What is Home Hospice Care & Home Palliative Care?

Hospice specializes in patient-focused, family-centered comfort care and is uniquely equipped to manage the special needs and circumstances of an individual with a life-limiting illness. Home hospice care is provided in the comfort of the individual’s residence, including a nursing home, assisted living facility, or residential care setting.

Palliative care is similar to hospice care, although there may or may not be an intent to cure the ailment causing the life-limiting situation. The same levels of comfort and care are provided, but physicians and healthcare aides utilize a more robust medical plan.

What Services Are Provided?

Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team, including a medical director, registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, spiritual counselors, bereavement counselors, and trained volunteers. Our services include:

24/7 medical care and availability
Weekly and as needed nursing visits to assess needs and ensure comfort
Management of physical pain and symptoms with medical and psychosocial interventions
Education, support, and guidance to loved ones and anyone involved
Availability of short-term inpatient care when pain/symptoms become too difficult for hospice team to manage at home

Coordination of care with other providers; community resources and social service agencies
Assistance with managing problematic behaviors
Assistance with arranging in-home caregiving support and/or out of home placement when needed
Educational in-services and training for community providers
Grief support for caregivers and loved ones for 13 months following death

Emotional, spiritual, and social support for the patient, caregivers, and loved ones
Supply and delivery of medications, medical supplies, and medical equipment
Assistance with applications for entitlements (ALTCS, VA benefits); completing Power of Attorney documents; burial arrangements and memorial services

Volunteering

Our volunteers provide companionship and support to patients and families.

Current Volunteer Opportunities:

To volunteer, apply at links above or contact Desirae Parker-Willis at 520-649-7358.

How To Qualify

For a patient to be eligible for hospice care, the following criteria must be met:

WHAT OUR PATIENTS HAVE TO SAY

“Thank you so much for your help with my mom, Virginia, regarding her hospice care. Though it was such a short time until she passed, I really appreciate the tremendous support you gave. It meant so much to me.”

“I really appreciate the care my mother received from Jennifer, Sara, and Mary Lou. She passed away last week and this team treated her so well and with great dignity. Thank you for the great care you provide”

“God bless Arlee, Andrew and Chaplain Karen! Could not have gone through this situation without the help of hospice. Richard was cared for with love and respect.”

“I want to express my sincere gratitude and admiration for Elizabeth. Her presence and dedication made a profound difference in our experience. Her compassionate approach and professional demeanor not only provided comfort but also eased the burden for the entire family as we navigated this challenging journey.”

A Promise to Our Patients and their Families

Once receiving the initial referral and physician order, members from our home hospice care team will meet with the patient and family to complete paperwork and determine a plan of care. Most often, admissions occur within 24 hours from the time the referral is received, depending on patient and family discretion.

No patient will be denied home hospice care because of race, color, creed, age, national origin, gender, physical or cognitive limitation, religion, genetic makeup, marital status, diagnosis, sexual preference, or an inability to pay for Hospice services. If the patient chooses hospice care for a life-limiting illness but later changes their mind, that patient can cancel or revoke hospice services at any time and immediately resume traditional medical care.

How is Hospice Paid for?

Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurance, including most HMOs, provide a hospice benefit. The hospice benefit covers all of the services of the hospice team, plus the cost of medication, medical equipment, ancillary therapies, and supplies related to the symptom management of the terminal illness.