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The people who reside in and near Thibodaux are known for their sense of community, caring nature, as well as strong family values. Whenever tough times come, the citizens of Thibodaux have a reputation for pulling together and helping one another, just as they did when Katrina brought devastation upon Louisiana’s parishes. Sadly, life has many storms, and while the forces of nature cause most storms, others are simply part of living. Probably none more traumatizing than when someone we care about develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to every one of us. Eventually, we all will need to cope with the loss of the people we love because each of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When a loved one is reaching the end of their earthly life, most of us are not 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 most instances, hospice is the solution we are seeking to support us with the difficulties of nursing our loved ones full-time.
Most Thibodaux residents likely believe that hospice is a facility that people go to die. But, hospice isn’t a destination, and it isn’t 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 lets people diagnosed with a life-limiting illness to live the best life attainable with the time they have remaining.
Hospice also makes it possible for people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Thibodaux and live in their homes with their loved ones near them. As a matter of fact, ninety percent of the folks that embrace hospice as a treatment method continue to stay in their residences until their passing. It does not matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Thibodaux because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ experienced staff will come to your Thibodaux home and administer the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will do it when you or your loved one requires it, anytime, day or night. Hospice Associates is only a phone call away.
How is it that one word can instill so much fear?
Why can a single word often cause people to cringe?
One word that most people never want to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it is not as frightening as one may make it out to be. In truth, hospice is not something anyone should fear… it is something we should all welcome.
Hospice was initially a shelter for those with a fatal disease– a place where the dying would go to live out the remainder of their lives. Nowadays, hospice is no longer thought of 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. Whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, a member of the families’ residence, or their personal home. Hospice can be provided to patients no matter the location they call home.
One of the primary misconceptions about hospice I’ve run into is that a lot people quite often presume hospice care is only for people that may only have a couple of days left to live. The fact is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a doctor informs their patient that their disease is terminal and a cure is no longer attainable.
My experience as a hospice nurse have given me the chance to partake in the blessing of what hospice care offers to a family. Among the many things I often learn from families is that many wish they would have known hospice was an option long before they did. I think this is because hospice reduces much of the burden placed on family members and gives them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can start to appreciate the short time they have left with the ones they love.
I believe this is because the more quickly hospice is made available to a patient’s family, the sooner they are able to let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones giving care to their family member. And once they understand the relief hospice provides, they have the chance to begin appreciating the time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every aspect of the disease process, so they can comprehend how disease will progress and what they can come to expect. 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 shed the fear of the unknown and are given the tools they need to help their loved ones through the process of dying.
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 many different things, but it is not limited to just bodily pain. I have found that spiritual pain can be just as challenging to alleviate as bodily pain is. Our chaplain and social workers strive together with our nurses to attend to all of the pains that may be present.
Hospice also aids to remove the barriers you may feel your condition has put on you. For some, having the knowledge and understanding what to expect may be freeing. We don’t put limitations on what our patients can or can not do. Our goal is to help you be as comfortable and enjoy each and every moment that you have remaining to the fullest with the ones you love.
Virtualy all hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient considers their home. Hospice Care can be offered at your personal residence, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Any person, whether a relative, patient, friend, personal doctor or healthcare professional, may make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Referrals are entirely confidential. If you know of someone that is in need of our services, phone us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we would be a suitable fit for the individual you are concerned about.
The most suitable occasion to learn more about hospice care is before you or somebody you care for really needs it. It’s never too late to find out about hospice or to discuss hospice with family members. By talking about hospice care well in advance, you ensure that every family member affected has a good understanding of what is available to them.
Not at all, individuals of any age with a terminal illness can undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your family physician becomes part of our team. Our team will be in touch and partner with your doctor to best understand your personal needs.
To qualify for hospice, you do not need to be sedentary. Our goal is to help our patients live their lives to the fullest. We encourage our patients 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 puts emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care enables people which have developed a terminal illness to decide precisely how they wish to spend the remainder of their life. Hospice care ministers to the whole person, and their family members are viewed as part of the care unit. It emphasizes pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice care is usually 100% paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that needs it can afford. Individual insurance can sometimes help fund the expense of items Medicaid and Medicare may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to every qualified* person that resides within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans, including Thibodaux.
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