Hospice Services
Facing a life-limiting illness can be devastating -
physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When a patient has made
the choice to forgo aggressive or life-extending treatment for a
progressive or incurable illness, and desires pain management or
symptom control, the Hospice Home Care Program of The Center for
Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. may be a suitable choice.
Hospice services are provided on a scheduled basis by the Hospice
Team, which includes the patient's own physician and/or the Hospice
Medical Director, nurses, social workers, spiritual care counselors,
home health aides, and trained community volunteers. Emergency
Care is available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Hospice is always
a phone call away.
Hospices offers:
- Skilled, compassionate care from Hospice Nurses and Home Health
Aides making intermittent in-home visits.
- Management of pain and other physical symptoms through the appropriate
use of medications and teachings.
- Training, advising and skill-building
for those persons who will assist in providing patient care in
the home.
- Emotional support and spiritual counseling for the patient
and family.
- Social work/family support services.
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
- Companionship and household assistance visits provided by dedicated,
trained volunteers.
- Bereavement services are available to families for up to 13 months
after Hospice services are no longer needed. Additional services
are available on an ongoing basis.
Understanding Illness in Children
The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care wants you to
know that we respect your role as parent and caregiver
for your child. You are the one who knows your child’s
maturity level, his/her personality, and their ability to
deal with new information. You are the best judge as
to when to talk to them about their illness. There is no
“perfect” way to do this. Some parents choose to do it
alone and others with close family members; some want
the doctor to be involved others may want the nurse.
Knowledgeable staff from The Center for Hospice is
always available to assist. However it is done, it should
be done in a calm and supportive atmosphere so your
child feels safe and comforted.
Admission into the hospice program is made without regard to age, gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, diagnosis or ability to pay for services. However, certain criteria must be met prior to receiving services:
- Patients with both cancer and non-cancer illnesses are appropriate, including diseases of the heart, lungs, kidneys and dementia/Alzheimer’s, to name a few.
- The patient’s personal physician continues managing the patient’s care, or the patient may choose the Hospice Medical Director as their attending physician.
- The patient must be living in our service area, which includes all cities and areas within the counties of Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, St. Joseph and Starke in Indiana.
- The patient must have a progressive or incurable illness and a limited life expectancy.
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