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The Louisianians who reside in and around Bayou Cane are known for their civic pride, generous nature, and strong family values. When tough times happen, the families of Bayou Cane have a history of pulling together and supporting one another, just as they did when Katrina brought chaos upon Southern Louisiana’s parishes. Regrettably, life itself is full of storms, and while the weather cause most storms, others are simply part of living. Probably none more overwhelming than when a person we care about develops an incurable illness. Still, these storms happen to each of us. Inevitably, we all will have to suffer through the death of a loved one because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a loved one is coming to the end of their life’s journey, most of us are poorly prepared and often at a loss as to where to look for the guidance we require to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In many instances, hospice is the solution we need to help us through the challenges of attending to our loved ones 24 hours a day.
Most Bayou Cane locals likely think that hospice is a facility that terminally ill people go to pass away. But, hospice isn’t a place, and it isn’t about dying. In reality, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical treatment that improves the quality of life for the people in our care and their loved ones. It also makes it possible for individuals diagnosed with a life-limiting condition to experience the best life possible with the time they have remaining.
Hospice also makes it possible for people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Bayou Cane and remain in their homes with their families nearby them. As a matter of fact, close to 90% of people who elect hospice as a treatment option continue to stay in their residences until they pass on. It doesn’t matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Bayou Cane because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of the place they call home. Hospice Associates’ experienced staff will come to your Bayou Cane home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will provide it whenever you or your loved one needs it, anytime, 24 hours a day. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that one word can produce so much fear?
How can a single word often cause some people to cringe?
One word that a lot of people never want to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it is not as scary as one might think it is. In fact, hospice is not something anyone should fear… it is something to embrace.
Hospice was originally a shelter intended for those with a life-limiting disease– a place where the dying would go to live out the remainder of their lives. These days hospice is no longer considered a destination. Instead, it is now viewed as a medical service that offers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their own homes. Regardless of whether that home is within a nursing home, assisted living facility, a member of the families’ home, or their own personal home. Hospice can be offered to patients irrespective of the location they consider home.
One of the primary myths concerning hospice I’ve run into is that a lot people often believe hospice care is reserved exclusively for people that only have a few days left to live. The truth is hospice becomes available when a doctor informs their patient that their disease is terminal and a cure is no longer attainable.
My personal experience as a hospice nurse have allowed me the to witness the wonderful aspects of what hospice care can provide to a family. One of the many 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 families and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice offers, families can start to appreciate the time they have remaining with the ones they love.
I think this is because the sooner hospice is offered to a patient, the sooner they can let go of the anxiety and fear of being the only ones providing care to their loved one. And once they see the relief hospice provides, they can begin enjoying the time they have remaining with their loved one.
Initially, we take family members through every phase of the disease process, so they comprehend just how the illness will progress and what they can come to expect. Then, as things occur, we are available to answer each of their questions and address any worries they may have. With this knowledge and understanding, families shed 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 families. Comfort is a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. Hospice offers hospice patients as well as families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be brought on by many different things, but it is not confined to merely bodily pain.
Hospice also helps to clear away the restraints you may think your disease has placed on you. Our goal is for you to be truly comfortable and live each moment you have left to the fullest with your loved ones.
Virtualy all hospice care is provided in-home, regardless of the place the patient considers home. Hospice may be offered at your personal residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Any individual, whether a member of the family, patient, close friend, medical professional 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, get in touch with us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we may be a suitable fit for the individual you have concerns about.
The ideal time to learn more about hospice care is well before you or someone you care for actually needs it. It is never too late to find out about hospice care or to discuss hospice with family members. By discussing hospice care in advance, you ensure that everyone affected possesses a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of any age with a life-limiting diagnosis can receive hospice treatment.
Yes. Your doctor is part of our team. We will communicate and consult with your physician to best understand your individual needs.
To qualify for hospice care, individuals don’t need to be sedentary. Our objective is to help our patients live their lives 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 focuses on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice allows people that have developed a life-limiting illness to specify how they would like to spend the rest of their life. Hospice care ministers to the entire person, and their family is considered as part of the care unit. It places emphasis on pain management and living life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice is almost always completely covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something every peson that needs it can afford. Private insurance can occassionaly help fund the expense of items Medicaid and Medicare may not cover.
Hospice Associates offers hospice and palliative care to any qualified* person that resides within a fifty mile radius of New Orleans, which includes Bayou Cane.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, which can include:
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care