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The families who reside in and around Cut Off are well known for their civic pride, generous nature, and strong family bonds. Whenever tough times occur, the families of Cut Off have a reputation for coming together and helping one another, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina brought devastation upon Southern Louisiana’s parishes. Unfortunately, life is filled with storms, and while the forces of nature cause most storms, others are simply part of living. Probably none more traumatizing than when someone we care for develops a terminal illness. Even so, these storms happen to every family. Eventually, we will all have to cope with the loss of our loved ones because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a person we love is reaching the end of their life’s journey, many of us are not prepared and often at a loss as to where to look for the assistance we require to help us through this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In many circumstances, hospice care is the solution we really need to support us with the challenges of nursing our loved ones 24-7.
Most Cut Off residents probably believe that hospice is a place that people go to pass away. But, hospice is not a place, and it isn’t about dying. In reality, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical treatment that improves the quality of life for the people in our care and their loved ones. It also enables individuals that have a terminal illness to experience 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 Cut Off and live in their homes with their families close to them. In fact, around 90% of the folks that embrace hospice as a treatment program continue to remain in their residences up until their passing. It doesn’t matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Cut Off because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ experienced staff will come to your Cut Off home and deliver the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will provide it when you or your loved one needs it, any time, 24-7. Hospice Associates is only a phone call away.
How is it that just one word can cause so much anxiety?
How could one particular word cause people to cringe?
One word that a lot of people never want to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as frightening as some people may make it out to be. Hospice isn’t a thing to fear, hospice is something to be welcomed.
Hospice was initially a shelter for those with a terminal disease– 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 viewed as more of a service that offers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Whether that home is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, relatives’ home, or their very own home. Hospice can be administered to patients irrespective of the location they consider home.
Among the leading myths relating to hospice I’ve encountered is that many people often presume it is reserved exclusively for people that may only have a short while left to live. The reality is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a doctor informs their patient that their disease is incurable and a cure is no longer possible.
My personal experience as a hospice nurse have allowed me the opportunity to experience the beauty of what hospice care offers to a family. Among the many things I often learn from families 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 families and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can start to enjoy the time they have left with the ones they love.
I think this is because the more quickly hospice is offered to a patient, the sooner they can let go of the anxiety and fear of being the only ones offering care to their loved one. And once they understand the freedom hospice provides, they have the chance to start appreciating the short time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every aspect of the disease process, so they can understand how disease will advance and what they should come to anticipate. Then when things develop, we are available to answer all of their questions and tend to any concerns they may have. With this knowledge and understanding, families shed the fear of the unknown 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 gives patients and family members with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be brought on by many different things, but it isn’t restricted to just physical pain.
Hospice care can also help to clear away the restraints you might believe your disease has placed upon you. Our objective is for you to be comfortable and live each moment 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 calls home. Hospice Care can be provided at your personal residence, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Any person, whether a family member, patient, friend, personal doctor or healthcare professional, can make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Referrals are entirely confidential. If you know of somebody that is in need of our services, contact us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether or not we would be a suitable fit for the person you have concerns for.
The ideal opportunity to learn more about hospice care is prior to you or someone you care for really requires it. However, it’s never too late to find out about hospice care or to consider hospice with your loved ones. By discussing hospice well in advance, you ensure that every family member affected has a thorough understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of any age with a terminal diagnosis are able to undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your family doctor is part of our team. We will communicate and consult with your physician to better understand your individual requirements.
To qualify for hospice care, you do not have to be inactive. Our mission is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage patients in our care to do whatever they feel capable of doing and continue to keep on doing the things that bring them joy.What makes hospice so special is that it places emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice enables people that have developed a life-limiting illness to determine the way they wish to spend the rest of their lives. Hospice care treats the whole person, and their family members are viewed as part of the care unit. It emphasizes pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice is almost always 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that requires can afford. Private insurance can sometimes help fund the expense of items Medicare and Medicaid may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to any qualified* person that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, which includes Cut Off.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, which may include:
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care