What is Hospice?
Holzer Hospice provides end of life care for adults, children, and their families. The focus of hospice care is to provide comfort and quality of life for those who have a life-limiting illness.
Because serious illness effects everyone involved, Holzer Hospice provides what is known as holistic care, meaning that we include the whole family as our unit of care. Hospice staff travel to the patient’s residence to provide assistance as needed. Our patients do not require trips to the emergency room because there is a hospice nurse on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency issues.
At Holzer Hospice, our plan of care is developed individually to enhance the quality of life for the patient so that he or she may be able to enjoy the time remaining. We continually monitor our services for each patient to provide the family with the ability to be near their loved one at all times or as desired by them.
Our interdisciplinary team meets on a regular basis to review each patient and family plan so that we may better serve our patients and their families according to their personal needs and wants.
Clients of Holzer Hospice
Who makes use of the services at Holzer Hospice? Anyone facing an illness with a life limiting expectancy and who is interested in receiving medically directed, comfort-oriented care, with an emphasis on dignity and respect. 
Some of the common diagnoses covered by hospice care include:
- Cancer
- Stroke
- ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis),
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Renal Failure
- Liver Disease
- Pulmonary Disease
- Heart Disease
- Dementia/Alzheimers
- Adult Failure to Thrive
- Parkinson’s Disease.
Patient’s are also eligible if they meet some of these diagnosis criteria with significant co-morbidities, or rapid decline suggesting a six-month or less prognosis.
Common Misconceptions
- Hospice services are about comfort and quality of life. Hospice services neither hasten death nor do they prolong life.
- While Holzer Hospice does provides 24 hour emergency care, it does not provide 24 hour caregivers for a home.
- Hospice care is not for nursing facilities only. Holzer Hospice provides enhanced care for individuals in nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and in patient homes.
Testimonials
- “They were always there when we had questions and made the situation very comfortable for us.”
- “All the nurses were wonderful, so kind and caring. I will never forget what a wonderful job.”
- “Staff are always patient and take the time to listen and assure the patient that situations will be taken care of.”
- “I don’t know one thing hospice could have done better. My family was 100% satisfied with hospice.I could not have cared for my wife for these last 3 months without them.”
Holzer Hospice Services
Because we subscribe to the Holzer Difference, we go the extra mile for all of our hospice families. Our dedicated staff believes in the hospice philosophy and makes every effort to treat our patients and families as we would like our own treated in their time of need.
At Holzer Hospice, our services include:
- Regular consultations with attending physicians and the hospice medical director in order to ensure each patient with quality, comfort care.
- Evaluation by registered nurses for pain and symptom management.
- Home Health Aides provide personal care, homemaker services, and respite for the caregiver.
- Licensed Social Workers provide assistance with emotional support, counseling, and assistance with community resources.
- Trained volunteers assist with errands, household tasks, companionship for patient or caregiver, and/or respite for the caregiver.
- Bereavement or aftercare services to provide emotional support and grief education for families up to 13 months after being bereaved.
- Spiritual support provided by our hospice Chaplain and volunteers.
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