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The Louisianians who live in and around Metairie Terrace are known for their civic pride, caring nature, and strong family bonds. Whenever difficult times come, the people of Metairie Terrace have a reputation for pulling together and supporting each other, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina brought chaos upon Southern Louisiana’s towns and cities. Unfortunately, life itself has many storms, and while the weather brings most storms, others are just a part of life. Probably none more heartbreaking than when a person we care about develops a terminal illness. Still, these storms happen to every family. Inevitably, we all will need to deal with the passing of the people we love because each of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When a person we love is coming to the end of their life’s journey, most of us are poorly prepared and frequently at a loss as to where to turn for the guidance we require to help us through this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In many instances, hospice care is the answer we need to help us through the difficulties of taking care of our loved ones 24 hours a day.
The majority of Metairie Terrace residents probably believe that hospice is a facility which terminally ill people go to die. But, hospice is not a place, and it is not 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 with a terminal condition to lead the best life possible with the time that they have left.
Hospice also allows people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Metairie Terrace and reside in their homes with their families nearby them. As a matter of fact, around 90% of the people who embrace hospice as a treatment method continue to reside in their homes until their passing. It doesn’t matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Metairie Terrace because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ caring staff will travel to your Metairie Terrace 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 one word could bring so much fear?
Why does one word often cause some people to cringe?
One word that a lot of people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as frightening as you might think it is. In reality, hospice is not something we should fear… it is something we should welcome.
Hospice was initially a home intended for those with a terminal disease– a place where the dying would go to live out the last days of their lives. These days hospice is no longer viewed as a place. Instead, it is now thought of as more of a medical service that administers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Regardless of whether that home is within a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ home, or their very own home. Hospice can be provided to patients regardless of just where they refer to as home.
One of the most prevalent misconceptions concerning hospice I’ve encountered is that a lot people quite often think hospice care is exclusively for people that may only have a few days left to live. The reality is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a physician informs their patient that their disease is incurable and a cure is no longer possible.
My personal experiences as a hospice nurse have allowed me the opportunity to partake in the blessing of what hospice care provides to a family. Among the many things I often learn from family members 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 provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, 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 made available to a family, the sooner they are able to let go of the anxiety and fear of being the only ones giving care to their loved one. And when they understand the freedom hospice provides, they have the opportunity to begin enjoying the short time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through every aspect of the disease process, so they can comprehend how illness will progress and what they can come to anticipate. Then when things occur, we are available to respond to all of their questions and tend to any concerns they may have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unknown and are provided the resources they need to help their loved ones through 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 merely physical pain.
Hospice also helps to remove the restrictions you may feel your condition has put on you. For a few, having the awareness and understanding what you should expect may be liberating. We never put restrictions on what our patients can or can’t do. Our goal is to help you be as comfortable and live each moment you have left to the fullest together with your loved ones.
Virtualy all hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient considers home. Hospice Care may be offered at your personal residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Anyone, whether a member of the family, patient, friend, doctor or medical professional, can make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are fully confidential. If you know of anyone that is in need of our services, phone us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we might be a good fit for the individual you are concerned for.
The best opportunity to learn more about hospice care is before you or someone you love really needs it. It is never too late to find out about hospice care or to talk about hospice with your family. By discussing hospice care well in advance, you ensure that everybody impacted has a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of any age with a terminal diagnosis are able to undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your family physician becomes part of our team. Our team will communicate and consult with your physician to better understand your individual needs.
To receive hospice, you don’t have to be inactive. Our objective is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage patients in our care to do whatever they feel up to and continue to keep on doing the things that bring them joy.What helps make hospice special is that it places emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care makes it possible for people that have developed a life-limiting illness to determine just how they wish to spend the remainder of their life. Hospice ministers to the entire person, and their family members are viewed as part of the unit of care. It places emphasis on pain control and living life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice care is almost always completely covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that requires can afford. Individual insurance can on occasion help subsidize the expense of things Medicare and Medicaid may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to all qualified* person that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, which includes Metairie Terrace.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, which may include:
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care