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The Louisianians who reside in and around Elmwood are well known for their sense of community, generous nature, and strong family bonds. Whenever tough times occur, the people of Elmwood have a history of coming together and supporting one another, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina rained devastation upon Louisiana’s parishes. Regrettably, life itself is filled with storms, and while the weather brings most storms, others are just a part of life. Likely none more traumatizing than when someone we care about develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to all of us. Inevitably, we will all need to suffer through the passing of our loved ones because all of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When a person we love is coming to the end of their lives, most of us are not prepared and often at a loss as to where to go for the assistance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In most instances, hospice is the answer we are in need of to support us through the challenges of attending to our loved ones full-time.
The majority of Elmwood natives likely believe that hospice is a place that sick 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 care that improves the quality of life for our patients and their families. It also enables people who have a life-limiting illness to lead the best life attainable in the time that they have remaining.
Hospice also allows people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Elmwood and live in their homes with their loved ones close to them. As a matter of fact, almost 90% of the people who embrace hospice as a treatment program continue to reside in their homes up until their passing. It does not matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Elmwood because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ caring staff will come to your Elmwood home and deliver the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will provide it when 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 instill so much fear?
Why does one word cause some people to cringe?
One word that many people never want to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as frightening as some people may think. In truth, hospice is not something anyone should fear… it is something we should all embrace.
Hospice was originally a home intended for those with a life-limiting disease– a place where the dying would go to live out the remainder of their lives. Today hospice is no longer viewed as a destination. Instead, it is now thought of as more of a service that administers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Regardless of whether that home is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, relatives’ house, or their very own home. Hospice can be offered to patients no matter just where they refer to as home.
Among the biggest myths regarding hospice I’ve encountered is that a lot people frequently presume hospice care is reserved only for people that may only have a couple of days left to live. The reality is hospice becomes accessible when a physician tells their patient that their disease 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 provides to a family. One of the many things I commonly hear from families is that wish they would have known hospice was available well before they did. I think this is because hospice reduces the burden placed on family members and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice offers, families can begin to enjoy the short time they have remaining with the people they love.
I believe this is because the sooner hospice is made available to a patient’s family, the sooner they can let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones providing care to their family member. And once they discover the relief it provides, they can begin appreciating the short time they have remaining with their loved one.
We help walk families through every aspect of the disease process, so they can understand how illness will advance and what they can come to anticipate. Then when things arise, we are available to respond to all of their questions and tend to any concerns they may have. With this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unknown and are given the resources 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 family members. Comfort is a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. Hospice offers hospice patients and their families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by many different things, but it is not limited to just bodily pain.
Hospice can also help to clear away the limitations you might feel your illness has placed on you. Our mission is for you to be truly comfortable and live each moment you have left to the fullest with your loved ones.
The majority of hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient calls home. Hospice may be given at your personal residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Any individual, whether a member of the family, patient, friend, doctor or healthcare professional, may make a referral to Hospice Associates. Referrals are totally confidential. If you know of someone that is in need of our services, phone us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether or not we would be a good fit for the person you have concerns about.
The most suitable time to learn about hospice care is before you or somebody you care for actually needs hospice care. But it’s never too late to learn about hospice care or to talk about hospice with your family. By talking about hospice care in advance, you ensure that everybody affected possesses a good understanding of what is available to them.
Not at all, people of any age with a terminal diagnosis can receive hospice treatment.
Yes. Your doctor becomes part of our team. Our team will keep in touch and coordinate with your doctor to better understand your individual needs.
To qualify for hospice care, individuals do not have to be sedentary. Our goal is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage our patients to do whatever they feel up to and continue to do the things that bring them happiness.What helps make hospice so special is that it concentrates on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care enables people that have developed a life-limiting illness to choose the way they would like to spend the rest of their life. Hospice treats the whole person, and their family is viewed as part of the care unit. It emphasizes pain management and living life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice care is usually 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everyone that needs it can afford. Private insurance can sometimes help fund the cost of items Medicaid and Medicare may not cover.
Hospice Associates offers hospice and palliative services to any qualified* individual that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, that includes Elmwood.
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