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Hospice is an approach to health care designed to support the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of someone with a life-limiting illness or condition.
Hospice care provides compassionate care and support for those in the last stage of life so they live their life as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. The goal of our hospice care is to give a patient the best quality of life, through physical, spiritual and emotional support that respects the patient’s wishes and ensures peace.
CHI Health at Home is honored to offer hospice services that provide compassionate, end-of-life care for patients – no matter where they call home. As part of our commitment and dedication to serve, we also play a pivotal role in supporting the patient’s family and caregivers during this challenging time.
At a time when exceptional care is needed most, CHI Health at Home employs a team approach to end-of-life care. Our interdisciplinary hospice care team includes:
All of our team members have hospice care experience, undergo stringent personnel assessments, and receive ongoing education. Our goal is to provide comfort and support during this most important and difficult time. For patients, this means giving individualized nursing care, therapy and social services for their physical and emotional well being.
Many patients consider hospice when they have a life expectancy of six months or less. Once a patient and their loved ones have decided to enter into hospice care, our team members work with the patient’s physician and family members to create an individualized plan of care. This may include:
Patients eligible for hospice receive intermittent care from our experienced hospice team, wherever they call home. Our clinical team will assess, monitor, and manage a patient’s pain, treat symptoms, and educate loved ones to assist the patient’s care plan.
A nurse may visit to check on the patient's condition, answer questions, and recommend changes in medication, diet, equipment, or supplies. Depending on the needs of the patient or family, other team member visitors may include nurse aides, a social worker, a chaplain, or a physical or occupational therapist. These professionals can offer important advice and support to family and friends who are delivering day-to-day care. We even have specially trained hospice aids and volunteers who can stay and visit with the patient so family caregivers can take a much-needed break.
Similar to Home Care, our hospice services are available to patients and family members 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our dedicated staff and on-call nurses are specially trained to work with hospice patients and family members to provide the critical, around the clock care they may need.
Serious illness brings up many difficult questions and feelings. As we face the possibility of dying or losing a loved one, we all have fears, worries, and concerns. Our staff has received special training to help patients and their family members address these issues. We even have social workers and non-denominational chaplains to help everyone come to a better understanding of the situation and determine how to meet each others' needs with grace and love.
We know the death of a loved one can be a very difficult time and understand people grieve in different ways and in their own time. As part of our commitment to everyone we serve, we also offer bereavement care and support for the patient’s family for up to 13 months.
Starting with your first hospice care visit, we will work to determine the needs of the patient and their family. In addition to medical care, we will take the time to make sure you and your caregivers understand the plan of care and provide information and education around your disease. Our team understands the day-to-day impact of living with someone with a terminal illness: the symptoms, the side effects of treatment, the likely progression of the illness.
At times like these, patients and their families are faced with many decisions and challenges. Navigating end-of-life care can be extremely emotional and sometimes confusing. Part of the mission at CHI Health at Home is to help patients and loved ones answer questions, find solutions and develop a care plan that preserves comfort and dignity.
Part of our hospice care involves coordinating the care and services needed so family and caregivers can concentrate on your loved one's daily needs and do not need to worry about paperwork, shopping for providers, arranging follow up visits, or ordering home medical equipment.
Hospice is a benefit that is 100% covered for eligible patients under Medicare, most state Medicaid plans, and many private insurance plans. Our hospice team members will determine a patient’s benefit coverage, as well as identify any potential out-of-pocket costs.
Offering comfort, dignity, and quality care to individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses is what we do. We are dedicated to each patient and their family by creating a sense of community and comfort through compassionate care.
If you think your family might benefit from the support of our hospice team, please give us a call at (402) 219-7043. We would be honored to serve you.
Hospice volunteers give the gift of themselves by providing support to patients and family members in a myriad of ways. Most of a volunteer’s time involves direct patient support. From providing companionship for the patient, to respite care to family members and vigil programs during the last hours of life, our volunteers give from the heart and touch the lives of others in extraordinary ways.
Many of our volunteers have experienced hospice care through the care a loved one received. With the knowledge of this unique and compassionate act, many people are inspired to give back. Upon joining the CHI Health at Home hospice team, all volunteers go through a detailed orientation to fully realize our mission and cultivate the range of skills needed to help patients and families.
Our hospice team makes a difference in so many lives. To join us as a volunteer, please contact CHI Health at Home at (402) 219-7043.