HOSPICE

When palliative care and comfort, rather than cure, is the focus in a terminal illness, Hospice provides care and support to both patient and family. A team of highly trained professionals provides care at home or in identified long-term care facilities during the end stage of life. The goal of this physician-ordered care is to identify and control symptoms of physical, emotional and spiritual pain.

Pain and symptom control are major objectives of the Hospice program. When the patient is physically comfortable, all involved are more able to deal with emotional and spiritual issues and live as fully as possible.

Regularly scheduled visits to the home or the long-term care facility are made by the Hospice nurse.  As directed by the patient's physician and coordinated by the Hospice Team members, visits are scheduled for nursing, home health aides, chaplains, social workers, counselors, and volunteers. 

Bereavement support is offered to family members for 13 months after the patient’s death. Bereavement care includes special mailings, visits, phone calls, grief workshops for adults, adolescents and children, and a memorial service twice a year to help cope with grief and loss.

Most third-party payers provide Hospice benefits to cover all or part of the cost of care related to terminal illness.  Saint John’s Hospice is a certified Medicare and Medicaid provider.  We are licensed by the Indiana State Department of Health are accredited by The Joint Commission.