November is National Hospice and Palliative Care month. Many often fear receiving hospice care means the end in near, however that is not the case. Hospice care helps patients shift goals and achieve new priorities with a team of caregivers, shares OSF HealthCare Manager Hospice Registered Nurse Amy Suydam:
“It is a Medicare program and is covered 100% under Medicare. What is does provide for you is you get the support from a team. That team includes a nurse, case manager that will develop a relationship with you and be there for you during this difficult time because it is a very hard decision to make, and then you also have your social worker, pastoral care, bereavement, and volunteer services. Also, CNA services, a lot of people want to stay in their home and that can also help them stay in their home by having all that support coming in, so it really looks at the whole person, not just the disease process of that person, but is supporting the whole family and patient along this journey.”
OSF Hospice is rated in the top 10 percent in the nation and has earned the Five Star award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is based on feedback from family caregivers.
