Our hospice care team is specially designed to put your care in the hands of a multi-specialty, qualified and highly responsive team that is focused on you. Our patients typically receive four or more visits per week from their dedicated team of care providers. Our team is skilled in helping patients and their loved ones enjoy their last months of life together. Our goal is for every patient to be pain free, waiting room free, testing free, confusion free and relationship rich.
Hospice team members make scheduled visits based on your needs. Typically, visits are made more frequently at the beginning of care and as the end of life nears. Additional visits may be scheduled any time you have a change in condition, an issue with symptom control or newly identified care needs. There is no set length of time for hospice visits. Our team will stay as long as needed to provide the care you need and meet the specific goals of each visit.
Physicians
Your primary care physician is considered a member of the hospice team and can be as involved as they would like. Your hospice team will communicate with your physician on a routine basis and keep them apprised of your condition.
Our hospice physicians are trusted specialists – they have additional training and years of experience in managing pain and symptoms to maximize your quality of life. They are involved in regular communication with the other members of your care team.
Nurses
You will be assigned a Registered Nurse Case Manager. Your case manager oversees your plan of care and makes regular visits to your home, providing hands-on care and reporting any changes in your condition to the rest of the hospice team. Your case manager is focused on your total care. They are focused on your comfort as well as providing education and communication to you and your loved ones. Additional hospice nurses may also provide supportive visits when needed.
There is always a hospice nurse available 24 hours a day, every day of the year who can answer questions over the phone and make home visits when needed.
Hospice Aides
A hospice aide is available to assist in meeting your personal care needs. Aides help with bathing, grooming, and tidying up your immediate living area. They can also assist with light meal preparation when needed. The frequency of aide visits is determined by your needs. It is beneficial to utilize aide services even when you are feeling reasonably well – by doing so you can conserve your energy for other tasks.
Social Workers
Your social worker provides both emotional support and practical information. They are knowledgeable of a variety of community services which can provide additional support including Meals on Wheels, alternative housing options, end-of-life planning, and insurance applications just to name a few. Additionally, they are very good listeners and can help should family conflicts arise.
Chaplains
Your chaplain is available to provide non-denominational spiritual and emotional support to you and your loved ones. They are knowledgeable and respectful of a wide variety of religious and spiritual traditions. Their purpose is to meet you where you are – not to try to challenge or change you or your family’s beliefs. If you would like, they can read, sing or pray with you and can help with issues of grief and loss. As death nears, they can help you and your loved ones say your goodbyes. Your chaplain’s role is very broad – they are present to listen and to talk. Their interaction with you and your family may revolve around providing companionship and emotional support if this is your preference.
Volunteers
Our volunteers are important members of the hospice care team. The can provide friendly phone calls as well as visits. Their visits can allow your primary caregiver to take a brief break from care and run errands. Our volunteers have been carefully screened and trained for hospice.
Specialized Care Providers
Your hospice team includes other specialized care providers that are available when needed. These include: dieticians, speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. These individuals are available to consult with your care team or to provide supportive hands on care based on your needs.
Complementary Alternative Therapies
In addition to utilizing traditional means to manage our patients’ symptoms, we also offer complementary or integrative therapies. These therapies complement our conventional symptom management methods. Research has demonstrated that these therapies can enhance traditional treatments assisting in relieving stress, decreasing pain and adding quality to the patient’s life. Complementary therapies not only make patients feel better but also offer different methods of communicating when words no longer work. Additional modalities include palliative massage, acupuncture, music activities, creative expression and pet therapy. These therapies vary by location, so be sure to ask a member of your hospice team what options are available for you and your loved ones.