Hospice & Palliative Care

What is Hospice?

Hospice is a concept of care, not a specific place. It is a special way of caring for patients, usually in their own homes, in their final months. Hospice is concerned about enhancing the quality of a person’s life. It is a program that emphasizes the dignity of the individual and the strength of the family. Hospice personnel help patients find a sense of peace and dignity and reaffirms the right of every person and family to participate fully in this stage of life. Hospice cares for the whole person by focusing on physical comforts and emotional and spiritual support.

Palliative care provides symptom management and pain control for those clients experiencing both physical and emotional suffering related to a disease process which may or may not be life threatening.

The Hospice team
A team of professionals and volunteers are engaged to help you and your family achieve comfort, and find personal dignity at the end of life.

• Your physician to oversee medical care
• Hospice medical director for consultation
• Hospice-trained nurses to evaluate and manage any pain or symptoms
• Home Health Aides to assist with personal care
• Physical, speech or occupational therapists
• Medical social worker for counseling
• Dietician for expertise on nutrition
• Trained volunteers to provide companionship and respite care
• Spiritual Care
• Complementary services:
• Art, music, and relaxation therapy
• Reiki treatments
• Pet therapy

Payment

Hospice services may be covered by private insurance or prepaid health plans. Medicare has a special hospice benefit for patients, the Medicare certified hospice program. Should funds become exhausted, a patient care fund has been established to cover the cost of services provided to Hospice patients and families.