“Our hospice care five-star rating reflects the deep commitment of our hospice caregivers who have chosen this as their life’s work,” said Linda Atkinson, administrator, Winona Health Senior Services. “Our hospice caregivers understand that each patient has unique needs, wants and histories to honor and celebrate.”
What makes hospice care so important? We care for patients and their families during difficult times when support is needed most. Hospice care provides emotional support and advice to family members, helping them become confident caregivers and supporting them through their loved one’s final stages of life. We ensure therapies, treatments and pain management are centered on each patient’s needs, comfort, goals and wishes.
Sometimes, patients want to talk about death but worry it’ll make their family too upset. And the family would like to talk about it but they worry their loved one will think they’re ‘giving up on them’ if they bring it up. So, too often, important conversations are put off. Hospice nurses and social workers are skilled and comfortable in helping families have these conversations, ensuring they hear what is important to the patient. This helps ensure that things that need to be done, are done, and things that need to be said, are said.
It’s also important to know that hospice care doesn’t end when a patient dies. Support for the patient’s loved ones continues as they adjust to their loss.
Caregivers’ perspective In addition to medical staff, the hospice care team includes social workers and trained volunteers whose compassion, and often a previous experience with hospice care for a loved one, has compelled them to volunteer.
Nancy Bachler and Mary Kaye Perrin, both hospice volunteers with decades of experience, share that many families sign up for hospice in the final stages of their loved one’s illness. Once they experience the full range of hospice services and support, they often regret having waited so long. ‘I wish we had started hospice care sooner’ is a common comment from families receiving hospice care.
“Both Mary Kaye and I have been on the receiving end of hospice services with family members,” shared Bachler. “One of the reasons we volunteer is that we saw how meaningful and extensive their help was — one of the priorities of hospice is to give as much control to the patient and their family as possible.”
Perrin reflected, “Knowing how valuable hospice care was for my family makes it especially gratifying to help provide this kind of care. Hospice is about helping a patient and their loved ones get the most out of the time they have together. It truly enhances quality of life and peace of mind – both for the patient and their caregivers.”
Who can receive hospice care? Hospice care is for anyone facing a life-limiting illness, providing comfort, dignity, and support in life’s final stages. This includes individuals with dementia, heart, lung, liver, kidney disease, cancer, and other serious conditions. Hospice is here to help both patients and their loved ones.
Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance policies as well. Patients and their families have the right to access the hospice services they’re entitled to. Families benefit even more when hospice caregivers have a longer time to work with them.
Winona Health offers hospice care in a 25-mile radius of Winona. Over the years, our caregivers have brought comfort to thousands of community members, enriching their lives and allowing them to spend their final moments in the comfort of their own homes, with their loved ones.
For more information about hospice and advance care planning, please call Winona Health – Winona Area Hospice at 507-457-4468 or visit winonahealth.org/hospice.
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