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The Louisianians who live in and around Violet are known for their sense of community, caring nature, and strong family values. Whenever challenging times happen, the residents of Violet have a reputation for pulling together and supporting one another, just as they did when Katrina brought devastation upon Southern Louisiana’s communities. Sadly, life is full of storms, and while the weather cause most storms, others are simply a part of life. Likely none more overwhelming than when somebody we care about develops an incurable illness. Even so, these storms happen to every one of us. Inevitably, we all will have to suffer through the death of the people we love because each of our lives will ultimately come to its end.
When a person we love is coming to the end of their lives, most of us are not prepared and oftentimes at a loss as to where to turn for the assistance we need to help us traverse this challenging and often unfamiliar part of life. In many circumstances, hospice is the solution we need to support us through the challenges of caring for our loved ones 24 hours a day.
Most Violet locals most likely believe that hospice is a place which 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 which improves the quality of life for our patients and their loved ones. It also allows individuals that have a terminal illness to live the best quality of life possible with the time that they have remaining.
Hospice also allows people approaching the end of their lives to continue to live in Violet and reside in their homes with their loved ones close to them. In fact, nearly 90% of people who choose hospice as a treatment option continue to remain in their residences up until their passing. It doesn’t matter if they live in a house, a retirement community, or an apartment in Violet because hospice is almost always conducted in a patient’s home, irrespective of where they call home. Hospice Associates’ experienced staff will travel to your Violet home and administer the compassionate care you or your loved one needs, and we will do it when you or your loved one needs it, any time, 24 hours a day. Hospice Associates is no more than a phone call away.
How is it that just one word can produce so much anxiety?
Why could a single word cause people to cringe?
One word that most people never want to hear…
That word is HOSPICE, and it’s not as frightening as some people may think it is. In truth, hospice isn’t something we should fear… it is something we should embrace.
Hospice was initially a home intended for those with an incurable 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 more of a medical service that delivers comfort and care to terminally ill patients in their homes. Whether that home is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, family members’ home, or their own home. Hospice can be administered to patients irrespective of the location they consider home.
Among the biggest misconceptions regarding hospice I’ve come across is that many people frequently assume it is exclusively for patients that may only have a short while left to live. The truth is hospice becomes available as soon as a physician tells their patient that their disease is incurable and a cure is no longer a possibility.
My experiences as a hospice nurse have allowed me the chance to experience the wonderful aspects of what hospice care can provide to a family. One of the things I frequently hear from family members is that many wish they would have known hospice was available well before they did. I believe this is because hospice reduces the burden placed on the family and provides them peace of mind. Once they understand the relief hospice provides, families can start to enjoy 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 family, the sooner they are able to let go of the stress and fear of being the only ones offering care to their family member. And once they realize the freedom it provides, they can start appreciating the short time they have remaining with their loved one.
First, we walk family members through every phase of the disease’s process, so that they comprehend just 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 tend to any worries they may have. With 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 throughout the dying process.
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 restricted to just bodily suffering. I have realized that spiritual pain is often equally challenging to lessen as physical pain . Our chaplain and social workers strive collectively alongside our hospice nurses to treat all of the pains which may occur.
Hospice care also helps to clear away the limitations you may believe your illness has put on you. Our objective is for you to be truly comfortable and live each moment you have left to the fullest with your loved ones.
Almost all hospice care is provided in-home, irrespective of the place the patient considers home. Hospice Care can be offered at your private home, retirement community, assisted living, group homes, or family residences.
Any person, whether a relative, patient, close friend, personal doctor or medical professional, can make a referral to Hospice Associates. Referrals are completely confidential. If you know of somebody that is in need of our services, contact us at 504-457-2200 to discuss whether we may be a good fit for the person you are concerned about.
The most suitable time to learn about hospice care is prior to you or someone you care for really needs hospice care. However itis never too late to learn about hospice or to explore hospice with family members. By talking about hospice well in advance, you ensure that every family member impacted possesses a good understanding of what is available to them.
No, individuals of all ages with a terminal illness are able to undergo hospice care.
Yes. Your family doctor becomes part of our team. Our team will be in touch and consult with your doctor to better understand your individual needs.
To qualify for hospice, individuals do not have to be sedentary. Our objective is to help our patients live life to the fullest. We encourage patients in our care to do whatever they feel capable of doing and continue to do the things that bring them happiness.What helps make hospice special is that it places emphasis on patient care and not on a cure. Hospice care enables people that have developed a terminal illness to determine the way they would like to spend the remainder of their life. Hospice ministers to the whole person, and their family members are considered as part of the care unit. It places emphasis on pain control and living life fully.
Hospice care, even in-home hospice is usually 100% paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, so hospice care is something every peson that requires can afford. Individual insurance can on occasion help fund the cost of items Medicaid and Medicare might not cover.
Hospice Associates offers hospice and palliative care to any qualified* individual that resides within a 50 mile radius of New Orleans, including Violet.
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