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The Louisianians who reside in and near River Ridge are well known for their sense of community, caring nature, and strong family values. When challenging times happen, the residents of River Ridge have a reputation for pulling together and helping one another, just as they did when Hurricane Katrina rained destruction upon Southern Louisiana’s towns and cities. Sadly, life itself has many storms, and while the forces of nature cause most storms, others are just a part of living. Likely none more heartbreaking than when somebody we care about develops an incurable illness. Still, these storms happen to every family. Eventually, we will all need to suffer through the passing of a loved one because each of our lives will ultimately come to an end.
When a person we love is coming to the end of their earthly life, many of us are ill prepared and frequently at a loss as to where to go for the assistance we require to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In most instances, hospice care is the solution we are seeking to help us through the difficulties of nursing our loved ones 24-7.
Many River Ridge natives most likely think that hospice is a place that people go to die. But, hospice isn’t a place, and it is not about dying. The truth is, hospice is a compassionate, holistic medical care which improves the quality of life for our patients and their family caregivers. It also makes it possible for individuals that have a terminal condition to experience the best quality of life attainable in the time they have left.
Hospice also allows people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in River Ridge and reside in their homes with their families close to them. As a matter of fact, around 90% of the people that elect hospice as a treatment method continue to remain in their residences up until their passing. It does not matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in River Ridge because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, regardless of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ experienced staff will come to your River Ridge home and administer the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will do it whenever you or your loved one requires it, anytime, 24-7. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that a single word can cause so much fear?
Why does one particular word often cause people to cringe?
One word that many people never hope to hear…
The word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as frightening as one might make it out to be. Hospice isn’t something to be feared, it is something to be embraced.
Hospice was originally a home intended for those with a fatal illness– a place where the dying would go to live out the last days of their lives. Nowadays, hospice is no longer viewed as a place. Instead, it is now thought of as a medical service that administers comfort and care to patients in their own homes. Regardless of whether that home is inside a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ home, or their own individual home. Hospice can be offered to patients regardless of just where they refer to as home.
Among the leading misconceptions about hospice I have come across is that many people frequently assume it is only for patients that may only have a short while left to live. The reality is hospice becomes accessible as soon as a physician informs their patient that their condition is terminal and a cure is no longer a possibility.
My personal experiences as a hospice nurse have allowed me the opportunity to partake in the blessing of what hospice care can offer to a family. Among the things I commonly learn from families is that they wish they would have known hospice was an option well before they did. I believe 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 enjoy the time they have remaining with the ones they love.
I think this is because the sooner hospice is made available to a family, the sooner they can let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones giving care to their family member. And when they realize the freedom it can provide, they have the capacity to begin appreciating the short time they have left with their loved one.
First, we take family members through every phase of the disease process, so they see exactly how the illness will progress and what they can come to expect. Then when things occur, we are available to answer all of their questions and address any worries they may have. Because of this knowledge and understanding, families lose the fear of the unfamiliar and are given the resources they need to help their loved ones throughout 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 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 aids to remove the restrictions you may feel your condition has placed on you. For many, possessing the knowledge and learning what you should expect can be liberating. We do not put limitations on what our patients can or can’t do. Our aim is to help you be as comfortable and live each moment you have left to the fullest with the ones you love.
Almost all hospice care is provided in-home, regardless of the place the patient calls their home. Care may be provided at your personal residence, nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Any individual, whether a member of the family, patient, friend, physician or healthcare professional, can make a recommendation to Hospice Associates. Recommendations are fully confidential. If you know of anyone that is in need of our services, call us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether or not we might be a good fit for the person you have concerns for.
The most suitable opportunity to learn more about hospice care is before you or somebody you care for actually needs hospice care. But itis never too late to find out about hospice care or to consider hospice with your family. By discussing hospice care well in advance, you ensure that every family member impacted has a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, people of all ages with a terminal diagnosis can receive hospice treatment.
Yes. Your physician becomes part of our team. We will communicate and coordinate with your physician to best understand your individual needs.
To qualify for hospice, you don’t have to be sedentary. Our goal is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage patients in our care to do whatever they feel up to and continue to keep on doing the activities that bring them happiness.What makes hospice special is that it puts emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care allows people that have developed a terminal illness to determine just how they would like to spend the remainder of their life. Hospice treats the entire person, and their family members are considered as part of the unit of care. It emphasizes pain management and enjoying life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice care is usually completely paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something every peson that needs it can afford. Private insurance can occassionaly help fund the cost of items Medicare and Medicaid may not cover.
Hospice Associates provides hospice and palliative care to every qualified* individual that resides within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans, including River Ridge.
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