Lucy Smith King Care Center
Located at 1305 N. Elm Street, Henderson, KY inside Deaconess Henderson Hospital is our 10-bed inpatient unit, the Lucy Smith King Care Center. The Lucy Smith King Care Center and St. Anthony’s Hospice are not affiliated with Deaconess Henderson Hospital. Instead, we are a separate entity and lease the space to provide care on our inpatient unit. When a hospice patient is in need of extra care, he/she can go to the Lucy Smith King Care Center to receive expert symptom management. This type of care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurances.
Visiting the Care Center Procedures
The Lucy Smith King Care Center is open to visitors 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Regular visiting hours are 7:00am – 8:00pm. The main entrance to the Care Center will be locked nightly at 8:00pm. Anyone requiring entrance after that time will gain entrance through a staff member and are issued a visitor’s pass. If a visitor is in need of entry after that time, a patient specific password may be used to gain entry to the unit or they may be asked to enter through the emergency room. The number of visitors will not be limited; however, staff will evaluate the number of visitors in a patient’s room based on condition of patient, patient requests, and patient & family needs.
We have several family/visitor areas, which include a kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, television, sitting area, and a children’s room to help make the family feel more comfortable when visiting their loved one. Children must always be supervised by family members or with the assistance of St. Anthony’s Hospice volunteers. Overnight stay in the family/visitor areas are not permitted. There is a sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair in each patient room to accommodate visitors who choose to spend the night with their loved one. Linens needs are available from the staff upon request. Overnight guests are expected to tend to their own needs and not restrict Lucy Smith King Care Center staff members from caring for the patient. We reserve the right to limit the number of overnight guests.
Family and friends are encouraged to participate in the patient care of their loved one. However, to protect the privacy and dignity of the patient, visitors not participating in care may be asked to leave the room during patient care activities.
Pet Policy
We believe pets are family members too and encourage them to be brought to the Lucy Smith King Care Center to visit their loved one. Patients and families must comply with our pet visitation guidelines. The Care Center staff will not take responsibility for a pet brought to the Lucy Smith King Care Center. Staff may, at their discretion, recommend that a pet’s visiting privileges be revoked at any time. All animals must be clean, free of internal and external parasites, and all vaccinations must be up to date. When bringing a pet into the Lucy Smith King Care Center, please be aware of the possibility of the presence of other animals that may also be visiting during that time. Aggressive and/or sick animals will not be allowed to visit. Pets should be controlled at all times, with the use of a collar and leash or pet carrier, except when in the patient’s room. Loud or disruptive pets will be asked to be removed from the Lucy Smith King Care Center to ensure the comfort of other patient’s and visitors. Any animal waste must be properly cleaned up immediately and properly disposed of by the family. While a pet is visiting, appropriate hand hygiene must be practiced by patients, families, and animal handlers.
Levels of Care
We offer different levels of care at the Lucy Smith King Care Center including general inpatient, respite, and residential. Traditionally, hospice care is provided wherever the patient calls home, where the majority of terminally ill want to be.
General Inpatient Care
Hospice patients who are experiencing uncontrolled pain, uncontrolled nausea and vomiting, unmanageable respiratory distress, unmanageable restlessness, uncontrolled seizures, complex wound care, and other symptoms, which cannot be managed at home are admitted under “General Inpatient Care.” This level of care manages symptoms that cannot be properly managed in the home setting.
Respite Care
Should a caregiver need a break from providing care for their loved one, or have a wedding, graduation, vacation or other event to attend, and need a safe place for their loved one to be cared for, respite care is an available option. The patient can transfer to the Lucy Smith King Care Center and stay for up to 5 days and receive 24-hour per day care from our staff.
Residential Care
If a patient elects hospice services and is need of 24 hour per day care outside of their home, residential care may be an option for them. For a room and board rate, your loved one can reside at the Lucy Smith King Care Center and receive our around the clock, expert, and one-of-a-kind care.
