Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Spring 2019

citizensmemorial.com 15 If you or someone you love has a life-limiting illness, you may want to consider using hospice care for the months or weeks ahead. Hospice isn’t typically a place for care—it’s a type of care for people who are terminally ill. It focuses on comfort and medical and emotional support for both the patient and their family. Hospice care can be delivered at home or in a facility such as a nursing home. Members of the hospice care team—including doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and others—develop a plan to help control the patient’s symptoms and manage their pain. THOSE SERVICES MAY INCLUDE: » » Providing medications, medical supplies and equipment. » » Making short-term hospital care available if pain or symptoms can’t be cared for in the patient’s home. HOSPICE CARE Compassionate care at the end of life » » Helping the patient and family with the emotional and spiritual aspects of dying. » » Providing grief counseling to family and friends. Hospice team members regularly visit the patient to provide services, and hospice staff are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. WHO PAYS FOR HOSPICE? Hospice may be covered by Medicare and private insurance. Check with your insurance plan to see if you’re covered. And talk with your doctor if you’re interested in learning more about hospice services. Sources: Administration on Aging; National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization; National Institute on Aging WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROMYOU To learn about our hospice services at CMH, call 417-326-3585 or visit citizensmemorial.com .