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The people that reside in and near Reserve are well known for their sense of community, generous nature, as well as strong family values. Whenever difficult times occur, the citizens of Reserve have a history of coming together and helping one another, just as they did when Katrina rained chaos upon Louisiana’s towns and cities. Regrettably, life itself has many storms, and while the weather cause most storms, others are just a part of living. Likely none more heartbreaking than when somebody we care for develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to all of us. Eventually, we will all need to suffer through the death of the people we love because all of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When someone we love is reaching the end of their life, most of us are poorly prepared and frequently at a loss as to where to turn for the guidance we need to help us through this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In many circumstances, hospice is the solution we really need to help us with the difficulties of caring for our loved ones full-time.
Many Reserve residents probably think that hospice is a facility that terminally ill people go to pass away. But, hospice isn’t a destination, and it is not about dying. The truth is, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical care which improves the quality of life for the people in our care and their loved ones. It also enables people with a terminal illness to live the best life attainable in the time that they have left.
Hospice also allows people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Reserve and live in their homes with their families around them. In fact, almost 90% of the people that elect hospice as a treatment program 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 Reserve because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ specialized staff will come to your Reserve home and deliver the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will provide it whenever you or your loved one needs it, anytime, day or night. Hospice Associates is always just a phone call away.
How is it that a single word could bring so much dread?
Why can one word often cause people to cringe?
One word that a lot of people never hope to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it’s not nearly as frightening as some people might think. Hospice should not be a thing to fear, hospice is something to be embraced.
Hospice was originally a shelter for those with a terminal disease– a place where the dying would go to live out the final days of their lives. Nowadays, hospice is no longer viewed as a destination. Instead, it is now thought of as more of a medical service that delivers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their own homes. Regardless of whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, a member of the families’ residence, or their own individual home. Hospice can be provided to patients irrespective of the location they consider home.
Among the most prevalent mistaken beliefs concerning hospice I’ve run into is that a lot people often believe hospice is reserved only for patients that only have a couple of days left to live. The reality is hospice becomes accessible when a physician informs their patient that their condition is incurable and a cure is no longer a possibility.
My experience as a hospice nurse have allowed me the chance to experience the blessing of what hospice care offers to a family. One of the many things I often hear from family members is that they wish they would have known hospice was an option 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 begin to appreciate the short time they have left with the ones they love.
I think this is because the more quickly hospice is made available to a patient, the sooner they are able to let go of the anxiety and fear of being the only ones providing care to their family member. And when they realize the relief hospice can provide, they are able to begin appreciating the short time they have remaining 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 can come to anticipate. Then, as issues occur, we are available to answer all of their questions and address any worries they might have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unknown and are given the resources they require to help their loved ones through the process of dying.
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 offers hospice patients and families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by many different things, however, it isn’t restricted to merely physical pain.
Hospice can also help to clear away the limitations you might feel your disease has put upon you. Our mission is for you to be comfortable and live each moment you have left to the fullest with your loved ones.
Virtualy all hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient considers their home. Hospice Care can be provided at your private residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Anyone, whether a member of the family, patient, friend, physician or medical professional, can make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are totally confidential. If you know of somebody that is in need of our services, phone us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether or not we may be a good fit for the individual you are concerned for.
The ideal time to learn more about hospice care is prior to you or somebody you care for actually requires hospice care. It is never too late to learn more about hospice or to talk about hospice with your family. By discussing hospice care well in advance, you ensure that every family member impacted possesses a thorough understanding of what is available to them.
Not at all, people of any age with a life-limiting illness can receive hospice treatment.
Yes. Your family doctor becomes part of our team. We will communicate and coordinate with your physician to best understand your individual requirements.
To receive hospice care, individuals do not need to be inactive. Our objective is to help our patients live their lives 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 helps make hospice special is that it concentrates on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care allows people which have developed a terminal illness to determine just how they would like to spend the rest of their lives. Hospice care treats the whole person, and their family is considered as part of the unit of care. It places emphasis on pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice is almost always completely paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that needs it can afford. Private insurance can on occasion help subsidize the expense of things Medicare and Medicaid may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to every qualified* person that resides within a fifty mile radius of New Orleans, including Reserve.
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