Special support for a special person
What is hospice care?
Hospice is for people who are near the end of their life. It provides medical treatment to relieve symptoms. The goal is to keep you comfortable, not to try to cure your disease. Hospice care does not speed up or lengthen dying. It focuses on easing pain and other symptoms.
Hospice care also offers emotional help and spiritual support when you are dying. And it helps family members manage the practical details and emotional challenges of caring for a loved one who is dying.
Some people think that starting hospice is a last resort, that it means they're giving up on life. Some think that hospice means a lower level of medical care. But hospice is simply a type of care that focuses on the quality of your life instead of on continuing with treatment to prolong your life.
Why choose hospice care?
There are many reasons why you might choose hospice care. You might choose it if treatment for your disease has become more of a burden than a benefit. Or you might choose hospice if you want to focus on comfort rather than medical treatments.
Our Services
Nursing Services: Each one of our hospice patients is assigned a case manager nurse, who typically visits one to three days a week. Hospice patients and their caregivers can also access an on-call nurse 24 hours per day.
Physician Participation: Each patient's regular physician provides extensive care, in cooperation with a hospice medical director.
Counseling/Bereavement Services: We provide patients and their loved ones with dietary services, pastoral or spiritual support along with bereavement counseling for family and caregivers after the patient's death.
Home-Health Aide: These aides can help patients with their personal care and typically visit two to three times per week.
Medication Management: We cover all medications related to the hospice diagnosis and those intended to control or alleviate pain and symptoms.
Respite Care: We ensure our hardworking caregivers are also given the proper respite care to help alleviate or avoid caregiver burnout and stress.
Therapy Services: We will also provide a physical, occupational and/or speech-language therapist if appropriate.
Medical Equipment: Our hospice provides the equipment necessary to provide a safe, comfortable, caring environment in the patient's home. These supplies might include, for example, a hospital bed, a wheelchair, and oxygen, as well as adult diapers, bandages, and latex gloves.
Who covers hospice?
Hospice care is generally paid for by:
Medicare
Medicaid
Private insurance
Care may also be available to those who can't pay.