What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is specialized care for individuals and their families living with a life-limiting illness. It treats the person, rather than the disease, and focuses on improving quality of life. Healthcare today focuses mainly on curing an illness. What if you were told there was nothing more that could be done? In hospice care, there is always more that can be done. Hospice care is compassionate. It focuses on comfort, dignity for the patient, and meaning. It’s not about counting the days you have left; it’s about making each day count.
Only Hospice Care offers what patients say they want at the end of life.
“I want to be home with my family and pets. I want to pass in a familiar and comfortable place.”
Hospice care allows patients to be where they want to be- home!
“I want my pain, anxiety, and discomfort controlled.”
Hospice care allows for all the patient’s physical symptoms to be controlled by a team of experts.
“I’m scared about what is going to happen after I die. I want someone to help me with my legal papers and to help me with my spirituality.”
The hospice care team consists of chaplains and social workers to ensure the patient’s emotional and psychosocial needs are met as well as their physical ones.
“I can’t afford long-term treatments. I need something covered 100% by my Medicare, Medicaid, or Insurance.”
Hospice is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurances at 100% including medications related to hospice diagnosis, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies.
“My doctor said I have 6 months to live and my treatments aren’t working for me anymore. What do I do?”
If curative treatments are no longer attainable, hospice care can manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
A specialized team of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Social Workers, Aides, Chaplains and Volunteers provides Hospice Care. Together the team addresses the needs and wishes of our patients and their families. Each clinician at St. Anthony’s Hospice works together to help manage the 5 types of pain- physical, spiritual, social, financial, and psychological. We aim to provide superb care to each and every patient.
Not ready for hospice care?
If you are not ready for Hospice Care, but are looking for extra support, St. Anthony’s also offers our Palliative Care program to individuals living with a serious illness.
