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The Louisianians who reside in and near Gonzales are well known for their civic pride, generous nature, and strong family bonds. Whenever challenging times happen, the residents of Gonzales have a history of pulling together and supporting one another, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina rained destruction upon Louisiana’s towns and cities. Regrettably, life has many storms, and while the forces of nature brings most storms, others are just a part of living. Likely none more devastating than when someone we care about develops a terminal illness. Still, these storms happen to every family. Eventually, we all will need to cope with the death of loved ones because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a person we love is reaching the end of their lives, many of us are not prepared and oftentimes at a loss as to where to go for the guidance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In many instances, hospice is the solution we are in need of to support us with the challenges of nursing our loved ones 24 hours a day.
Most Gonzales natives most likely believe that hospice is a facility which sick people go to pass away. However, hospice is not a destination, and it isn’t about dying. In reality, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical treatment which improves the quality of life for the people in our care and their loved ones. It also permits individuals that have a life-limiting condition to lead the best quality of life possible with the time they have been given.
Hospice also makes it possible for people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Gonzales and reside in their homes with their family members nearby them. As a matter of fact, ninety percent of the folks who elect hospice as a treatment method continue to reside in their homes until they pass on. It does not matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Gonzales because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ specialized staff will travel to your Gonzales home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will provide it whenever you or your loved one requires it, any time, 24-7. Hospice Associates is always just a phone call away.
How is it that a single word can bring so much anxiety?
How does one word often cause some people to cringe?
One word that many people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as scary as some people may make it out to be. In fact, hospice isn’t something to fear… it is something we should all welcome.
Hospice was initially a home 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 considered a place. Instead, it is now thought of as more of a medical service that offers comfort and care to 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 provided to patients irrespective of the location they call home.
One of the most prevalent mistaken beliefs about hospice I have come across is that many people frequently assume hospice care is reserved exclusively for people that only have a couple of days left to live. The reality is hospice becomes accessible when a doctor informs their patient that their condition is incurable and a cure is no longer a possibility.
My experience as a hospice nurse have offered me the to witness the beauty of what hospice care provides to a family. Among the things I commonly hear from families 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 the family and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice offers, families can begin to appreciate the short time they have left with the ones they love.
I believe this is because the more quickly hospice is offered to a patient, the sooner they are able to let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones giving care to their loved one. And once they understand the freedom hospice offers, they have the opportunity to begin enjoying the short time they have left with their loved one.
Initially, we walk friends and families through every phase of the disease’s process, so they comprehend just how the illness will advance and what they can come to expect. Then, as issues occur, our team is available to answer each of their questions and address any concerns they might have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unknown and are provided 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 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 distress. I have come to realize that spiritual pain is often equally as challenging to alleviate as physical pain . Our chaplain and social workers strive collectively alongside our hospice nurses to attend to all of the pains which might exist.
Hospice even helps to take off the barriers you may feel your condition has placed on you. For a few, having the awareness and knowing what you should expect may be liberating. We don’t put limitations on what our patients can or can’t do. Our objective is to help you be as comfortable and enjoy each and every moment you have left to the fullest together with your loved ones.
Almost all hospice care is provided in-home, regardless of the place the patient considers home. Hospice Care can be given at your personal residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Anyone, whether a relative, patient, friend, doctor or healthcare professional, may make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are completely confidential. If you know of an individual that is in need of our services, contact us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether or not we might be a suitable fit for the person you are concerned about.
The ideal time to learn more about hospice care is well before you or someone you love actually requires it. However, itis never too late to find out about hospice care or to talk about hospice with your family. By talking about hospice care well in advance, you ensure that everybody impacted has a good understanding of what is available to them.
Not at all, people of any age with a life-limiting diagnosis are able to receive hospice treatment.
Yes. Your family doctor becomes part of our team. We will be in touch and coordinate with your physician to better understand your personal needs.
To receive hospice, individuals don’t have to be sedentary. Our objective 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 happiness.What helps make hospice special is that it concentrates on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care enables people which have developed a terminal illness to specify how they would like to spend the remainder of their life. Hospice attends to the whole person, and their family is viewed as part of the care unit. It places emphasis on pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice care is usually completely paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something every peson that requires can afford. Individual insurance can on occasion help fund the cost of things Medicaid and Medicare might not cover.
Hospice Associates offers hospice and palliative services to every qualified* man or woman that resides within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans, that includes Gonzales.
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