Our Services
Our team is here to support those nearing end of life physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We are an added layer of support for both the patient and their loved ones throughout this entire journey. With certified medical attention and true, compassionate dedication to your loved one, we are here to provide comfort and alleviate stress during this time.
You are not alone in this.
FAQs about Hospice Care and Our Services
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The interdisciplinary care team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and consists of a hospice medical director, nurse case managers, social workers, spiritual care counselors, hospice aides, and hospice volunteers.
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Frequent ER Visits or hospital admissions
A decline in ability to perform daily tasks including eating, getting dressed, walking, using the bathroom
An increase in falls
Changes to mental abilities
Progressive weight loss
Recurrent infections, and other signs of deteriorating health
Chronic and difficult-to-treat pain
Breathing difficulties
Increase in sleep
Forgoing or election to stop curative treatment
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The hospice benefit is traditionally a benefit entirely paid for by Medicare. This includes regular visits, medical supplies, and durable medical equipment related to the terminal condition. If your loved one is not eligible for Medicare, several private insurance plans offer hospice coverage. If applicable, we are able help with verifying this information for you.
I think IT’s TIME.. What now?
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Bringing up the topic of hospice with a loved one and other family members can be an uncomfortable thing to do. The Hospice Foundation of America has created a list of the following questions to help with starting the conversation:
What do you value most about your life?
If you were diagnosed with an illness that could not be cured, would you still want to pursue every possible treatment, realizing that some could negatively affect your quality of life?
Do you imagine wanting to stop curative efforts if they were to be unsuccessful?
If you were unable to eat or drink due to a terminal illness, would you want artificial nutrition and hydration even if it could cause complications and might not help you live longer?
Understanding Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) could result in broken bones and other complex medical problems, would you want it if you were dying from an illness and were extremely frail?
If you were dying from a terminal illness and could not breathe on your own, would you want mechanical ventilation?
How do you feel about an extended hospitalization, nursing homes?
Do you want to die in your home?
How much pain is acceptable to you?
Would you want to pain free even if it meant trading comfort for wakefulness or alertness?
Do you want to be with your family when you die?
What decisions regarding care do you want to entrust to others and who do you want to designate to make decisions?
Have you shared your care preferences with that person and taken the necessary steps to ensure he/she is recognized as a proxy?
Do you want a funeral, memorial service or obituary?
What would you want a service to be like, for example, what music would you want at your funeral or memorial service if you had one?
Would you want your body to be buried, cremated, donated to science?
If you had organs that could be donated to help others or science, would you want to do that?
What do you hope for most regarding your death or the death of a loved one?
These are the types of questions that hospice will help to clarify for you during this end-of-life process.
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There is a common misconception that choosing hospice means giving up hope. In reality, hospice relieves suffering, promotes dignity, and facilitates closure for patients and families.
Hospice patients gain a sense of relief and control. Regular visits from their nurse and hospice aide get pain and other symptoms under control and prevent emergency hospital visits. Being at home, surrounded by family and friends, can improve quality of life. Chats with the team social worker or chaplain address emotional pain. With that added comfort, care, and attention, hospice patients — and their family—begin looking forward to tomorrow.
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If you are still unsure or want a professional opinion on if it is the right time for hospice, contact us. Just having that conversation with a medical professional can help to alleviate any confusion or unknown answers. Our skilled team of registered nurse case managers and our hospice medical director can help with this process by determining eligibility upon initial assessment. If you or a loved one have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at our 24/7 number: 260-600-9912.