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The people that live in and around Uncle Sam are known for their civic pride, caring nature, and strong family bonds. Whenever challenging times come, the residents of Uncle Sam have a reputation for pulling together and supporting one another, just as they did when Katrina rained chaos upon Louisiana’s parishes. Sadly, life has many storms, and while the forces of nature brings most storms, others are simply part of life. Likely none more devastating than when someone we care about develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to each of us. Inevitably, we all will need to cope with the loss of our loved ones because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When someone we love is reaching the end of their life’s journey, many of us are not prepared and frequently at a loss as to where to go for the assistance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In most circumstances, hospice care is the solution we really need to help us through the difficulties of nursing our loved ones 24 hours a day.
Many Uncle Sam locals likely believe that hospice is a place which people go to die. However, hospice isn’t a place, 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 allows individuals with a life-limiting illness to experience the best life attainable in the time that they have been given.
Hospice also allows people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Uncle Sam and reside in their homes with their loved ones near them. In fact, nearly 90% of the folks that choose hospice as a form of treatment continue to reside in their homes until their passing. It doesn’t matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Uncle Sam because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ specialized staff will come to your Uncle Sam home and administer the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will do it whenever you or your loved one needs it, anytime, 24-7. Hospice Associates is only a phone call away.
How is it that just one word can cause so much dread?
How could one particular word often cause people to cringe?
One word that most people never want to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as scary as some might make it out to be. In truth, hospice isn’t something to fear… it is something we should welcome.
Hospice was initially a home for those with an incurable illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the final days of their lives. These days hospice is no longer considered a destination. Instead, it is now viewed as more of a service that provides comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Regardless of whether that home is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, a member of the families’ house, or their own home. Hospice can be provided to patients no matter the location they call home.
Among the most prevalent misconceptions concerning hospice I’ve come across is that a lot people frequently believe hospice is exclusively for people that may only have a short while left to live. The truth is hospice becomes accessible 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 to partake in the blessing of what hospice care can provide to a family. One of the things I frequently hear from families is that they wish they would have known hospice was an option well before they did. I think this is because hospice reduces much of the burden placed on the family and gives them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice offers, families can begin to enjoy the short time they have left with the people they love.
I think this is because the sooner hospice is made available to a patient, the sooner they can let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones giving care to their family member. And when they understand the freedom it offers, they can start enjoying the short time they have remaining with their loved one.
Initially, we help walk families through every phase of the disease’s process, so they see exactly how the illness will advance and what they can come to expect. Then, as things develop, we are available to answer each of their questions and address any problems they may have. With this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unfamiliar and are provided the tools they need 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 gives hospice patients as well as their families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by many different things, however, it isn’t limited to just bodily pain.
Hospice also helps to take off the restrictions you may believe your disease has placed on you. For many, possessing the knowledge and recognizing what to expect can be liberating. We don’t put restrictions on what our patients can or can not do. Our objective is to help you be as comfortable and live each moment that you have remaining 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 personal residence, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Anyone, whether a member of the family, patient, close friend, personal doctor or medical professional, may make a referral to Hospice Associates. Referrals are entirely confidential. If you know of somebody that is in need of our services, contact us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we may be a good fit for the individual you are concerned for.
The most suitable occasion to learn about hospice care is before you or someone you love actually requires it. It’s never too late to learn about hospice or to talk about hospice with your family. By discussing hospice care well in advance, you ensure that everyone impacted possesses a good understanding of what is available to them.
Not at all, individuals of all ages with a terminal diagnosis are able to undergo hospice treatment.
Yes. Your family physician is part of our team. Our team will keep in touch and work with your physician to best understand your individual requirements.
To receive hospice care, you do not have to be sedentary. Our objective is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage people in our care to do whatever they feel up to and continue to keep on doing the activities that bring them joy.What makes hospice special is that it concentrates on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care makes it possible for people which have developed a terminal illness to determine how they wish to spend the rest of their lives. Hospice care attends to the entire person, and their family is viewed as part of the care unit. It places emphasis on pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice care is usually completely paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something every peson that needs it can afford. Individual insurance can on occasion help subsidize the cost of things Medicare and Medicaid may not cover.
Hospice Associates offers hospice and palliative services to every qualified* person that resides within a fifty mile radius of New Orleans, including Uncle Sam.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, including:
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207