What is Hospice?

Hospice is designed to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the terminally ill, while providing support to their family and significant others. Hospice provides care in the home and to residents of extended care facilities. The goal of Johnson County Hospice is to provide comfort by assisting with pain and symptom management to enhance the quality of life for both the client and family. In addition, the hospice program provides grief support to the family for one year following their loved one's death.

Care is provided by a credentialed and professionally trained team of Nurses, Physician, Medical Directors, Nurses Aide, Social Worker, Chaplain, and Volunteers.

Hospice is a concept of care which recognizes that the entire family is affected by one person's illness. Hospice provides support and care for the terminally ill so they and their families can live as fully and comfortably as possible.

What is the Admission Criteria?

  • Client has a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness and life expectancy of six months or less if the disease runs its expected course, as determined by the attending physician.
  • Client is seeking comfort measures, rather than curative treatment.
  • The client, family and physician understand that artificial, life-prolonging procedures are not consistent with the hospice philosophy.
  • Admission to hospice is approved by the attending physician and medical director.
  • A competent caregiver is available to assume responsibility when the client can no longer meet their own personal needs, or long term care plans are in place.
  • Client lives in covered service area.

Who Pays For Hospice care?

Your insurance may provide complete or partial payment. The hospice team will explain your coverage and will bill your insurance directly. We accept:

  • Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Private Insurance
  • Self-pay

The Hospice Team

Physician and Nursing Care

Our physician directed care is coordinated by a hospice registered nurse and includes nursing visits for pain and symptom management. The staff will provide support and training for the family and caregiver. We are on-call 24 hours a day. There is also the option of having nursing support in the home at time of death. Therapy services will be provided as needed.

Certified Nurses Aides ...
assist with personal care and housekeeping chores for the patient.

Medical Social Worker ...
will help you and your family members to understand and cope with your situation and loss issues. We will also provide community resources and individual and family counseling as needed.

Spiritual Care
Our chaplain will assess your needs and offer spiritual support to both the patient and family members. We will also coordinate the care between the family's clergy and hospice.

Hospice Volunteers ...
can provide relief to the caregiver, companionship to patient and family members, run errands, and perform chores.

Bereavement
A 12-month follow-up grief education and support for family members is provided which includes bereavement visits, access to grief support groups, and a remembrance program.

 
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