Home Care
Most
of our patients are able to live out their lives in their own homes. We help
them make the most of the time remaining to them by easing pain and other
symptoms and assisting with personal care. We excel in keeping patients
comfortable.
We
also support our patients’ families in every way possible, whether it be
physical relief, emotional or spiritual support, or simply helping with chores.
Hospice of Lansing’s
Stoneleigh Residence
Should
the time come when it is no longer possible for a patient to live at home, our Stoneleigh
Residence provides a comfortable, home-like alternative.
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Care in other locations
Hospice
of
Grief Support
We
offer ongoing bereavement care for the patient’s family and friends for
13 months after their loss, including grief recovery education, support groups,
referrals, resources, and memorial services.
Grief
support groups are ongoing and are open to all community members free of
charge.
Emotional and spiritual support
Hospice
of
Volunteer support
Our
volunteers provide invaluable relief for patients and their families. Each
patient care volunteer is trained by Hospice of Lansing or Ionia Area Hospice
to offer a listening ear or a helping hand—whether it be running an
errand or simply being there.
Speakers Bureau
Hospice
of Lansing and Ionia Area Hospice staff are available for presentations on
hospice care and end-of-life issues to area community groups, including
schools, service clubs, religious organizations and employers.
We
offer free programs on topics such as:
- “It’s about how you
LIVE,” a national community engagement campaign encouraging
consumers to make informed decisions about end-of-life care and
services.
- Hospice 101, a program designed
to help people understand what hospice is, who pays for hospice, what
hospice offers to families, and to have an opportunity to ask questions
- How to talk to someone who is
dying
- Or we are happy to design a
program to fit the needs of attendees
Frequently asked questions
When is the right time to ask about hospice?
Now
is the best time to learn more about hospice and ask questions about what to
expect from hospice services. Although end-of-life care may be difficult to
discuss, it is best for family members to share their wishes long before they
become a concern. This can greatly reduce stress when the time for hospice is
needed. By having these discussions in advance, patients are not forced into
uncomfortable situations. Instead, patients can make an educated decision that
includes the advice and input of family members and loved ones.
How does hospice care begin?
Anyone can make a referral to Hospice of Lansing and Ionia Area Hospice by calling (877)822-4500. Typically, hospice care starts when a formal request or an ‘order’ is given by the patient's doctor. Often a hospice program representative will visit the patient within 24 hours, providing the visit meets the needs and schedule of the patient's family or primary caregiver. In urgent situations, hospice services may begin sooner. The patient's doctor and the hospice medical director must concur that the patient is eligible for hospice care. Then the patient or the patient's designated representative sign an agreement that they understand the goals of hospice and choose to become a patient of Hospice of Lansing and Ionia Area Hospice. There are typically no costs for hospice care as it is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans. The only costs to the patient and family are items unrealted to the hospice diagnosis. Hospice care includes physician oversight, mursing, social work, home health aides, volunteers, spiritual care and grief support as part of the hospice benefit. There is a daily cost for room and board at the Stoneleigh Residence.
Will I be the only hospice patient that the hospice staff
serves?
Typically,
full-time registered nurses provide care to about a dozen different families
when patients are living at home. Social workers usually work with about twice
the number of patients/families as nurses. If needed, home health aides, who
provide personal care to the patient, will visit most frequently.
All
visits, however, are based on the patient and family needs as described in the
care plan and the condition of the patient during the course of illness. The
frequency of volunteers and spiritual care is often dependent upon the family
request and the availability of these services. Travel requirements and other
factors may cause some variation in how many patients each hospice staff
serves.
Our
Hospice Residence has a full-time staff, and professional care is available
24/7, including holidays.
Is hospice available after hours?
Nursing
and support services are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
How does the hospice work to keep the patient comfortable?
Many
patients may have pain and other serious symptoms as illness progresses. Our
Hospice staff has received special training to care for all types of physical
and emotional symptoms that cause pain, discomfort and distress. Because
keeping the patient comfortable and pain-free is an important part of hospice
care, we have developed ways to measure how comfortable the patient is during
the course of their stay in hospice. Our Hospice staff works with the
patient’s physician to make sure that medication, therapies, and
procedures are designed to achieve the goals outlined in the patient’s
care plan. The care plan is reviewed frequently to make sure any changes and
new goals are in the plan.
What role does the hospice volunteer serve?
Hospice
volunteers are generally available to provide different types of support to
patients and their loved ones including running errands, preparing light meals,
staying with a patient to give family members a break, and lending emotional
support and companionship to patients and family members. Volunteers also help
the Hospice in many other ways.
Can I be cared for by hospice if I reside in a nursing
facility or other type of long-term care facility?
Hospice
services can be provided to a terminally ill person wherever they live. This
means a patient living in a nursing facility or long-term care facility can
receive specialized visits from our hospice nurses, home health aides, social
workers, volunteers, etc. in addition to other care and services provided by
the nursing facility.
What happens if I cannot stay at home due to my increasing
care need and require a different place to stay during my final phase of life?
Hospice
at
Do state and federal reviewers inspect and evaluate
hospices?
Yes.
There are state licensure requirements that we must meet in order to deliver
care. In addition, we must comply with federal regulations in order to be
approved for reimbursement under Medicare and medicaid. We periodically undergo
inspection to be sure we are meeting regulatory standards in order to maintain
our license to operate this qualifies Hospice of Lansing and
