HOSPICE
What Is Hospice?
“You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die.” - Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the first modern hospice in London in 1968.
Hospice
Hospice is a special way of caring for people at the end stages of terminal illness. Hospice takes place where the patient resides, whether it is at home, a board and care facility, or a skilled nursing facility. Hospice teams work together to provide comfort care to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of both the patient and his or her family. Hospice is focused on the quality of a patient’s life through the management of a patient’s symptoms. The patient’s physician continues to oversee care and works with the hospice team to provide compassionate care.
There are different models of hospice. The medical model hospice offers the full range of medical and non-medical hospice services to patients who meet the criteria of a life expectancy of six months or less. Medicare, Medi-Cal and other insurance plans, often covers these costs. In another model, the volunteer hospice model, practical, emotional, and respite care is given to patients with limited life expectancy. Trained volunteers, supported by a professional staff, provide these services free of charge.
The Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association hospice program includes both medical and volunteer hospice features. Both branches of the program work together to provide full range hospice services to patients and their families.
Hospice Care is Available 24 Hours. There is always a nurse on call.
Hospice Services
- Home hospice care for the terminally ill
- Skilled nursing care
- Certified home health aide care
- Medication for the control of symptoms and pain
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Registered dietitian
- Physical, occupational and speech therapists
- Medical social workers
- Chaplain services
- Volunteer services
- Bereavement care
- Short-term continuous care, and respite care
More Hospice Information
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