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The people that reside in and around New Sarpy are well known for their civic pride, generous nature, as well as strong family bonds. Whenever challenging times occur, the families of New Sarpy have a reputation for coming together and helping each other, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina rained chaos upon Southern Louisiana’s parishes. Sadly, life itself is filled with storms, and while the weather cause most storms, others are just a part of life. Likely none more devastating than when a person we care about develops an incurable illness. Still, these storms happen to all of us. Inevitably, we will all need to deal with the loss of our loved ones because all of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When a person we love is coming to the end of their life, many of us are poorly prepared and often at a loss as to where to go for the guidance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In many circumstances, hospice is the solution we are seeking to support us with the challenges of attending to our loved ones 24 hours a day.
Many New Sarpy natives most likely believe that hospice is a facility which sick people go to die. But, hospice isn’t a place, and it is not about dying. In reality, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical care that improves the quality of life for our patients and their loved ones. It also allows people with a terminal illness to live the best quality of life attainable with the time they have been given.
Hospice also allows people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in New Sarpy and reside in their homes with their families around them. As a matter of fact, nearly 90% of the folks that choose hospice as a treatment program continue to stay in their homes until they pass on. It does not matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in New Sarpy because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ caring staff will travel to your New Sarpy home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will do it when you or your loved one needs it, any time, 24-7. Hospice Associates is always just a phone call away.
How is it that one word could cause so much fear?
How could one particular word cause people to cringe?
One word that a lot of people never want to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as scary as you might think. Hospice shouldn’t be something to fear, hospice is something to be welcomed.
Hospice was initially a shelter for those with a fatal illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the final days of their lives. Nowadays, hospice is no longer viewed as a place. Instead, it is now thought of as a medical service that offers comfort and care to patients in their own homes. Whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ house, or their personal home. Hospice can be offered to patients no matter just where they consider home.
Among the most prevalent misconceptions about hospice I’ve run into is that many people quite often presume hospice care is reserved exclusively for individuals that only have a few days left to live. The fact is hospice becomes available when a physician informs their patient that their condition is incurable and a cure is no longer a possibility.
My personal experience as a hospice nurse have allowed me the chance to experience the wonderful aspects of what hospice care can offer to a family. Among the many things I learn from family members is that wish they would have known hospice was available long before they did. I think 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 start to enjoy the short time they have left with the ones 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 family member. And when they see the relief hospice can provide, they can 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 understand how illness will progress and what they should come to expect. Then when things arise, we are readily available to answer all of their questions and address any concerns they may have. With this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unfamiliar and are given the tools they are in need of to help their loved ones throughout 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 gives hospice patients and families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by many different things, however, it is not confined to merely physical pain.
Hospice also helps to clear away the restraints 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 home. Hospice may be provided at your private residence, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Any individual, whether a relative, patient, close friend, physician or medical professional, can make a referral to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are completely confidential. If you know of somebody that is in need of our services, contact us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether or not we might be a good fit for the individual you have concerns about.
The best time to learn more about hospice care is prior to you or somebody you love actually requires it. However itis never too late to learn more about hospice or to explore hospice with your loved ones. By discussing hospice well in advance, you ensure that everybody affected has a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of all ages with a terminal diagnosis can undergo hospice treatment.
Yes. Your family physician is part of our team. Our team will keep in touch and work with your doctor to best understand your individual requirements.
To receive hospice, you don’t need to be inactive. Our objective 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 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 that have developed a terminal illness to choose the way they would like to spend the rest of their life. Hospice treats the whole person, and their family members are considered as part of the care unit. It emphasizes pain management and living life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice is usually 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that needs it can afford. Private insurance can on occasion help subsidize the cost 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 New Sarpy.
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