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The families who live in and around Chackbay are known for their civic pride, generous nature, and strong family bonds. When tough times come, the families of Chackbay have a history of coming together and supporting each other, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina rained devastation upon Southern Louisiana’s towns and cities. Sadly, life is filled with storms, and while the weather cause most storms, others are just part of living. Likely none more devastating than when someone we care for develops an incurable illness. Still, these storms happen to every family. Inevitably, we will all need to cope with the loss of loved ones because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a person we love is coming to the end of their life’s journey, most of us are ill prepared and often at a loss as to where to turn for the assistance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In most circumstances, hospice is the answer we are looking for to support us through the challenges of caring for our loved ones full-time.
The majority of Chackbay locals likely think that hospice is a facility which terminally ill people go to pass away. But, hospice isn’t a destination, and it is not about dying. The truth is, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical treatment that improves the quality of life for our patients and their families. It also makes it possible for people that have a life-limiting condition to lead the best life possible with the time that they have remaining.
Hospice also allows people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Chackbay and remain in their homes with their loved ones near to them. As a matter of fact, almost ninety percent of the people that embrace hospice as a treatment program continue to remain in their residences until their passing. It doesn’t matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Chackbay because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ experienced staff will travel to your Chackbay home and administer the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will do it whenever you or your loved one needs it, any time, 24-7. Hospice Associates is always just a phone call away.
How is it that a single word can cause so much dread?
Why can a single word often cause people to cringe?
One word that most people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as scary as some people may think it is. Hospice shouldn’t be a thing to be feared, hospice is something to be embraced.
Hospice was initially a shelter intended for those with an incurable illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the remainder of their lives. Today hospice is no longer thought of as a place. Instead, it is now thought of as a medical service that provides comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Regardless of whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, a member of the families’ house, or their own personal home. Hospice can be administered to patients regardless of the location they call home.
Among the biggest myths relating to hospice I have run into is that a lot people quite often assume hospice is only for people that may only have a short while left to live. The truth is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a physician informs their patient that their condition is terminal and a cure is no longer attainable.
My experiences as a hospice nurse have allowed me the chance to partake in the wonderful aspects of what hospice care can offer to a family. Among the things I hear from family members is that many wish they would have known hospice was available long before they did. I think this is because hospice reduces much of the burden placed on families and gives them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can begin to enjoy the time they have remaining with the ones they love.
I believe this is because the sooner hospice is made available to a patient, the sooner they are able to let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones giving care to their family member. And when they understand the relief it provides, they are able to begin appreciating the short time they have left with their loved one.
First, we walk family members through every aspect of the disease’s process, so they comprehend just how the illness will progress and what they can come to expect. Then, as issues occur, we are available to answer each of their questions and address any problems they might have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families shed the fear of the unfamiliar and are provided the resources they require to help their loved ones through the process of dying.
This is not only for our patients but also for their families. Comfort is a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. Hospice offers hospice patients as well as their families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be brought on by many different things, however, it is not restricted to merely physical pain.
Hospice also helps to take off the barriers you may suspect your disease has put on you. For a few, gaining the awareness and knowing what to expect can be liberating. We never put limitations on what our patients can or can’t do. Our objective is to help you be as comfortable and enjoy each and every moment that you have left to the fullest with your loved ones.
The majority of hospice care is provided in-home, regardless of the place the patient considers home. Care may be offered at your private residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Anyone, whether a member of the family, patient, close friend, physician or healthcare professional, may make a referral to Hospice Associates. Referrals are totally confidential. If you know of somebody that is in need of our services, phone us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we would be a good fit for the individual you are concerned about.
The ideal occasion to learn more about hospice care is before you or someone you care for actually requires hospice care. However it’s never too late to learn more about hospice care or to discuss hospice with your family. By discussing hospice well in advance, you ensure that everybody affected possesses a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of any age with a terminal diagnosis can undergo hospice treatment.
Yes. Your family doctor is part of our team. Our team will be in touch and partner with your physician to best understand your individual needs.
To qualify for hospice, individuals do not have to be inactive. Our objective is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage people in our care to do whatever they feel up to and continue to keep on doing the activities that bring them happiness.What makes hospice so special is that it puts emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care allows people that have developed a life-limiting illness to determine how they wish to spend the remainder of their lives. Hospice care ministers to the entire person, and their family is viewed as part of the care unit. It places emphasis on pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice care is almost always 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that needs it can afford. Private insurance can on occasion help fund the expense of items Medicaid and Medicare might not cover.
Hospice Associates offers hospice and palliative services to all qualified* individual that resides within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans, including Chackbay.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, including:
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care