Services
Hospice Care
A Different Kind of Healthcare
When cure is no longer a possible outcome, hospice provides the kind of care most people say they want – care focused on comfort and quality of life. Some people think that hospice means you are “giving up” or “there’s nothing left for us to do”. We don’t give up – we just change the focus of the plan. The goal with hospice becomes care which emphasizes comfort and dignity, and we work diligently to aggressively manage pain and other symptoms. At Burke Hospice and Palliative Care (BHPC) we pride ourselves in being driven by our mission and have been providing compassionate care in Burke and surrounding counties for more than 35 years. Our goal is foremost that patients live out the remainder of their lives, regardless of timeframe, in a manner that is meaningful to them.
Adding Life to Your Days
Doctor’s visits. Specialists in distant cities. Waiting at the pharmacy. Late-night trips to the emergency room. Wouldn’t you rather stay at home?
Any person living with a life-limiting illness may be eligible for hospice care. Hospice services are not solely based upon a patient’s diagnosis, but prognosis as well. BHPC cares for patients with a variety of end-stage illnesses, which includes, but is not limited to:
Dementia
Heart disease
Pulmonary disease (COPD)
Renal disease
Cancer
Alzheimer’s
HIV
Stroke or coma
Liver disease
Referrals to hospice can be made by anyone—a hospital, family member, friend, nurse, physician or even a patient. Call us today at (828) 879-1601 and ask the operator for the Intake Coordinator.
Caring for the Whole Person
The hospice philosophy is to care for the whole person, meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and to meet the support needs of the family and loved ones as well. Once admitted to hospice, care is coordinated by the hospice team, in conjunction with your doctor, and services are offered based on ongoing team evaluations and are unique to each patient and family. Services include:
Medical Services - Hospice Medical Directors partner with your physician for oversight of care orders.
Nursing Services - Visits for evaluation and support are provided as needed by the patient and family. Services can be increased with special needs or during times of crisis.
On-Call Services - Hospice provides 24 hours/day, 7 days a week On-Call Services. Hospice team members are available to answer questions or provide visits as needed.
Social Workers - Visits and phone calls help with emotional support, caregiving support, financial/legal concerns, advance directives, organ and body donations and preparing for funeral/memorial services.
Medications - Medicines necessary for the terminal illness are paid for by Hospice.
Equipment & Supplies - Durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies necessary for the terminal illness and prescribed by the physician may be provided.
Nursing Assistants/Aides - May help with personal care needed by the patient, and light housekeeping.
Spiritual Care – Non-denominational chaplains are available to visit and provide spiritual support according to your needs.
Counselors – Bereavement staff are available to provide counseling to the patient and any family member, prior to death, as well as up to 13 months following the death. Our Grief & Loss program includes counseling, mailings, support groups and phone support.
Volunteers - Trained Volunteers are offered, if available, to provide companionship, emotional support, homemaking tasks, and other supportive services.
Therapies - Sometimes other therapies (physical, occupational and speech), when approved by Hospice, may be necessary in the palliation of the disease.
Medicare and Medicaid both cover hospice care. Most private insurance plans also have a hospice benefit. For those without coverage, Burke Hospice and Palliative Care offers a flexible billing policy, and no one is denied care because of inability to pay. For more information, call Burke Hospice and Palliative Care at (828) 879-1601 and ask the operator for the Intake Coordinator.