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The Louisianians that reside in and around Marrero are well known for their civic pride, caring nature, as well as strong family values. Whenever tough times happen, the people of Marrero have a history of coming together and helping one another, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina rained destruction upon Southern Louisiana’s communities. Regrettably, life itself is filled with storms, and while the forces of nature brings most storms, others are simply part of living. None more heartbreaking than when a person we care about develops an incurable illness. Still, these storms happen to all of us. Eventually, we will all have to cope with the death of the people we love because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When someone we love is coming to the end of their life’s journey, most of us are poorly prepared and oftentimes at a loss as to where to look for the guidance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In most instances, hospice is the answer we need to support us through the challenges of looking after our loved ones 24-7.
Many Marrero natives most likely believe that hospice is a place that people go to die. However, hospice isn’t a place, and it is not 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 allows individuals who have a terminal condition to live the best quality of life attainable with the time that they have been given.
Hospice also allows people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Marrero and reside in their homes with their loved ones nearby them. In fact, almost 90% of the people who opt for hospice as a form of treatment continue to reside in their residences up until they pass on. It does not matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Marrero 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 Marrero home and administer the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will do it when you or your loved one requires it, any time, 24 hours a day. Hospice Associates is always just a phone call away.
How is it that just one word could bring so much anxiety?
Why can one particular word often cause people to cringe?
One word that a lot of people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not nearly as scary as one may think. Hospice should not be something to be feared, hospice is something to be welcomed.
Hospice was initially a shelter for those with a terminal illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the last days of their lives. Today hospice is no longer viewed as a place. Instead, it is now thought of as a medical service that provides comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their own homes. Whether that home is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ house, or their personal home. Hospice can be provided to patients no matter where they consider home.
Among the most prevalent mistaken beliefs concerning hospice I have run into is that many people often presume hospice care is only for patients that only have a few days left to live. The reality is hospice becomes available as soon as a physician tells their patient that their disease is terminal and a cure is no longer attainable.
My experiences as a hospice nurse have given me the chance to partake in the blessing of what hospice care can provide to a family. Among the many things I frequently learn 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 families and gives 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 more quickly hospice is offered to a family, the sooner they can let go of the anxiety and fear of being the only ones giving care to their family member. And once they understand the freedom hospice can provide, they have the ability to begin enjoying the short time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through every facet of the disease process, so they can understand how illness will advance and what they can come to anticipate. Then, as things occur, we are available to answer all 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 given the tools they require to help their loved ones through the dying process.
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 many different things, but it is not restricted to just physical pain. I have realized that spiritual pain is often equally challenging to lessen as physical pain is. Our chaplain and social workers work collectively with our nurses to treat each of the pains that can occur.
Hospice even aids to take off the restraints you may feel your disease has placed on you. For many, gaining the awareness and knowing what you should expect may be freeing. We never put restrictions on what our patients can or can’t do. Our objective is to help you be as comfortable and live each and every moment you have left to the fullest together with the ones you love.
The majority of hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient calls their home. Hospice Care may be offered at your private home, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Any individual, whether a family member, patient, close friend, personal doctor or healthcare professional, may make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Referrals are totally confidential. If you know of anyone 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 individual you are concerned for.
The best occasion to learn about hospice care is prior to you or someone you love actually requires it. However it’s never too late to find out about hospice care 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.
No, people of any age with a terminal diagnosis can receive hospice care.
Yes. Your family doctor becomes part of our team. We will communicate and partner with your physician to better understand your individual requirements.
To qualify for hospice, you don’t need to be inactive. Our goal is to help our patients live their lives to the fullest. We encourage our patients to do whatever they feel up to and continue to do the things that bring them joy.What helps make hospice special is that it concentrates on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice allows people that have developed a life-limiting illness to decide how they wish to spend the rest of their life. Hospice ministers to the entire person, and their family members are considered as part of the unit of care. It emphasizes pain control and living life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice is almost always 100% paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that requires can afford. Individual insurance can on occasion help subsidize the expense of items Medicare and Medicaid might not cover.
Hospice Associates offers hospice and palliative care to every qualified* individual that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, which includes Marrero.
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