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The Louisianians who live in and near Gramercy are well known for their sense of community, caring nature, as well as strong family bonds. When challenging times come, the residents of Gramercy have a history of coming together and supporting each other, just as they did when Katrina rained chaos upon Louisiana’s towns and cities. Regrettably, life itself is filled with storms, and while the forces of nature cause most storms, others are just a part of living. Likely none more distressing than when a person we care about develops a terminal illness. Even so, these storms happen to every family. Eventually, we all will need to suffer through the passing of our loved ones because each of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When someone we love is reaching the end of their life, many of us are not prepared and frequently at a loss as to where to go for the guidance we require to help us through this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In many instances, hospice is the solution we are in need of to help us through the difficulties of attending to our loved ones full-time.
Many Gramercy locals most likely think that hospice is a place which people go to pass away. But, hospice is not a place, and it isn’t about dying. The truth is, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical treatment which improves the quality of life for our patients and their loved ones. It also makes it possible for people who have a terminal illness to live the best quality of life possible with the time they have been given.
Hospice also makes it possible for people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Gramercy and remain in their homes with their families near them. In fact, nearly 90% of the people who opt for hospice as a form of treatment continue to stay in their homes up until their passing. It doesn’t matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Gramercy 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 Gramercy home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will do it whenever you or your loved one needs it, any time, day or night. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that a single word can create so much fear?
Why could a single word often cause people to cringe?
One word that many people never want to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it’s not nearly as frightening as one might make it out to be. Hospice shouldn’t be a thing to be feared, it is something to be welcomed.
Hospice was originally a shelter for those with a terminal illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the final days of their lives. Today hospice is no longer thought of as a destination. Instead, it is now viewed as more of a service that administers comfort and care to patients in their own homes. Whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ house, or their own personal home. Hospice can be provided to patients regardless of where they refer to as home.
Among the leading misconceptions concerning hospice I have encountered is that many people often presume hospice care is reserved only for patients that 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 attainable.
My personal experience as a hospice nurse have given me the to witness the blessing of what hospice care can provide to a family. One of the many things I commonly learn from families is that many of them wish they would have known hospice was available long before they did. I believe this is because hospice reduces much of the burden placed on families and gives them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can begin to appreciate the short time they have remaining with the people they love.
I think this is because the more quickly hospice is made available to a patient, the sooner they are able to let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones offering care to their loved one. And once they recognize the relief hospice offers, they have the capacity to start appreciating the time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through every component of the disease process, so they can understand how disease will advance and what they can come to anticipate. Then when things develop, we are available to answer all of their questions and address any worries they may have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families shed the fear of the unknown and are given the resources they are in need of 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 offers patients as well as families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by many different things, however, it isn’t limited to merely bodily pain.
Hospice even helps to take off the restrictions you may believe your condition has placed on you. For a few, possessing the awareness and learning what you should expect can be liberating. We don’t put limitations on what you can or can not do. Our aim is to help you be as comfortable and enjoy each moment that you have remaining to the fullest with the ones you love.
The majority of hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient calls home. Hospice may be given at your personal residence, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Any person, whether a relative, patient, close friend, personal doctor or medical professional, can make a referral to Hospice Associates. Referrals are entirely confidential. If you know of an individual that is in need of our services, phone us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we would be a suitable fit for the person you are concerned about.
The most suitable time to learn about hospice care is before you or someone you love really requires it. It’s never too late to learn about hospice care or to discuss hospice with family members. By talking about hospice care in advance, you ensure that every family member affected possesses a good understanding of what is available to them.
Not at all, people of any age with a life-limiting diagnosis are able to receive hospice care.
Yes. Your doctor is part of our team. Our team will be in touch and consult with your physician to better understand your individual needs.
To qualify for hospice, individuals do not need to be inactive. 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 joy.What helps make hospice special is that it concentrates on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care enables people that have developed a life-limiting illness to choose precisely how they wish to spend the remainder of their lives. Hospice treats the whole person, and their family is viewed as part of the care unit. It emphasizes pain management and living life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice care is usually completely paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everyone that requires can afford. Private insurance can occassionaly help subsidize the cost of things Medicaid and Medicare may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to any qualified* person that resides within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans, that includes Gramercy.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, which may include:
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care