Mercy Medical Center North Iowa | Life & Health | Fall 2018

When the end of life is near, hospice care can help terminally ill people live their remaining days with dignity, close to family and loved ones. Hospice services provide support to a person with a terminal illness who has less than six months to live. During this time, members of the hospice team work to keep the patient as pain-free, symptom-free and comfortable as possible. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a hospice team can include professionals and support members such as: ●   ● Physicians and nurses. ●   ● Social workers. ●   ● Counselors. ●   ● Clergy. ●   ● Home health aides. Help is available from the hospice team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in a person’s home, nursing home, assisted living or at a hospice residence. The team: ●   ● Supports the patient and family through the emotional and spiritual aspects of dying. ●   ● Sees to medical and nursing needs. ●   ● Provides day-to-day personal care, such as bathing and dressing. ●   ● Trains family members to help provide care for their loved one. ●   ● Provides inpatient care when pain or other symptoms can’t be safely managed at the patient’s home. ●   ● Offers counseling and support to family members before and after the death of their loved one. Who pays? Most private insurance plans offer at least some hospice care coverage. Medicare and Medicaid pay 100 percent of the hospice care related to the terminal diagnosis. And even if a person doesn’t have coverage, hospice may work with the family to ensure that care can be provided. Hospice of North Iowa will never turn anyone away due to inability to pay. Although hospice may be initiated when a person is not expected to live more than six months, care won’t end if the person lives beyond that time. It continues as long as the physician and hospice team certify that the person’s condition is life-limiting. Special support Hospice provides needed care for the end of life + TO LEARN ABOUT the hospice services we provide, call 866-858-7155 or visit hospicenorthiowa.com . 4 LIFE AND HEALTH