How Can Hospice Help You & Your Loved One?
Hospice is all about family and relationships.
Since Gunnison Valley Health Hospice & Palliative Care opened, we’ve helped hundreds of families through the final phase of a loved one’s life. These families include your neighbors down the street and members of the community. Today, as the only nonprofit hospice serving the Gunnison Valley, we care for patients in Gunnison, Crested Butte, Almont, Parlin, Pitkin, and Ohio City.
If you’re facing a serious diagnosis or illness, you may be anxious or confused about what to do next. Maybe you just want to know all of your options.
When Hospice Can Help
When is it appropriate to call Hospice? Many have no idea. Many know someone who had Hospice for just a few days or a week.
Patients can be in Hospice for weeks, months - the duration of many illnesses is impossible to predict. To receive a Hospice Medicare subsidy, one must have a prognosis of six months or less. However, every patient is different and often, prognosis has more to do with support and pain relief than anything else.
The duration of many illnesses is impossible to predict. To receive a Hospice Medicare subsidy, one must have a prognosis of six months or less. However, every patient is different and often, prognosis has more to do with support and pain relief than anything else.
Numerous studies have shown that patients live longer with a higher quality of life under Hospice care. Caregivers fare better when Hospice is involved earlier. We’d be happy to check with the doctor for you. Just call us. We are here for you.
Hospice Diagnosis
Hospice is for many different diagnosis. Hospice cares for anyone who has a disease that - if it were to run it's normal course the prognosis is 6 months. This means that we care for babies to grandparents and might include many different diagnosis.
For example:
- Heart Disease
- Lung Disease
- Stroke
- Kidney Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson's
- Cancer
Research shows that people who receive hospice services live an average of 29 days longer than those who do not.
What Does Hospice Provide?
Hospice is 100% covered by Medicare / Medicaid and most insurance providers. Hospice covers all visits made by the Hospice Team in addition to all DME, Oxygen, Medications (related to the terminal illness), Incontinence and Medical Supplies.
And thanks to the generous donations made by our community members, no one is ever turned away from our services due to an inability to pay.
We focus on COMFORT MEASURES – pain control, sleep, nausea, constipation etc. Because we focus on symptoms, we will not routinely do vital signs. We don’t treat numbers, but rather treat what the patient is feeling/experiencing.
24 Hour Telephone Access – for emergencies call us, NOT 911 – our goal is to avoid hospitalization at all costs.
The core team members (SN, MSW, Chaplain and Certified Nursing Assistants) will visit every patient as needed to maintain comfort and manage symptoms.
Nursing Visits: Usually start at 1-2 x week, up to daily if needed.
Certified Nursing Assistant Visits: Provide help with bathing and other activities of daily living.
Hospice is not here providing care 24 hours a day, but we do train family members in how to care for patients, particularly if the patient becomes bedbound – there are many things that we can teach you to help keep the patient comfortable at home and well-cared for. You will need to have family members or other caregivers who are willing and physically able to care for the patient.
We work hard to keep you where you want to be – If keeping you at home is most important, we can often do that as long as you are safe at home. We will also provide care to patients in the Senior Care Center.
Memorial donations made to Hospice support our mission and ongoing service within our community.
The Hospice Team
Who is the Hospice Team? And who comes to my home?
The hospice philosophy embraces the team approach. Hospice nurses are available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. We are always just a phone call away!
Your team consists of the following professional staff members:
- Your Primary Care Physician
- Hospice Medical Director
- Certified Nursing Assistants
- Social Workers
- Chaplains
- Therapists
- Nursing
- Hospice Trained Volunteers
The Grieving Process
Hospice doesn't just disappear upon death – we also help with the grieving process.
Losing a loved one is always difficult. And the grief doesn’t end when the funeral flowers have faded and everyone gone home.
Our bereavement counselor and trained volunteers stay in touch with Hospice families and provide compassionate support for at least 13 months.
We have several support groups, or if groups aren’t your thing, our social worker or volunteers will visit with you in your home
You are not alone. Call Hospice. We’ll be there for you!
We can help.
You may call us at
(970) 641-4254 for more information.
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