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The people who live in and around Chauvin are well known for their sense of community, generous nature, as well as strong family values. Whenever difficult times occur, the people of Chauvin have a reputation for pulling together and supporting each other, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina brought chaos upon Southern Louisiana’s towns and cities. Regrettably, life itself is filled with storms, and while the forces of nature cause most storms, others are just part of living. Likely none more overwhelming than when a person we care about develops a terminal illness. Still, these storms happen to each of us. Inevitably, we all will have to suffer through the death of our loved ones because all of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When someone we love is reaching the end of their lives, most of us are poorly prepared and often at a loss as to where to look for the guidance we require to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In most circumstances, hospice is the answer we are seeking to support us with the challenges of looking after our loved ones 24 hours a day.
The majority of Chauvin natives probably believe that hospice is a place that terminally ill people go to die. However, hospice is not a destination, and it isn’t about dying. In reality, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical care which improves the quality of life for our patients and their family caregivers. It also allows people diagnosed with a terminal condition to lead the best quality of life possible with the time that they have been given.
Hospice also makes it possible for people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Chauvin and remain in their homes with their families close to them. In fact, almost 90% of people who elect hospice as a form of treatment continue to remain in their residences until their passing. It does not matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Chauvin because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ specialized staff will come to your Chauvin home and administer the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will do it whenever you or your loved one needs it, anytime, 24 hours a day. Hospice Associates is only a phone call away.
How is it that just one word could bring so much dread?
Why does one particular word cause people to cringe?
One word that most people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it is not nearly as frightening as you might think. In truth, hospice is not something we should fear… it is something we should all welcome.
Hospice was initially a home for those with a life-limiting illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the final days of their lives. Nowadays, hospice is no longer considered a destination. Instead, it is now thought of as more of a medical service that provides comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Regardless of whether that home is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ home, or their own personal home. Hospice can be provided to patients no matter just where they refer to as home.
Among the primary misconceptions concerning hospice I’ve come across is that many people often assume hospice is reserved exclusively for patients 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 possible.
My experiences as a hospice nurse have offered me the to witness the beauty of what hospice care offers to a family. One of the many things I frequently hear from family members is that they wish they would have known hospice was an option well before they did. I think this is because hospice reduces much of the burden placed on family members and gives them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice offers, families can start to appreciate the short time they have remaining with the ones they love.
I believe this is because the sooner hospice is made available to a family, the sooner they are able to let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones offering care to their family member. And when they see the freedom it offers, they have the opportunity to start enjoying the short time they have remaining with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every aspect of the disease process, so they can comprehend how illness will progress and what they should come to anticipate. Then when things develop, we are readily available to answer all of their questions and tend to any worries they may have. With this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unfamiliar and are provided the tools they require to help their loved ones throughout the process of dying.
This is not only for our patients but also for their family members. Comfort is a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. Hospice provides patients and family members spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by several things, but it is not restricted to just bodily suffering. I have found that spiritual pain is often equally challenging to lessen as bodily suffering is. Our chaplain and social workers labor together alongside our hospice nurses to treat all of the pains which can be present.
Hospice even helps to take off the barriers you may feel your disease has placed on you. For many, having the awareness and recognizing what you should expect can be liberating. We do not put restrictions on what our patients can or can’t do. Our objective is to help you be as comfortable and live every moment that you have left to the fullest together with the ones you love.
The majority of hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient calls their home. Care may be provided at your personal residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Any person, whether a relative, patient, close friend, physician or healthcare professional, may make a referral to Hospice Associates. Referrals are entirely confidential. If you know of an individual that is in need of our services, call us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we would be a suitable fit for the person you are concerned about.
The most suitable time to learn about hospice care is prior to you or someone you care for actually requires hospice care. But it’s never too late to learn about hospice or to discuss hospice with family members. By talking about hospice care well in advance, you ensure that everybody impacted possesses a thorough understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of all ages with a terminal diagnosis can receive hospice treatment.
Yes. Your family doctor is part of our team. We will be in touch and partner with your physician to best understand your individual needs.
To qualify for hospice, individuals don’t have to be sedentary. Our mission is to help our patients live their lives 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 joy.What makes hospice special is that it places emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care allows people that have developed a terminal illness to determine precisely how they would like to spend the remainder of their lives. Hospice care treats the whole person, and their family is viewed as part of the care unit. It emphasizes pain control and enjoying life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice care is usually completely paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everyone that requires can afford. Private insurance can on occasion help subsidize the cost of items Medicaid and Medicare might not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to every qualified* individual that resides within a fifty mile radius of New Orleans, including Chauvin.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, often including:
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care