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The people who live in and around Golden Meadow are well known for their civic pride, caring nature, and strong family bonds. When difficult times occur, the residents of Golden Meadow have a reputation for coming together and supporting each other, just as they did when Katrina rained chaos upon Louisiana’s towns and cities. Regrettably, life is full of storms, and while the forces of nature brings most storms, others are just a part of life. Probably none more distressing than when a person we care about develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to every one of us. Eventually, we all will have to cope with the death of loved ones because all of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When someone we love is reaching the end of their life’s journey, most of us are poorly prepared and often at a loss as to where to look for the guidance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In many circumstances, hospice is the solution we seek to help us with the difficulties of taking care of our loved ones 24-7.
Most Golden Meadow natives likely think that hospice is a facility that sick people go to die. However, hospice isn’t a destination, and it isn’t about dying. The truth is, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical treatment that improves the quality of life for our patients and their loved ones. It also makes it possible for individuals who have a terminal illness to lead the best quality of life possible with the time that they have left.
Hospice also allows people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Golden Meadow and remain in their homes with their family members near them. In fact, almost 90% of the folks that embrace hospice as a treatment option continue to remain in their homes up until they pass on. It doesn’t matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Golden Meadow because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ specialized staff will travel to your Golden Meadow home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will do it when you or your loved one needs it, anytime, 24 hours a day. Hospice Associates is always just a phone call away.
How is it that just one word can cause so much dread?
How does a single word cause some people to cringe?
One word that a lot of people never want to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it is not nearly as scary as some might think. Hospice isn’t something to fear, it is something to be embraced.
Hospice was initially a shelter for those with a life-limiting disease– a place where the dying would go to live out the remainder of their lives. These days hospice is no longer thought of as a place. Instead, it is now thought of as a medical service that delivers comfort and care to patients in their homes. Regardless of whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ house, or their very own home. Hospice can be administered to patients irrespective of where they call home.
Among the biggest mistaken beliefs about hospice I have run into is that a lot people quite often think it is reserved only for patients that only have a short while left to live. The reality is hospice becomes available when a doctor tells their patient that their disease is incurable and a cure is no longer possible.
My experiences as a hospice nurse have given me the to witness the beauty of what hospice care can offer to a family. One of the things I hear 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 the burden placed on families and gives 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 offered to a patient, 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 discover the freedom hospice provides, they can begin enjoying the time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every aspect of the disease process, so they can comprehend how disease will advance and what they can come to anticipate. Then, as issues develop, our team is available to answer each of their questions and address any problems they may have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families shed the fear of the unfamiliar and are provided the tools they are in need of 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 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 could be equally as challenging to soothe as bodily suffering is. Our chaplain and social workers strive together with our nurses to attend to each of the pains that may occur.
Hospice even helps to remove the restraints you may believe your illness has placed on you. For many, possessing the knowledge and knowing what to expect may be liberating. We don’t put limitations on what our patients can or can not do. Our goal is to help you be as comfortable and enjoy every moment that you have remaining to the fullest with the ones you love.
Almost all hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient considers their home. Hospice Care can be offered at your personal residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Anyone, whether a relative, patient, friend, personal doctor or medical professional, may make a referral to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are entirely confidential. If you know of an individual that is in need of our services, get in touch with us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we would be a good fit for the person you have concerns for.
The most suitable occasion to learn more about hospice care is before you or someone you love really needs it. However itis never too late to learn more about hospice or to go over hospice with family members. By talking about hospice care well in advance, you ensure that everyone impacted has a good understanding of what is available to them.
Not at all, individuals of all ages with a life-limiting diagnosis can undergo hospice treatment.
Yes. Your doctor becomes part of our team. Our team will be in touch and consult with your doctor to better understand your personal needs.
To qualify for hospice, you don’t have to be inactive. 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 activities that bring them joy.What helps make hospice so special is that it places emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care makes it possible for people which have developed a terminal illness to specify how they would like to spend the remainder of their lives. Hospice attends to the whole person, and their family is considered as part of the care unit. It emphasizes pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice is usually 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everyone that requires can afford. Private insurance can sometimes help subsidize the expense of items Medicare and Medicaid might not cover.
Hospice Associates offers hospice and palliative services to all qualified* individual that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, that includes Golden Meadow.
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