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The Louisianians that live in and around New Orleans are well known for their sense of community, generous nature, as well as strong family bonds. When tough times happen, the families of New Orleans have a history of pulling together and helping each other, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina rained chaos upon Southern Louisiana’s communities. Unfortunately, life itself is filled with storms, and while the weather cause most storms, others are simply a part of life. Probably none more overwhelming than when a person we care about develops a terminal illness. Even so, these storms happen to every one of us. Inevitably, we will all need to deal with the passing of the people we love because all of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When someone we love is coming to the end of their life, most of us are not prepared and oftentimes at a loss as to where to look for the assistance we require to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In many circumstances, hospice is the solution we need to help us through the difficulties of caring for our loved ones 24-7.
The majority of New Orleans residents probably think that hospice is a place that terminally ill people go to pass away. However, hospice is not 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 family caregivers. It also lets people who have a life-limiting condition to lead the best life possible with the time they have been given.
Hospice also allows people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in New Orleans and live in their homes with their loved ones near them. In fact, almost 90% of people who choose hospice as a treatment method continue to stay in their homes until their passing. It does not matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in New Orleans because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ specialized staff will come to your New Orleans home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will provide it whenever you or your loved one needs it, any time, day or night. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that a single word could instill so much fear?
Why can one particular word often cause people to cringe?
One word that many people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not nearly as frightening as some may think. In fact, hospice isn’t something we should fear… it is something we should embrace.
Hospice was originally a home 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 destination. Instead, it is now thought of as more of a service that provides comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their own homes. Regardless of whether that home is within a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ residence, or their own personal home. Hospice can be provided to patients no matter just where they consider home.
Among the leading myths concerning hospice I have encountered is that many people quite often assume it is reserved exclusively for patients that only have a couple of days left to live. The truth is hospice becomes available as soon as a physician tells their patient that their condition is incurable and a cure is no longer possible.
My experiences as a hospice nurse have allowed me the chance to partake in the blessing of what hospice care can offer to a family. Among the many things I commonly learn from family members is that they wish they would have known hospice was available well before they did. I think this is because hospice reduces the burden placed on family members and gives them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can start to enjoy the time they have left with the people they love.
I believe this is because the sooner hospice is offered to a patient’s 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 once they understand the relief it provides, they can start enjoying the short time they have remaining with their loved one.
Initially, we help walk friends and families through every aspect of the disease process, so they see how the illness will progress and what they can come to expect. Then when things develop, we are available to respond to all of their questions and address any concerns they may have. With this knowledge and understanding, families shed the fear of the unknown and are provided the resources they are in need of 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 and family members spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by several things, but it is not restricted to just physical suffering. I have found that spiritual pain could be equally challenging to soothe as bodily pain is. Our chaplain and social workers work together alongside our nurses to treat all of the pains that might occur.
Hospice care also helps to clear away the limits you might think your illness has placed on you. Our mission 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 considers their home. Care may be offered at your personal home, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Any individual, whether a member of the family, patient, close friend, personal doctor or healthcare professional, can make a referral to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are entirely confidential. If you know of somebody that is in need of our services, call us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we would be a good fit for the individual you are concerned about.
The most suitable opportunity to learn more about hospice care is prior to you or someone you care for really needs it. However it’s never too late to learn more about hospice or to consider hospice with your loved ones. By discussing hospice well in advance, you ensure that everyone impacted possesses a thorough understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of all ages with a terminal illness can undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your family physician is part of our team. We will keep in touch and coordinate with your doctor to better understand your individual requirements.
To receive hospice care, individuals don’t need to be inactive. Our goal 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 makes hospice so special is that it puts emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice makes it possible for people which have developed a life-limiting illness to determine 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 emphasizes pain control and enjoying life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice is usually completely covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everyone that needs it can afford. Private insurance can on occasion help subsidize the cost of items Medicare and Medicaid might not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to all qualified* person that resides within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans, including New Orleans.
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