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The families who reside in and near Nicholson are known for their civic pride, generous nature, as well as strong family bonds. Whenever tough times come, the citizens of Nicholson have a reputation for pulling together and helping one another, just as they did when Katrina brought chaos upon Southern Louisiana’s communities. Sadly, life itself has many storms, and while the weather brings most storms, others are just part of living. None more devastating than when someone we care for develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to every one of us. Eventually, we all will need to cope with the loss of the people we love because all of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a loved one is reaching the end of their life’s journey, most of us are poorly prepared and oftentimes at a loss as to where to look for the assistance we require to help us through this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In most circumstances, hospice care is the answer we are looking for to support us through the difficulties of nursing our loved ones 24 hours a day.
The majority of Nicholson locals likely think that hospice is a facility which people go to die. But, hospice isn’t a place, and it isn’t about dying. In reality, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical care that improves the quality of life for our patients and their family caregivers. It also lets individuals diagnosed with a terminal condition to experience the best life possible with the time that they have been given.
Hospice also allows people nearing the end of their lives to continue to live in Nicholson and reside in their homes with their families near to them. In fact, almost ninety percent of the folks who choose hospice as a treatment continue to reside in their residences until they pass on. It doesn’t matter if they reside in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Nicholson because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ caring staff will come to your Nicholson home and provide the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will provide it whenever you or your loved one requires it, anytime, day or night. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that one word can cause so much fear?
Why could one particular word often cause people to cringe?
One word that most people never hope to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it is not as frightening as one may think. Hospice isn’t something to fear, it is something to be welcomed.
Hospice was initially a home for those with a life-limiting illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the final days of their lives. These days hospice is no longer considered a destination. Instead, it is now thought of as more of a medical service that delivers comfort and care to patients in their own homes. Regardless of whether that home is within a nursing home, assisted living facility, a member of the families’ house, or their very own home. Hospice can be administered to patients no matter the location they refer to as home.
Among the biggest myths relating to hospice I have encountered is that many people frequently believe it is reserved only for patients that may only have a few days left to live. The truth is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a physician tells their patient that their disease is incurable and a cure is no longer attainable.
My personal experiences as a hospice nurse have given me the chance to witness the beauty of what hospice care can offer to a family. Among the many things I commonly learn from family members is that many 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 the family and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can start to appreciate the time they have remaining with the ones they love.
I believe this is because the sooner hospice is made available to a family, 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 when they discover the relief hospice provides, they have the capacity to start enjoying the time they have remaining with their loved one.
We help walk families through each and every aspect of the disease process, so they can comprehend how illness will progress and what they can come to expect. Then, as issues develop, our team is available to answer each of their questions and address any problems they may have. Because of 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 families. Comfort is a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. Hospice provides patients as well as families with spiritual, psychosocial, and physical comfort. Pain can be brought on by many different things, however, it is not restricted to merely physical pain.
Hospice even helps to remove the restrictions you may suspect your condition has placed on you. For many, having the awareness and understanding what to expect may be liberating. We never put restrictions on what our patients can or can not do. Our objective is to help you be as comfortable and experience each and every moment you have remaining to the fullest with your loved ones.
Almost all hospice care is provided in-home, regardless of the place the patient considers their home. Hospice Care can be given at your private home, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family homes.
Any person, whether a family member, patient, friend, medical professional or healthcare professional, can make a referral to Hospice Associates. Referrals are fully 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 would be a good fit for the person you have concerns for.
The ideal opportunity to learn more about hospice care is prior to you or someone you care for really requires hospice care. However itis never too late to learn more about hospice or to consider hospice with your family. By discussing hospice care well in advance, you ensure that everybody impacted possesses a thorough understanding of what is available to them.
No, people of all ages with a life-limiting illness are able to undergo hospice treatment.
Yes. Your physician becomes part of our team. Our team will keep in touch and work with your physician to best understand your personal needs.
To qualify for hospice care, you don’t need to be inactive. Our goal is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage people in our care to do whatever they feel capable of doing and continue to keep on doing the things that bring them joy.What makes hospice so special is that it focuses on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice makes it possible for people which have developed a terminal illness to decide just how they wish to spend the rest of their life. Hospice ministers to the whole person, and their family is considered as part of the unit of care. It places emphasis on pain management and living life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice care is almost always completely covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something everybody that needs it can afford. Individual insurance can on occasion help subsidize the expense of items Medicaid and Medicare might not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative services to all qualified* individual that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, that includes Nicholson.
Hospice volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to patients and their loved ones, including:
Call Us: 504-457-2200
FAX: 504-457-2207
Physician managed hospice
and palliative care