Bell County Senior Expo 2017

Bell County Senior Expo, Mardi Gras 2017 • Sept. 26, 2017 31
Kindred Hospice - There for you in a time of need
By Heather Regula
Hospice is specialized care
for those dealing with an
illness that is unlikely to be
cured.
“Hospice isn’t a place -
it’s a philosophy of care.
Whether care is desired in
the home a patient has lived
in for years, a skilled nursing
center or an assisted
living facility, we tailor our
caregiving to fit the unique
needs of the patient and the
family,” explained Kandice
Acosta, RN, Executive Director
of Kindred Hospice.
Support is offered to the
caregiver and family during
the illness, and grief support
is provided after the
death. Patients with a documented
life-limiting diagnosis
(six months or less)
by a certified doctor, and
who are choosing to receive
palliative care are eligible
for hospice care. Palliative
care focuses on maintaining
or improving the quality
of life while relieving the
stress and pain associated
with an acute illness.
“We work with patients
and families to provide
comfort and preserve dignity
in the face of terminal
illness. Our goal is to allow
our patients to live every
one of their days to the fullest,”
said Acosta. “The experience
of a person diagnosed
with cancer or heart
disease is very different
than that of an Alzheimer’s
patient or someone with a
pulmonary condition. We
tailor our clinical care and
our support services to
meet the unique symptoms,
social, and emotional needs
that can accompany each
specific diagnosis.”
Kindred Hospice, originally
known as Family
Hospice, started in Temple
25 years ago. The dedicated
team of social workers,
nurses, physicians, home
health aides, chaplains, bereavement
specialists, and
volunteers now offer services
within a 70-mile radius
of Temple.
“Our team members truly
believe that hospice is
a calling, and we strive to
serve those in need with
the highest standards,” said
Acosta. “Our ultimate goal
is to help patients remain
at home, and in their communities,
surrounded by
friends and family, while
receiving the highest-quality,
most compassionate
home-based care possible.”
They are also proud members
of We Honor Veterans,
a program of the National
Hospice and Palliative
Care Organization and
the Veterans Administration,
which is designed to
empower hospice professionals
to meet the unique
needs of terminally ill veterans.
Anyone wanting to speak
with a registered nurse
about how Kindred Hospice
can help can call
1-866-Kindred or visit
www.kindredhealthcare.
com/our-services/hospice.
Are you struggling to
care for your loved one?
We can help.
Few things are more stressful than trying to take care of a loved one. Our compassionate
care is clinically advanced, bringing you a team of highly trained professionals who work to help meet your
family’s needs.
• 24/7 availability, nurse on call
• Medical equipment covered and delivered
• Prescriptions related to hospice illness
covered
• Incontinence and other supplies covered
If you’re struggling with a loved one’s care,
call today, and see if hospice is the answer.
254.742.2000
Formerly Gentiva Hospice
www.kindredhospice.com
We accept patients for care regardless of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, being a qualified disabled veteran, being a qualified disabled veteran of the Vietnam era, or any other category protected by law, or decisions regarding advance directives. © 2016 Kindred at Home CSR 188176-01