Cape
Fear Valley Hospice
The term "hospice"
refers to a philosophy of care that provides care for people
with terminal illnesses and for their families. Dignified
end-of-life care is provided with respect and grace.
We deliver this
care through a team approach. Our team consists of an
interdisciplinary group of professionals who work together to
plan and administer individualized and holistic care for each
client.
The hospice team
consists of a medical director, a team leader, a team
assistant/volunteer coordinator, a hospice nurse, certified
nursing assistants, a social worker and a chaplain/bereavement
coordinator. The team seeks to meet the physical, psychosocial,
emotional and spiritual needs of our clients and families.
Hospice care does
not take place in the traditional, healthcare environment of a
hospital. It takes place in the patient or caregiver’s home. A
person’s home is usually the most comforting place for one to
be, especially when they are ill.
Our hospice team
members go out to our patients’ homes in order to provide
services. However, the family is a major component in the
provision of appropriate hospice care. Hospice professionals
cannot be there for the patient all of the time. Therefore, at
least one member of a patient’s family is very involved in
caring for a hospice patient.
Our hospice nurse
teaches family members how to perform various functions as they
care for their family member. Some of these functions may
include giving medications, helping the patient stay as active
and mobile as possible, listening and responding to the
patient’s needs and what steps to take in specific situations.
If a patient is
not able to stay at home, other measures may be taken, such as
an admission to a rest home. Short hospital stays may be
necessary in the case of an emergency.
Cape Fear Valley
Hospice team members visit on a scheduled basis depending upon
the specific needs of each patient. Because of the special needs
of hospice patients and families, one of our nurses is on call
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To
whom is hospice care provided?
Hospice care is
provided for individuals whose life expectancy is considered
limited by a physician.
Although a
physician cannot predict exactly how long a person has to live,
he or she may make an educated estimation. If that estimation is
six months or less, an individual may be appropriate for
hospice.
Sometimes, a
disease progresses beyond the medical community’s ability to
cure a person of it. When someone has a disease that has
progressed to this point, and no more curative treatment is
being administered, he or she is appropriate for hospice.
Although curative treatment is removed, comfort care can be
provided to make life better for a patient.
In addition, in
order for a person to be appropriate for hospice care, he or she
must be informed both of their diagnosis and prognosis. This
person must also live in a residence within the service area of
a particular hospice program.
Finally, a
hospice patient needs to have a family member, friend or someone
who is willing to take on the role of "primary
caregiver." This primary caregiver provides in-home care
and supervision for the patient when hospice professionals are
not present in the home.
How
to begin to receive hospice care.
When a person’s
physician agrees to participate in the hospice’s plan of care
and makes a referral to hospice, that person may be then
considered as a potential client.
In order to
receive hospice care from Cape Fear Valley Home Health and
Hospice, simply call (910) 609-6572 or (910) 609-6740. If you
are not yet ready for hospice, but would like more information,
you are also welcome to call.
Once an
individual is received under the care of hospice, a hospice
nurse and social worker will make an initial visit for
admission. At that time, services will once again be clarified
and information will be gathered. Afterward, an individualized
plan of care will be developed, and hospice care will begin.
How
is Cape Fear Valley Hospice paid for its services?
Cape Fear Valley
Hospice is reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, private pay, or by
a patient’s health insurance plan that pays for hospice
benefits. Our hospice also seeks to help those, in certain
circumstances, who have insufficient financial backing.
Therefore, Cape Fear Valley Hospice accepts contributions and
memorial donations, so that we are more able to help those in
need. Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by
law.
|
