Hospice

Your attending physician will remain involved in your care once you sign on to hospice. We will communicate with your physician on a regular basis. Our Hospice Medical Director is also available to consult with your physician should the need arise and assist in your care in the absence of your own physician. The Hospice Medical Director is kept apprised of your condition by meeting with other members of the hospice team on a regular basis.

Specially trained nurses provide direct care and support to the caregivers. They work closely with your physician to manage your symptoms. Hospice nurses are not private duty or “shift” nurses. They are scheduled to make visits on a regular basis and as needed to resolve problems you may encounter. In addition, an on-call nurse is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you have any questions or problems after normal working hours.

A medical social worker is available to provide emotional support, counseling, and assistance with community resources. Often times there are issues that arise when someone is nearing the end of life that need to be addressed and you may be uncertain how to handle them. The social worker can gently guide you through some of these issues.

A chaplain who is sensitive to the needs of individuals facing life-limited illnesses is available to provide spiritual support to the patient and family. The chaplain will also work with the patient and family’s own clergy to make sure your spiritual needs are addressed.

The time leading up to and following the death of a loved one can be very difficult. A certified bereavement counselor is available to assist you and your family through this time. These services are designed to help people grieve in a healthy way. Bereavement services include personal visits and contacts, educational programs, and support groups.

Trained home health aides are available to assist you with your personal care. Home Health Aides provide care as directed by the Registered Nurse. The tender loving care that the aides provide can make all the difference, so we encourage you to use this service. In addition, we can arrange for a homemaker to provide some general housekeeping duties.

Physical, Occupational, Speech, and Massage therapists are available to assist you in maintaining an activity level that is acceptable to you and maximize your comfort level.

Our Registered Dietitian provides consulting services to other VNA staff members regarding patients’ nutritional needs. The Dietitian will also make home visits when requested by the patient’s physician. Patients who can benefit from nutritional counseling may include: those who experience an unexpected weight change, anyone with a diagnosis of malnutrition, patients receiving enteral or parenteral nutrition, diabetics, and many others.

We have a group of dedicated caring people who are willing to give of themselves to assist you in making your remaining days comfortable. Our volunteers go through an extensive training program before they are able to provide services to our patients. Many of these individuals have cared for their own loved ones in their time of need, so they come to us with their own experiences. They can provide a wide variety of services to you. Our staff will be asking you how a volunteer can help.

In most cases, medications, routine medical equipment, and supplies related to the diagnosis for which you have signed onto hospice are provided by hospice. Our staff will discuss with you if there are any different arrangements for these items.