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The Louisianians that live in and near Laplace are well known for their civic pride, generous nature, as well as strong family values. When tough times occur, the citizens of Laplace have a history of pulling together and supporting each other, just as they did when Katrina rained devastation upon Southern Louisiana’s parishes. Regrettably, life itself is full of storms, and while the weather brings most storms, others are just part of living. None more devastating than when a person we care for develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to every one of us. Eventually, we will all need to deal with the death of a loved one because all of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When a person we love is reaching the end of their earthly life, many of us are ill prepared and frequently at a loss as to where to turn for the assistance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In most instances, hospice is the answer we are looking for to support us through the difficulties of taking care of our loved ones 24 hours a day.
The majority of Laplace natives likely think that hospice is a place which sick people go to die. However, hospice isn’t a place, and it isn’t about dying. The truth is, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical care that improves the quality of life for our patients and their loved ones. It also allows individuals that have a life-limiting illness to live the best quality of life possible with the time that they have remaining.
Hospice also allows people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Laplace and live in their homes with their loved ones close to them. In fact, almost 90% of people that choose hospice as a treatment method continue to remain in their residences until their passing. It does not matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Laplace because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ specialized staff will travel to your Laplace home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will do it whenever you or your loved one requires it, any time, day or night. Hospice Associates is only a phone call away.
How is it that a single word could create so much dread?
Why could one word cause people to cringe?
One word that most people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not nearly as scary as some people might make it out to be. In fact, hospice isn’t something anyone should fear… it is something we should all embrace.
Hospice was originally 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. Today hospice is no longer considered a place. Instead, it is now thought of as a medical service that provides comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Whether that home is within a nursing home, assisted living facility, a member of the families’ house, or their very own home. Hospice can be provided to patients regardless of where they refer to as home.
One of the most prevalent misconceptions concerning hospice I have run into is that many people commonly presume it is reserved only for people that may only have a couple of days left to live. The truth is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a doctor tells their patient that their disease is incurable and a cure is no longer a possibility.
My personal experiences as a hospice nurse have given me the opportunity to witness the blessing of what hospice care offers to a family. Among the many things I commonly learn from families is that they wish they would have known hospice was available well before they did. I believe this is because hospice reduces much of the burden placed on families and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can begin to enjoy the time they have left with the ones they love.
I think this is because the sooner hospice is made available 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 loved one. And once they see the relief hospice can provide, they have the ability to start appreciating the short time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every facet of the disease process, so they can comprehend how illness will advance and what they can come to expect. Then when things develop, we are readily available to respond to all of their questions and tend to any worries they may have. With this knowledge and understanding, families shed the fear of the unfamiliar and are given the resources they need to help their loved ones through the process of dying.
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 several things, but it is not restricted to just bodily distress. I have found that spiritual pain can be equally as challenging to alleviate as bodily pain is. Our chaplain and social workers strive together with our nurses to attend to all of the pains that may be present.
Hospice also helps to clear away the limits you might think your disease has placed upon you. Our goal is for you to be comfortable and live each moment you have left to the fullest with your loved ones.
Almost all hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient calls their home. Care can be offered at your private residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Any individual, whether a member of the family, patient, close friend, physician or healthcare professional, can make a referral to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are fully confidential. If you know of anyone that is in need of our services, contact us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we would be a suitable fit for the individual you are concerned about.
The most suitable time to learn about hospice care is before you or someone you care for really needs it. But it’s never too late to learn more about hospice or to discuss hospice with your loved ones. By discussing hospice in advance, you ensure that every family member affected has a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, people of all ages with a terminal diagnosis can undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your family doctor becomes part of our team. We will keep in touch and partner with your doctor to better understand your individual needs.
To qualify for hospice, you don’t need 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 makes hospice so special is that it concentrates on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care makes it possible for people that have developed a terminal illness to determine precisely how they would like to spend the remainder of their lives. Hospice care treats the entire person, and their family members are considered as part of the care unit. It places emphasis on pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice is almost always completely covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that needs it can afford. Individual insurance can occassionaly help subsidize the cost of things Medicaid and Medicare might not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to all qualified* individual that resides within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans, which includes Laplace.
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