Hospice is compassionate care for both patient and family during the end-of-life journey and beyond. It focuses on providing emotional, physicial and spiritual support, with emphasis on quality of life. Hospice focuses on keeping the patietn at home in familiar surroundings for as long as possible and desired. The patient and family are viewed as the primary decision makers and all efforts are made to honor their wishes. Care does not end with the passing of the patient. Hospice stays in contact with the family to provide support during bereavement.
Hospice Team
Because patients and families have multiple needs, care is inter-disciplinary. Volunteers, chaplains, doctors, nurses, home health aids and social workers are all members of the hospice team.
- Medical director — Oversees the interdisciplinary team and care planning for hospice patients.
- Registered nurses — On call 24 hours a day to assist with pain and symptom management, coordinate the patient's total care and teach family members about the disease and how to care for the patient
- Social worker — Assesses the psychosocial needs of the patient and family, provides counseling and referrals to available community resources
- Home health aides — Provide personal care, meal preparation and other services under the direction of a registered nurse
- Volunteers — Assist with errands, shopping, homemaking tasks and respite care under the direction of a registered nurse and the volunteer coordinator
- Spiritual guidance — Available through the Hospice Chaplain who participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and provides spiritual care or acts as a liaison with the patient and family clergy
- Bereavement care — Provided by staff and volunteers after the death of the patient under the direction of the bereavement coordinator
Other team members also may include the dietitian, physical, occupational and/or speech therapists.
Eligibility for Care
To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must be diagnosed as being terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less. A physician's certification of terminal illness is required and a competent primary caregiver must be available in the home. Hospice also can be provided in a contracting long-term care facility.
Funding for Hospice
Holy Rosary Hospice services are covered under Medicare and Medicaid for those who are eligible, as well as most private insurance plans. Military personnel and their dependents are covered for hospice under CHAMPUS. Holy Rosary Hospice relies heavily on grants, local fundraisers, memorial gifts and community support to fund unreimbursed care and hospice services for patients with little or no insurance.
For More Information
To learn more about Holy Rosary Hospice, ask your physician or call our program at 233-3810 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.