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HOSPICE
Whenever I heard the word
'Hospice' I would immediately think of cancer patients. When I left
the hospital to take mom home I knew she was going to need help with her
activities of daily living. Knowing I lived two hours away and not
knowing how long mom was going to be with us, I went and visited my friend
from high school who was also a nurse. In speaking with her and asking
her if she would help care for mom she mentioned Hospice. I
immediately called Hospice and learned their services are not just for
cancer patients but any terminally ill patient is eligible for their
services.
We kept mom at home and
between family, friends, and Hospice workers, we were able to make my
mom comfortable and allow her to die peacefully. Hospice workers
became a very important part of our family. I can not say enough about
the care, support, and compassion they provided for mom and for the entire family. I am going
to share with you some information they provided me about their services.
Some of this information may be specific to their organization. Please
check with your local Hospice to obtain information on the services they
provide.
Mission
The mission of Hospice is to provide high quality, dignified, compassionate,
end of life care to people with terminal illnesses; to promote the long term
emotional, spiritual and physical well being of caregivers and survivors; to
provide expertise in palliative, supportive and bereavement care to
professionals as well as the community at large.
What does Hospice
provide?
(This may vary - check with your local Hospice)
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Registered Nurses
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Social Work Services
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Home Health Aides
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Caregiver Respite
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Spiritual Care
-
Financial Assistance
-
Medications
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Medical Supplies
-
Medical Equipment
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Oxygen
Who is eligible for
hospice?
Hospice is here to provide services to those who have a limited life
expectancy and are no longer receiving curative treatments. Hospice is
not just for cancer patients and the elderly, but instead is for people of
all ages with any terminal diagnosis including but not limited to:
-
Heart disease
-
Lung disease
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Neuromuscular disease
-
Renal failure
-
Liver diseases
-
Alzheimers disease
-
Cancer
-
Congestive Heart
Failure
-
AIDS
-
Birth defects
-
Other end stage
diseases
When is it time to
call hospice?
Hospice is appropriate once the goal of medical care has changed from
curing the disease to keeping the patient comfortable. Patients and
their families may have spent many months or years concentrating on
treatments designed to cure or slow down the disease process, opting for
chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, dialysis or other treatments. Once
the patient or doctor decide a cure is no longer likely and treatment is
ended, hospice may begin to provide care. Hospice nurses have
extensive expertise in pain and symptom management making the patient able
to remain active, enjoying life much longer. The earlier Hospice is
involved the more the quality of life for the patient and family will
improve.
Are there services
available for the family and caregivers?
Hospice provides counseling, support and respite services to the family
and caregiver. Bereavement support is also available at no charge
after the death. These services include individual counseling,
children's bereavement camp and grief support groups for children, teens and
adults.
What is the charge for
hospice services?
Hospice accepts insurance reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, Blue
Cross and others as payment in full. When there is no insurance the
patient receives the same high quality services at no cost. Hospice
never bills a patient or family for services provided. The generosity
of community donations make it possible to provide everything needed to
people facing the end of life.
Internet resources: Information about local hospices serving your area may be available from these sites.
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