OUR SERVICES
HOSPICE CARE
TRANSITIONS CARE
BEREAVEMENT SERVICES
HOME CARE SERVICES

Hospice Care
Hospice & Home Care of Alexander County, Inc. is available to residents of Alexander and surrounding counties who have a limited life expectancy due to any medical condition. It is important to call Hospice early in an illness so that a relationship may be developed with the family and the patient can benefit from the full range of services. The patient, their physician, a family member, or a friend may call the office to request hospice services. The Hospice staff will then consult the patient's physician regarding the patient's eligibility for hospice care. If you are a resident of Alexander County, be sure to ask for referral to Hospice & Home Care of Alexander County, Inc. to ensure optimal quantity of care as well as quality.

Hospice & Home Care of Alexander County, Inc. provides hospice care wherever a patient calls home...in a private residence, assisted living facility or skilled nursing center. Hospice is not a place...it is a philosophy of care that takes place wherever the need exists...usually in the patient's home. Given the choice, most people facing a terminal illness prefer to receive end of life care in the comfort of their own home.

While the majority of hospice care is provided in the home, there are times when a patient needs a level of intense care and monitoring for pain or symptom control only available in an inpatient settiing. For these instances, Hospice & Home Care of Alexander County, Inc. provides several options for inpatient care. Although Hospice & Home Care of Alexander County, Inc. does not currently have an inpatient facility, there are contracted relationships with other facilities to provide inpatient care when needed.

The Hospice interdisciplinary team consists of the Hospice medical director, nurses, social workers, hospice aides, the chaplain, volunteer coordinator and volunteers. The Hospice team works together to develop a plan of care for each patient.

Services provided by the Hospice team include:
REGISTERED NURSE (24 hour on-call service) • Hospice nurses are experts in pain and symptom control. They provide in-home assessments and education about the illness to maximize the patient's comfort. The hospice nurse evaluates the patient's physical status and works with the patient's physician to manage symptoms and control pain.

SOCIAL WORKER • A Hospice social worker provides counseling to the patient and family and helps patients access insurance benefits and community resources.

BREAVEMENT COUNSELOR • A Hospice bereavement counselor provides bereavement support to family members of a hospice patient prior to and 13 months following their death, as well as to anyone dealing with a loss (whether or not their loved one was served by Hospice of Alexander).

GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SCHOOLS • Grief support services for the schools is a collaborative effort with the Alexander County school system to offer additional resources to the counselors and principals in each school.
A Hospice Medical Social Worker works closely with the counselors to offer support and special counseling to identified children who are working through grief and the loss of a loved one. The counseling is provided in small groups with the counselors and/or individually with children.

TRAINED VOLUNTEERS • Hospice volunteers provide respite and emotional support for patients and families during the illness and bereavement period. Volunteers also assist with light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, shopping and errands.

HOSPICE AIDES assist with personal care.

CHAPLAIN provide spiritual support as needed.

EDUCATION on death and dying.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT • Medical equipment such as, but not limited to, hospital beds, wheelchairs and oxygen are provided for patients as needed.

WHO PAYS FOR HOSPICE SERVICES?
As a nonprofit agency, Hospice services are provided for all eligible persons, without discrimination, regardless of their ability to pay. The Hospice Medicare Benefit provides comprehensive coverage for services related to a life-limiting illness. Most charges are covered 100% for the patient, including medications for symptom control and medical equipment. Medicaid and most private health insurance plans provide coverage for hospice care.

For more information or to access Hospice Care, contact Hospice & Home Care of Alexander County, Inc. at 828.632.5026.