RETIREMENT - Otterbein

Hospice and you
One of the most difficult conversations I’ve ever had pertained to hospice and how it could
benefit the individual I was speaking with. As the conversation progressed and the angry response
began to subside, it became apparent to me that this individual had little knowledge of
hospice or palliative care. After assuring her that hospice could happen right in her apartment, a
cozy little room that had become her “home”, it was much easier to speak on the subject.
She, like so many others, thought that hospice meant leaving Otterbein Portage Valley and
moving to an in-patient facility. Her desire was to remain in her apartment surrounded by neighbors
who had become dear friends. As her health had declined, the Assisted Living staff had become
more involved in her care. She knew us and trusted us. Her biggest fear was leaving familiar
surroundings and entering another environment where she knew no one and no one knew
her.
Hospice care occurs wherever a person calls home. Hospice is not a “place” but is a special
concept of care focusing on maintaining comfort, providing support and pain relief for persons
with life-limiting health conditions and their families. If you wish to remain in your home, be it
one of our villa’s, apartments, assisted living or nursing center, we at Otterbein Portage Valley
will do our best to make that happen for you.
Hospice is open to people of all ages, including children, and to people who have different
medical conditions and is available to patients as long as the patient needs care. We have had
many of our residents on hospice services for over a year. The physician needs to certify that the
patient continues to meet the criteria for hospice care.
The cost of hospice care is generally covered under Medicare. The Medicare Hospice Benefit
covers the range of medical and supportive services- meaning psychological, emotional and
spiritual services that are deemed “reasonable and necessary” by Medicare for managing a person’s
illness. Most state Medicaid programs offer hospice coverage as do many private insurance
plans.
Many times the hospice provider will ask for a discontinuation of laboratory procedures
and medications that are not essential for the treatment of the particular disease. These requests
are usually for the comfort of their patient. Frequent blood draws are painful and often
traumatizing. Many medications can result in unpleasant side effects such as nausea or vomiting.
While hospice care neither prolongs life nor hastens death, there may be times when the cost of
chemotherapy or radiation treatments such as to reduce the size of a tumor or pain management
would be covered.
So how does hospice affect your relationship with us? We like to work together as a team
to provide care to you. They are extra eyes, hands, and hearts helping us to keep you comfortable
and safe. Hospice is able to provide a nursing assistant to help you with bathing, grooming,
and companionship. They have social workers and chaplains to help you with “tying up loose
ends.” Some hospice providers have music and art therapists or therapy animals. In addition to
our nurses, the hospice nurse visits once or twice each week to make sure you are comfortable
and your needs are being met. As I said, it is a collaborative effort to ensure your wishes at end
of life are met. We want you to return to your home from the hospital setting and remain there
as long as possible with hospice if that is your wish.
We have agreements with several hospice providers. If you would like more information
on them, feel free to contact myself or Becky Michaluk, LSW at 419 833-8937.