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The families who live in and around Slidell are known for their civic pride, generous nature, and strong family bonds. Whenever difficult times happen, the people of Slidell have a reputation for coming together and supporting each other, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina brought destruction upon Louisiana’s parishes. Sadly, life has many storms, and while the forces of nature brings most storms, others are simply part of life. None more distressing than when somebody we care for develops an incurable illness. Still, these storms happen to all of us. Inevitably, we all will have to cope with the death of loved ones because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a loved one is coming to the end of their life, most of us are ill prepared and frequently at a loss as to where to look for the assistance we require to help us through this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In most circumstances, hospice care is the solution we need to support us with the challenges of nursing our loved ones full-time.
Most Slidell locals most likely think that hospice is a facility that people go to die. However, hospice isn’t a place, and it isn’t about dying. In reality, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical care which improves the quality of life for the people in our care and their family caregivers. It also lets individuals with a life-limiting illness to lead the best quality of life attainable with the time they have remaining.
Hospice also allows people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Slidell and live in their homes with their families near them. As a matter of fact, around 90% of the people who embrace hospice as a treatment continue to stay in their residences until their passing. It doesn’t matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Slidell because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ specialized staff will come to your Slidell home and administer the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will provide it when you or your loved one requires it, anytime, 24 hours a day. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that a single word could instill so much dread?
How can one particular word cause people to cringe?
One word that many people never hope to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it is not nearly as frightening as one may think it is. In truth, hospice isn’t something to fear… it is something we should all embrace.
Hospice was originally a shelter intended for those with a life-limiting illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the remainder of their lives. Nowadays, hospice is no longer viewed as a destination. Instead, it is now viewed as more of a service that delivers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Regardless of whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, relatives’ home, or their very own home. Hospice can be offered to patients regardless of the location they refer to as home.
Among the primary mistaken beliefs concerning hospice I’ve run into is that many people commonly assume hospice is only for individuals that may only have a short while left to live. The reality is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a doctor tells their patient that their disease is incurable and a cure is no longer attainable.
My experiences as a hospice nurse have given me the chance to witness the wonderful aspects of what hospice care can offer to a family. One of the many things I often hear from families is that they wish they would have known hospice was available long before they did. I think this is because hospice reduces the burden placed on families and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice offers, families can start to enjoy the time they have left with the people they love.
I believe this is because the more quickly hospice is offered to a patient’s family, the sooner they are able to let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones providing care to their family member. And once they understand the freedom hospice offers, they are able to start enjoying the short time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every aspect of the disease process, so they can understand how disease will progress and what they can come to anticipate. Then, as issues develop, we are available to answer all of their questions and address any worries they may have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unknown and are provided the tools they require to help their loved ones throughout 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 hospice patients as well as their families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be brought on by many different things, however, it isn’t confined to merely bodily pain.
Hospice also helps to remove the restraints you may suspect your disease has put on you. For some, gaining the knowledge and knowing what to expect may be freeing. We do not put restrictions on what you can or can not do. Our goal is to help you be as comfortable and enjoy every moment you have left to the fullest together with your loved ones.
The majority of hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient considers their home. Care may be provided at your personal residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Any person, whether a family member, patient, friend, personal doctor or medical professional, can make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Referrals are entirely confidential. If you know of someone that is in need of our services, contact us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we would be a suitable fit for the person you have concerns for.
The ideal opportunity to learn more about hospice care is prior to you or somebody you love actually needs it. However, it’s never too late to find out about hospice care or to explore hospice with family members. 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 illness are able to undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your doctor is part of our team. Our team will be in touch and consult with your physician to best understand your individual needs.
To receive hospice, you don’t need to be inactive. Our mission is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage our patients to do whatever they feel up to and continue to keep on doing the things that bring them happiness.What helps make hospice special is that it focuses on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice makes it possible for people which have developed a terminal illness to specify how they wish to spend the remainder of their lives. Hospice care attends to the whole person, and their family members are considered as part of the unit of care. It places emphasis on pain control and enjoying life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice care is usually 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everyone that needs it can afford. Individual insurance can sometimes help fund the expense of things Medicare and Medicaid may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative care to any qualified* man or woman that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, including Slidell.
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