Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service (Hospice & Palliative Care)

• Eligibility

Hospice services are available for individuals who have been diagnosed with any life-limiting illness and have a prognosis of six months or less if the disease runs its normal course. It is not uncommon for Hospice patients to live longer. In that event, they can be recertified for additional services.

Many people have the misconception that Hospice is primarily for cancer patients. That is not correct. Hospice services are for any patient with any life-limiting illness (such as kidney, heart, lung, liver and neurological diseases).

Many patients and families consider Hospice care when:

• Comfort-oriented care to improve the quality of life is most important
• Life is measured in weeks or months rather than years
• Curative treatment is not an alternative or is no longer desired

Families often feel it is too soon to begin hospice care and wait until death is near to call. But patients and their families benefit more if they begin hospice earlier – during the final weeks or months of life – while the issues of advance directives, spiritual concerns and psychosocial or financial issues can be addressed by the hospice professional staff.

Facing a life-limiting illness is never easy. Choosing hospice will make the journey easier and the transition to end of life a better one.

Talk with your physician about hospice or call Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service at 330-665-1455 or 1-800-335-1455. Referrals can be made by patients, families and friends, physicians, clergy or other health professionals. A Hospice nurse or social worker will schedule an initial visit with the patient and family to discuss the Hospice program and eligibility.