Hope Hospice
Hope is a full service Hospice care provider servicing Shelby County. We are committed to providing compassionate care to our patients and families. We believe that each individual should be granted the opportunity to die in a dignified and comfortable manner. Our focus is to enable our patients to live as fully and comfortably as possible while providing spiritual and palliative care through God’s grace.
Hospice Care
Hospice care focuses on quality of life when a cure is no longer possible, or the burdens of treatment outweigh the benefits. Hospice care is not just for cancer or for older people; it is for any serious illness at any age. Hospice care is an interdisciplinary team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s and family/caregiver’s wishes and needs.
Hospices care for people where they live. Although some hospice care is provided in hospitals, in-hospice facilities or nursing homes, most patients are cared for in the place they call home, which is where most people would prefer to be.
Hospice care is provided by a team that works together focusing on the patient’s needs whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. The goal is to keep the patient as pain-free as possible, with the loved ones nearby.
Your Hope Hospice Team
Hope offers a trained team of professionals and volunteers to help work through the physical, psychological, social and spiritual issues of death for the comfort of the patient and family.
Your hospice team includes:
Patient and Caregiver
The patient and caregiver are part of the team. Hope listens and incorporates the patient and family/caregiver's wishes and needs.
Physician
Often, people choose to have their primary doctor involved in medical care. Both the primary doctor and the hospice medical director may work together to coordinate the patient’s medical care, especially when symptoms are difficult to manage.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse
- The nurse manages your care and works with your doctor to develop your plan of care.
- Works with you and your family to relieve pain and other symptoms.
- Teaches you and your family about your disease and what to expect.
- Teaches you about medicines and ways to increase comfort.
- Stays in contact with your doctor and follows your doctor’s orders.
Hospice Aide
If you need help with your personal care your nurse will assign you a Hospice Aide. They are specially trained to help provide you with:
- Bathing, shaving, skin and mouth care
- Grooming
- Dressing
- Feeding
Social Worker
The Social Worker’s role is to assess the needs of patients, caregiver and family. Their focus is on how Unity can best serve you. They provide:
- Counseling and emotional support to you and your family about illness, death and grief.
- Information about community resources.
- Assist with Advanced Directives (such as a Living Will and Power of Attorney).
- Arrange nursing home or respite placements.
- Assist with funeral arrangements if needed.
- Assist individuals experiencing living arrangements and financial difficulties.
Rabbi
Spiritual care is offered to everyone, including those who are not affiliated with a congregation or who do not have a personal relationship with a rabbi. As the end of life approaches, there is often a greater need for spiritual or religious expression and with it a sense of purpose and feelings of warmth and security.
Chaplain
The Chaplain provides spiritual care to you and your family, respecting your spiritual, religious beliefs and traditions. Your Chaplain is an ordained minister.
Bereavement Counselor
Counseling staff are available to talk with patients and family members about the grief and loss you might be experiencing. Books and other reading materials can be brought to your home. Hospice has special bereavement services for children and teens.
Talk to a team member for more information about these services.
Volunteers
Volunteers can provide additional support to you and your caregiver. Volunteers are specially trained to provide companionship and assistance. They can offer your caregiver a chance to get out of the house.
Volunteers are assigned when available. Your nurse and social worker can tell you more about the many other ways volunteers can help you.
