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The families that reside in and near Des Allemands are well known for their civic pride, caring nature, as well as strong family values. When tough times occur, the people of Des Allemands have a history of pulling together and supporting one another, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina rained chaos upon Southern Louisiana’s parishes. Unfortunately, life itself has many storms, and while the weather brings most storms, others are simply a part of life. Likely none more traumatizing than when someone we care for develops a terminal illness. Even so, these storms happen to each of us. Eventually, we all will need to cope with the death of a loved one because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a loved one is reaching the end of their earthly life, many of us are poorly prepared and frequently at a loss as to where to go for the guidance we require to help us through this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In many circumstances, hospice is the answer we need to support us with the difficulties of taking care of our loved ones full-time.
Many Des Allemands residents most likely believe that hospice is a facility that people go to pass away. However, hospice isn’t a destination, and it isn’t about dying. In reality, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical treatment which improves the quality of life for our patients and their families. It also allows individuals diagnosed with a life-limiting condition to live the best quality of life possible in the time that they have left.
Hospice also allows people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Des Allemands and reside in their homes with their families near them. As a matter of fact, almost 90% of the folks that embrace hospice as a treatment option continue to stay in their homes up until they pass on. It doesn’t matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Des Allemands because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ experienced staff will travel to your Des Allemands home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will provide it when you or your loved one requires it, anytime, 24 hours a day. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that a single word can bring so much fear?
How can one word cause some people to cringe?
One word that many people never hope to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as frightening as one may make it out to be. In fact, hospice isn’t something people should fear… it is something we should embrace.
Hospice was initially a home for those with a fatal illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the last days of their lives. Nowadays, hospice is no longer viewed as a destination. Instead, it is now viewed as a medical service that administers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Whether that home is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, relatives’ residence, or their own home. Hospice can be provided to patients no matter where they consider home.
Among the most prevalent misconceptions concerning hospice I’ve run into is that a lot people frequently believe it is reserved exclusively for patients that may only have a few days left to live. The truth is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a doctor tells their patient that their condition is incurable and a cure is no longer a possibility.
My personal experiences as a hospice nurse have allowed me the opportunity to witness the blessing of what hospice care offers to a family. One of the things I learn from family members is that many wish they would have known hospice was available long before they did. I believe this is because hospice reduces the burden placed on families and gives them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can begin to appreciate the time they have left with the ones they love.
I think this is because the more quickly hospice is offered to a family, the sooner they are able to let go of the anxiety and fear of being the only ones offering care to their family member. And when they understand the freedom it can provide, they can start appreciating the time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every component of the disease process, so they can understand how illness will progress and what they should come to anticipate. Then, as things arise, our team is available to answer each of their questions and address any problems they might have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unfamiliar and are given the tools they are in need of to help their loved ones throughout the dying process.
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 provides patients and family members spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by many different things, but it is not restricted to just physical suffering. I have realized that spiritual pain could be just as challenging to ease as bodily suffering . Our chaplain and social workers labor together alongside our nurses to treat all of the pains that can occur.
Hospice even aids to remove the restrictions you may feel your condition has placed on you. For some, having the awareness and knowing what you should expect may be freeing. We don’t put limitations on what our patients can or can not do. Our aim is to help you be as comfortable and enjoy each and every moment that you have left to the fullest together with your loved ones.
Almost all hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient calls home. Hospice Care can be offered at your private residence, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Anyone, whether a member of the family, patient, friend, personal doctor or medical professional, may make a referral to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are fully confidential. If you know of someone 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 best opportunity to learn about hospice care is before you or somebody you love actually needs hospice care. It is never too late to find out about hospice or to talk about hospice with family members. By talking about hospice care in advance, you ensure that every family member affected has a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of any age with a terminal diagnosis are able to undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your doctor becomes part of our team. We will keep in touch and work with your doctor to best understand your personal needs.
To qualify for hospice, 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 do the things that bring them joy.What helps make hospice special is that it focuses on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care allows people which have developed a terminal illness to choose the way they would like to spend the remainder of their lives. Hospice care attends to the whole person, and their family is viewed as part of the unit of care. It places emphasis on pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice is usually 100% paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that requires can afford. Private insurance can on occasion help subsidize the cost of items Medicaid and Medicare may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative care to any qualified* person that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, including Des Allemands.
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