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The Louisianians that live in and near Gretna are known for their sense of community, generous nature, as well as strong family values. When challenging times occur, the people of Gretna have a reputation for coming together and supporting each other, just as they did when Katrina brought chaos upon Louisiana’s parishes. Unfortunately, life is full of storms, and while the weather cause most storms, others are simply part of life. Probably none more overwhelming than when a person we care about develops an incurable illness. Still, these storms happen to all of us. Inevitably, we will all need to deal with the passing of loved ones because all of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a loved one is reaching the end of their life, many of us are ill prepared and often at a loss as to where to turn for the guidance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar aspect of life. In many circumstances, hospice care is the solution we seek to help us through the difficulties of attending to our loved ones 24 hours a day.
Many Gretna residents probably think that hospice is a place that terminally ill people go to pass away. But, 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 the people in our care and their family caregivers. It also allows people who have a terminal condition to live the best quality of life attainable with the time they have remaining.
Hospice also makes it possible for people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Gretna and remain in their homes with their loved ones nearby them. As a matter of fact, almost ninety percent of people who choose hospice as a treatment program continue to reside in their homes up until they pass on. It does not matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Gretna because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ caring staff will travel to your Gretna home and deliver the compassionate care you or your loved one requires, and we will provide it when you or your loved one requires it, anytime, 24-7. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that one word could produce so much dread?
How could a single word often cause some people to cringe?
One word that most people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it is not as scary as some may think it is. In reality, hospice isn’t something to fear… it is something we should all welcome.
Hospice was initially a home 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 thought of as a place. Instead, it is now viewed as a medical service that administers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their own homes. Regardless of whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, a member of the families’ house, or their own personal home. Hospice can be offered to patients irrespective of where they consider home.
One of the most prevalent misconceptions relating to hospice I’ve come across is that a lot people frequently believe hospice care is reserved only for patients that only have a couple of days left to live. The reality is hospice becomes available as soon as a physician informs their patient that their disease is incurable and a cure is no longer a possibility.
My personal experience as a hospice nurse have given me the to witness the blessing of what hospice care can offer to a family. Among the many things I frequently hear from families is that 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 family members and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can begin to enjoy the time they have remaining with the ones they love.
I believe this is because the more quickly hospice is made available to a family, the sooner they are able to let go of the anxiety and fear of being the only ones giving care to their loved one. And when they realize the freedom it can provide, they can start enjoying the time they have left with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every component of the disease process, so they can understand how disease will progress and what they can come to expect. Then, as issues occur, our team is available to answer each of their questions and address any problems they might have. With this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unfamiliar and are provided the tools they require 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 provides patients and family members spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be caused by several things, but it is not confined to just physical suffering. I have come to realize that spiritual pain can be just as challenging to soothe as physical suffering is. Our chaplain and social workers strive collectively with our hospice nurses to attend to all of the pains that might exist.
Hospice care can also help to clear away the restrictions you may feel your disease has placed upon you. Our objective is for you to be truly comfortable and live each moment you have left to the fullest with your loved ones.
The majority of hospice care is provided in-home, regardless of the place the patient calls home. Hospice may be provided at your personal home, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Any individual, whether a family member, patient, friend, personal doctor or healthcare professional, may make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Referrals are entirely confidential. If you know of anyone that is in need of our services, phone us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we might be a suitable fit for the individual you have concerns for.
The ideal opportunity to learn more about hospice care is before you or someone you care for actually needs it. It is never too late to learn about hospice care or to discuss hospice with your family. By discussing hospice well in advance, you ensure that everybody affected possesses a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of any age with a life-limiting illness are able to receive hospice care.
Yes. Your family doctor is part of our team. We will be in touch and partner with your doctor to better understand your individual needs.
To receive hospice, individuals don’t need to be inactive. Our mission is to help our patients live their lives to the fullest. We encourage patients in our care to do whatever they feel up to and continue to do the activities that bring them joy.What helps make hospice special is that it focuses on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care makes it possible for people which have developed a life-limiting illness to determine just how they would like to spend the rest of their life. Hospice care ministers to the whole person, and their family members are viewed as part of the unit of care. It emphasizes pain management and living life fully.
Hospice services, even in-home hospice care is usually completely covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everyone that requires can afford. Individual insurance can occassionaly help subsidize the cost of items Medicaid and Medicare may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to all qualified* man or woman that resides within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans, which includes Gretna.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, often including:
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care