Hospice of Northeast Missouri

Philosophy:

Hospice affirms life. It is focused on the quality of life, not the quantity. Hospice exists to provide support and care for persons in the last phase of a terminal disease so that they might live fully and as comfortably as possible. Hospice teaches a new attitude toward dying and death. Death is a natural part of life, and it is the goal of hospice to guide people to accept death and make the most of the time during which the person is ill.

Hospice is the alternative choice for dealing with a terminal illness such as cancer. It is up to the patient and patient’s family to decide if they want to pursue treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation or if they want to receive hospice’s services (see hospice services below).

Hospice is sometimes viewed by people as “giving up.” This is a common misconception held by those who do not fully understand the philosophy behind hospice. Rather than “giving up,” hospice is a way to end life in a peaceful, pain free, and dignified way. It provides the patient with the opportunity to come to terms with life and death, to make amends with issues or struggles in their lives, and to have complicated spiritual questions answered by professionals. Hospice allows the last stage of life to be fully enjoyed.

Hospice does not accelerate death, and it does not postpone death. However, one of the roles of hospice is to provide palliative care, which means that the patient will be pain free while under hospice’s care. Care to each patient will be holistic – supporting the body, soul, and spirit – and it will be patient-centered, family-oriented and coordinated. Hospice exists in the hope and belief that, through care and the promotion of a caring community sensitive to their needs, patients and families may be free to attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is satisfactory to them.

Mission:

The mission of Hospice of Northeast Missouri is to provide compassionate physical, spiritual, and emotional end-of-life care to the terminally ill throughout northeast Missouri, and support to their families and friends sharing this part of life’s journey.

Hospice Services:

Hospice of Northeast Missouri provides care that is focused on comfort, not curing. Hospice care is performed by a team of professionals that coordinate a plan of care designed to meet your individual needs. We support the family or primary caregiver by providing care in the patient’s home, whether that is their own home or a nursing facility.

The hospice team includes:

Your personal physician – this is a physician of the patient’s choice who will continue to manage your care.

Hospice medical director – serves as an advisor to the hospice team, with expertise in symptom control, and offers consultation to the medical community.

Hospice nurses – licensed nurses make scheduled visits throughout the week, providing assessment on a frequent basis. Available 24 hours-a- day, 7 days-a-week for crisis or concerns. Also provide education to the caregivers.

Hospice aide – provides bathing assistance and/or light housekeeping duties.

Hospice social worker – assists in developing Advanced Health Care Directives, planning final arrangements, as well as providing counseling for the family in need.

Hospice chaplain – provides spiritual support and care for the family in need.

Hospice volunteers – offer respite for the family, a friendly smile, and an unhurried conversation.

Hospice bereavement team – provides counseling for the family up to one year after the death of the patient.

Hospice care also provides: medications that are needed to provide pain relief and control of symptoms; medical supplies and equipment such as depends, wound care supplies, wheelchairs, walkers and hospital beds; short term care in a facility for respite care or unmanageable symptoms; and short term continuous care during periods of crisis or special need.

Service Area:

Hospice of Northeast Missouri provides hospice services in the counties of: Adair, Knox, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan, Macon, and parts of Lewis, Linn, and Shelby counties.

Paying for Hospice:

Hospice care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans. Hospice of Northeast Missouri is a Medicare/Medicaid certified provider. Medicare and Medicaid pay for 100% of hospice services. Private insurance plans all differ in what percentage of hospice care they will pay. Hospice of Northeast Missouri will not turn away anyone regardless of their ability to pay for services. If you do not have insurance Hospice of Northeast Missouri accepts any payment for services regardless whether the bill is paid in full.

Contact information:

Hospice of Northeast Missouri
201 S. Baltimore, Suite C.
Kirksville, MO 63501
Ph. 660-627-9711 or toll free 888-627-9711 or Fax 660-627-7005
E-mail: hospiceofnm@cableone.net

Office hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Our phones are answered 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week.

For more information check out the Hospice of Northeast Missouri website:
http://hospiceofnortheastmissouri.org/
Here you can view more detailed information about paying for hospice, look at the frequently asked questions (FAQ), meet the staff, learn about volunteering and fundraising opportunities, and see what Hospice of Northeast Missouri can do for the counties it serves.

To learn more about hospice and palliative care please visit these sites:

https://www.hospicefoundation.org/
http://www.hospicenet.org/
http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm
http://www.americanhospice.org/index.php
http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Hospice

Everyone deserves a happy ending. Bring hospice home.

References:

(2008). You deserve our best, because you matter the most. Hospice of northeast Missouri. Retrieved September 3, 2008, from http://hospiceofnortheastmissouri.org/.