life and the choices that are made about their care
• Counseling the patient and their family

Our hospice chaplain assists the patient and their family with their spiritual needs. Services include:

• Visiting the patient and their family as often as needed upon request
• Coordinating contact with the patient's and/or family's pastor upon request

A bereavement coordinator arranges contact and support for the family for one year following the death of a loved one. Services include:

• Individual and family counseling
• Support to the bereaved family members
• Coordinating referrals for persons with a complicated grief reaction
• Adult bereavement support group

Volunteers are an integral part of the hospice program. Each volunteer is specially trained in the hospice philosophy, goals, and areas of care that are consistent with the tasks they perform. Services include:

• Reading to patients
• Visiting patients
• Running errands
• Spiritual support
• Respite care
• Office tasks
• Hospice Volunteer Application

Additional services are available to patients to enhance their quality of life and quality of care while in hospice. Services include:

Specialized care

• Certified wound/ostomy/continence nurses are available for consultation on wound, skin and ostomy care.
• Physical, occupational and speech therapy services are available for symptom control and to enable the patient to continue to perform activities of daily living and basic functional skills.
• A registered dietitian is available to perform nutritional assessments and counseling for special problems or dietary requirements.
• A pharmacist is available to assist the nurse in providing information on the patient's medication regime and to follow the status of symptoms and pain control.

Medications

• Hospice provides medications related to the terminal illness, including pain control and medication for symptom relief.
• The patient and their caretaker are informed of any medication not covered by hospice during their admission appointment.

Medical supplies

• Hospice provides all medical supplies necessary for treatment, including syringes, catheters, wound dressings, linen savers, and diapers.
• Other supplies that are provided as needed are wheelchairs, oxygen, bedside commode chairs, hospital beds, and nebulizers.

Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make decisions for the terminally ill individual. Members of the hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services. The hospice team develops a care plan that meets each patient’s individual needs for pain management and symptom control. Support for family caregivers is also assessed throughout the care period. While the range of services provided will vary depending on each individual situation and the specific needs, hospice staff are available by phone 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Hospice care is for any person who has a life-threatening or terminal illness. Most reimbursement sources require a prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. All hospices consider the patient and family together as the unit of care.

Most people receiving hospice care are covered by the Medicare hospice benefit. This benefit covers virtually all aspects of hospice care with little out-of-pocket expense to the patient or family.

The majority of hospice patients are cared for in their own homes or the homes of a loved one.

Hospice care is available “on-call” after the administrative office has closed, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. We have nurses available to respond to a call for help within minutes if necessary. We have chaplains and social workers on call as well.