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The Louisianians who reside in and near Kenner are known for their sense of community, generous nature, and strong family bonds. Whenever difficult times occur, the families of Kenner have a reputation for pulling together and helping one another, just as they did when Katrina rained devastation upon Louisiana’s towns and cities. Regrettably, life is filled with storms, and while the forces of nature cause most storms, others are just part of living. Likely none more distressing than when somebody we care about develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to all of us. Inevitably, we will all have to deal with the passing of the people we love because all of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When someone we love is reaching the end of their lives, most of us are poorly prepared and often at a loss as to where to go for the assistance we require to help us through this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In many circumstances, hospice care is the solution we seek to support us with the difficulties of nursing our loved ones 24-7.
Most Kenner residents most likely believe that hospice is a facility that sick people go to die. 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 loved ones. It also enables people who have a life-limiting condition to lead the best life attainable in the time they have remaining.
Hospice also makes it possible for people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Kenner and remain in their homes with their families around them. As a matter of fact, close to 90% of the people who elect hospice as a treatment method continue to stay in their residences up until they pass on. It doesn’t matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Kenner 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 Kenner home and deliver the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will provide it when you or your loved one requires it, any time, 24 hours a day. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that just one word can instill so much fear?
Why can one word cause people to cringe?
One word that most people never hope to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it’s not nearly as scary as some people may think it is. As a matter of fact, hospice isn’t something people should fear… it is something we should all welcome.
Hospice was initially a shelter intended for those with an incurable disease– a place where the dying would go to live out the final days of their lives. These days hospice is no longer thought of as a destination. Instead, it is now viewed as more of a medical service that administers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their own homes. Regardless of whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ residence, or their own home. Hospice can be offered to patients no matter just where they refer to as home.
Among the biggest misconceptions regarding hospice I’ve come across is that a lot people commonly presume it is only for people that only have a couple of days left to live. The reality is hospice becomes available when a physician tells their patient that their condition is incurable and a cure is no longer attainable.
My experiences as a hospice nurse have offered me the opportunity to witness the blessing of what hospice care can offer to a family. One of the things I commonly hear from families is that many of them wish they would have known hospice was an option long before they did. I believe this is because hospice reduces the burden placed on families and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice offers, families can start to appreciate the short time they have remaining with the ones they love.
I believe this is because the sooner hospice is made available to a patient, the sooner they can let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones offering care to their loved one. And once they see the relief it offers, they have the opportunity to start appreciating the short time they have left with their loved one.
Initially, we help take family members through every aspect of the disease process, so that they comprehend exactly how the illness will progress and what they can come to expect. Then when things arise, we are available to respond to all of their questions and tend to any worries they may have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families shed the fear of the unknown and are provided the resources they need 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 as well as families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be brought on by many different things, but it is not restricted to just bodily pain.
Hospice also aids to remove the restraints you may feel your condition has placed on you. For many, having the knowledge and recognizing what to expect may be freeing. We never put limitations on what our patients can or can not do. Our objective is to help you be as comfortable and enjoy each and every moment you have left 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. Care can be provided at your private home, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Anyone, whether a member of the family, patient, close friend, personal doctor or healthcare professional, may make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Referrals are entirely confidential. If you know of an individual that is in need of our services, phone us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we may be a good fit for the person you have concerns for.
The best opportunity to learn about hospice care is before you or somebody you love actually needs hospice care. It’s never too late to learn about hospice or to discuss hospice with family members. By discussing hospice in advance, you ensure that every family member affected has a good understanding of what is available to them.
Not at all, people of any age with a terminal illness are able to undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your family physician is part of our team. We will keep in touch and work with your physician to better understand your personal requirements.
To receive hospice care, you do not need to be sedentary. Our goal is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage people in our care to do whatever they feel capable of doing and continue to do the activities that bring them happiness.What helps make hospice special is that it places emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice allows people that have developed a terminal illness to choose how they wish to spend the rest of their lives. Hospice ministers to the whole person, and their family members are considered as part of the care unit. It places emphasis on pain control and enjoying life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice care is almost always completely paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everyone that needs it can afford. Private insurance can sometimes help fund the cost of things Medicare and Medicaid might not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to every qualified* person that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, including Kenner.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, often including:
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207