Different from traditional medical care, Hospice is an organization that focuses on comfort and quality of life where cure is no longer an option. Hospice is not an agency one calls when an individual is “about to die”. There is a huge difference between someone who has a few days to live and someone who is “Living” with a terminal illness. Hospice is all about the living part. Helping the patient to feel pain free, live independently, and feel as good as possible. We are not about the absence of hope. If at anytime a person wishes to be aggressive with their medical care, they can sign out of the program and sign back in if they need us again. Hospice provides the help and support for patients to live their final days with peace and dignity in the comfort of their own home or care facility. Hospice works through family and friends to help them cope with the end-of-life transition and stress of the impending loss. The emphasis is on CARE.

While you do ultimately need a physician referral to receive Hospice services in your home, you can call us directly and receive a free assessment from one of our nurses. We will come to your home at your convenience and explain the services one-on-one.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with a life limiting illness of six months or less qualifies for hospice care. Families may call Hospice directly and ask for a nurse to make a home visit to determine if a patient qualifies for services.

Medicare and most health insurance policies provide coverage for hospice care. However, in the absence of appropriate insurance coverage, no one is denied hospice services based on financial circumstances. Hospice services are truly available to all.

Hospice nurses and doctors keep up-to-date on the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. The Hospice medical staff works closely with a patient's personal physician and the Hospice Medical Director to coordinate care and maintain patient comfort. Hospice success in battling pain is very high. Using some combination of medications and counseling and therapies, most patients can attain a level of comfort that is acceptable to them while still maintaining an acceptable level of alertness.

Direct Care is the phrase used to describe services provided for patients by hospice medical staff and volunteers which relates directly to the patient's care and comfort. Hospice also provides many other services for the patient and family from their Interdisciplinary Team of experts including social work, spiritual care, and bereavement services.

Certainly. If improvement in a condition occurs and the disease seems to be in remission, the patent can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about his or her daily life.

Bereavement services are available for families of patients of Mountain Hospice, beginning with the initial admission of a patient, to provide help and support as loved ones begin to deal with an impending loss. Counseling services and support groups are also available following a loss.

Admission can be initiated by a family doctor and/or the family members may contact Mountain Hospice directly at 1-888-763-7789 to discuss admission. Hospice will follow- up with the necessary procedures.

Mountain Hospice provides speakers as a service to clubs, churches, and other organizations to tell the hospice story and/or to address topics of special interest to various groups. Arrangements can be made by contacting Shannon Gear, Director of Development, at 1-888-763-7789, or she can be contacted directly via her e-mail at: sgear@mountainhospice.com.