Hospice
Hospice is a philosophy that focuses on providing expert care to people who are in the last stages of a life-limiting condition so patients and their families can focus on quality of life and what matters most, rather than the limitations of the disease. The goal of hospice care is to provide the best quality of life possible, through physical, spiritual, and emotional support that respects the patient’s wishes and ensures peace.
CHI Mercy Health Hospice is honored to offer hospice services that provide compassionate care for patients and their families – no matter where they call home.
We provide hospice services wherever people with life-limiting illness reside and could benefit from our care, including:
- Patients’ homes
- Dedicated inpatient hospice units or hospice care facilities
- Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living communities and residential care facilities
Transitioning to Hospice Care
Hospice care is available for patients experiencing a life-limiting illness. We partner with hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies and community-based organizations such as churches and associations to address the fears, myths, and high costs so often associated with a life-limiting illness. By approaching care from this perspective, we can effectively manage the needs of our patients and their families through transitions from hospital to home, from curative treatment to palliative comfort measures and from chronic needs to advanced care.
Once a patient or their loved ones have decided to elect hospice care, our team works with the patient and his or her physician and family members to create an individualized plan for their care. This may include:
- Pain and symptom management
- Nursing care
- Coordinating medical supplies, medications, and equipment
- Emotional and psychological support for the patient and their loved ones throughout the dying and grief process
Hospice services are available to patients and their loved ones 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our professional, dedicated staff is specially trained to work with hospice patients and family members to provide the critical, around the clock care they may need.
Hospice with CHI Mercy Health
Offering comfort, dignity, and quality care to individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses is what we do. We offer many specialized services designed to improve the quality of life for our patients.
We are dedicated to each patient’s loved ones and family and strive to create a sense of community and comfort through compassionate care that extends to their spiritual needs, bereavement counseling, and ongoing grief support.
Some of our many services include:
Our skilled team of hospice nurses care for patients as they transition through their life-limiting illness. Through coordinated care, our nursing team can help manage symptoms and pain to ensure the best quality of life possible.
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Registered Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
Our Chaplains provide care to patients and families to support their religious and/or spiritual beliefs. The Chaplain serves as an integral part of the interdisciplinary hospice team, providing opportunities for life review, reflection, resolution and connection with sources of meaning and hope. Our Chaplains also serve as a liaison with local clergy and assist patients and families in making sure their wishes are fulfilled through planning, preparation and facilitation.
Our hospice Social Workers support patients and family members by coordinating with physicians and caregivers to improve access to community resources that can enhance the social, emotional, functional, and physical health of our patients. In addition to the support services provided to our patients, our Social Workers also assist with end of life planning and grief support that meets the needs of the entire family system.
Our Home Health Aides provide assistance with personal care needs such as bathing, dressing, preparation of meals and feeding, as well as light housekeeping and socialization. The care they provide is under the direction of the Registered Nurse in coordination with the patient and their physician.
Volunteers are vital to the mission of Hospice, reflecting the compassionate spirit of our ministry through office work, community support, visiting patients who are being served by our hospice team and supporting their families.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hospice
At times like these, patients and their families are faced with many decisions and challenges. Navigating end-of-life care can be extremely emotional and sometimes confusing. Part of the mission at CHI Mercy Health Hospice is to help patients and loved ones answer questions, find solutions and develop a care plan that preserves comfort and dignity.
While everyone’s situation is unique, the information below should answer many questions about entering hospice. Have more questions? Please contact us to speak with one of our hospice team members.
Patients eligible for hospice receive intermittent care from our experienced hospice team, wherever they call home. Our clinical team will assess, monitor, and manage a patient’s pain, treat symptoms, and educate loved ones to assist the patient’s care plan.
Patients must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for hospice. We will work with you and your physician to determine eligibility.
Hospice patients are those whose physicians have certified that their illness is terminal with a life expectancy of six months or less. Patients must be under a physician’s care and admission to the program requires a physician’s order. Eligible diagnoses include, but are not limited to:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Liver disorders
- Lung disease
- Kidney disease
- Neurological diseases (i.e. Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s, dementia)
- Respiratory disorders
- Stroke or coma
Hospice is a benefit that is 100% covered for eligible patients under Medicare, most state Medicaid plans, and many private insurance plans. Our hospice team members will determine a patient’s benefit coverage, as well as identify any potential out-of-pocket costs.
A registered nurse will make the first hospice visit and determine the medical, spiritual, and psychosocial needs of the patient and their family. During this first visit, the nurse will determine the appropriate level of hospice care for the patient in order to meet their needs and individualize a plan of care. Services will be discussed, medications will be reviewed, equipment ordered if necessary, conversations with the physician will occur, and consents for care obtained, all prior to initiating regular hospice care for our patients.
Typically, a nurse will visit the patient one to three times per week as the core hospice team member. The nurse will individualize a plan of care to meet the patient’s needs and determine the type and frequency of the other members of the hospice team. Each experience will be unique to the patient’s needs and plan of care.
No, a patient does not have to be homebound to be admitted to hospice. Our hospice teams help patients to be as active as their condition permits.
No. Hospice is about living. Our hospice team strives to bring quality of life and comfort to every patient. Our goal is to help patients and their family live fully, until the end. Hospice is an experience of care and support, different from any other type of care available.
Seeing a loved one through the end of life can be difficult, and people process grief in different ways. Just as we are committed to our patients, we are committed to their families. As part of our plan of care, we offer bereavement support for up to 13 months after a loved one has passed.
Make A Difference
Donate to Hospice
Donations to our hospice services allow us to provide care to those without insurance coverage or those who require extended care. Your generous contribution also helps fund our volunteer program and develop bereavement and counseling programs to help parents, spouses, children, other family members and friends cope with the loss of a loved one.
Donations can be made in memory or in honor of a special individual or group here Mercy Foundation Donation.
Become a Hospice Volunteer
Hospice volunteers give the gift of themselves by providing support to patients and family members in a myriad of ways. Most of a volunteer’s time involves direct patient support. From providing companionship for the patient, to respite care for family members and vigil programs during the last hours of life, our volunteers give from the heart and touch the lives of others in extraordinary ways.
Many of our volunteers have experienced hospice care through the care a loved one received. With the knowledge of this unique and compassionate act, many people are inspired to give back. Upon joining the CHI Mercy Health hospice team, all volunteers go through a detailed orientation to fully realize our mission and cultivate the range of skills needed to help patients and families.
Our hospice team makes a difference in so many lives. To join us as a Hospice volunteer, please contact 541.677.2384.
Every Life Has A Story
Before this holiday season, Mercy Hospice invites you, your family and friends to join us—across town, across state lines, or even around the world—as we pause and commemorate our loved ones in this Virtual Life Celebration. There will be inspirational encouragement, reflective thoughts and music as we gather for this special occasion and honor those who have marked our lives. Please join us here November 17th as the Celebration of Life virtual memorial is presented.
2022 Celebration of Life:
Celebration of Life Video Stream Event
November 17, 2022 @ 6 p.m. PST