The Voice of Southwest Louisiana January 2019 Issue

Matthew 11:28 NIV – “Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
conducted in a facility. Under palliative
care, a patient can receive curative
treatment as well. Imminent death is
not a requirement for palliative care;
however, this type of health care is
given to patients with poor prognoses
who generally are experiencing a lot of
pain. Hospice care on the other hand,
can be provided in a facility, but is
usually performed at home. This care is
reserved for the patient with a terminal
illness with a life expectancy of six
months or less. Under hospice care, a
team of healthcare providers will work
together to provide the care necessary
for your loved ones as they transition
through this period of life. They will
alleviate their pain and address all
your concerns as the dying process
transpires. Note that there are some
hospice programs that may provide
life-sustaining treatment and there are
palliative care programs that provide
end-of-life-care as well.
An interview with my aunt Deborah
Maldonaldo provided insight on the
true meaning of being a caregiver,
needing rest and the value of palliative
and hospice care. When asked if she
could have managed caring for her
mother without hospice, she answered,
Every time I think about putting
mama’s experience with Asera Care
(hospice agency) into words, it’s like
my mind starts going to how she
starved to death the last few days.
It was so hard. But let me stick to the
questions. First, there is no way in the
world I could have done it without
them. They gave me everything I
needed without any out of pocket
expense. Mama had Medicare and
Medicaid so everything was covered.
They sent me relief daily and all the
pain medicine by the jugs. All the
pads, diapers and their kind words
were the most. They continued to
applaud my service to my mom and
were truly angels. I could go on and
on but that’s all I can say without
repeating how great this company was.
The first company was horrible. Some
of them had no compassion. I had to
terminate their services. What I would
like for people to know is that they are
not stuck with one particular hospice
program and if they are not satisfied,
they can ask their provider to switch to
another place.
Respite care will give you opportunity
for rest. As a new year’s tradition, many
of us make resolutions and develop
goals with the hope of becoming a
better version of ourselves. For those
who are caregivers for loved ones, I
encourage you to take time to take
care of yourself. Make this a top priority
for this year. Respite care is unique
in that serious or terminal illness is
not a requirement to receive their
services. If you have or care for a family
member with disabilities or physical
challenges who are unable to care for
themselves, you would qualify for the
services. Your loved ones may require
skilled healthcare and leaving them
with someone untrained to deliver this
care would place them in an unsafe
environment. Respite care can be
utilized in this instance. Simply, it is
designed to give you a break. Respite
care can be provided at home or in
a facility. The breaks can range from
hours to weeks. It is not designed
for extended care but for that small
duration of time you need to rejuvenate
and take care of you. They will stand in
your place and provide all the services
you provide including bathing, dressing
and cleaning. Usually, these services
are not covered by insurance but are
generally reasonably priced. Some
hospice programs provide respite care.
If interested, contact your primary care
provider or a hospice facility near you.
In summary, if you are unsure
which program to acquire, discuss
the options with your loved one’s
(or your) primary care provider to
determine which program best meets
your needs. Most insurance carriers
cover both palliative and hospice
programs. There may be some out-ofpocket
expenses or none at all. Contact
your insurance’s customer service
department for detailed information
including cost, covered services and
in-network providers. Please do not
do this alone. The end-of-life process
should be peaceful for the patient and
the caregiver too.
Volume 6 • Number 6 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM January 2019 17