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What is Hospice? Hospice offers comfort, dignity, and compassion to the terminally ill. Physical symptom management is provided for the patient while spiritual and emotional care are offered to patients and their families alike. Hospice is a holistic, non-curative, approach to care, which places emphasis on enhancing the lives of patients for their remaining days. Hospice develops a plan of care specific to the needs of each patient and family. Realizing that no one can be everything to another person, Hospice works in a team environment. Each patient is cared for by a primary care nurse, home health aide, social worker, spiritual care counselor, and a bereavement coordinator. This team works with the attending physician, the Hospice medical director, Hospice volunteers, and if needed, other supportive services. Hospice History The concept of Hospice care is not new. Caring for and caring about people is as ancient as humankind itself. In medieval times, pilgrims traveling to and from the Holy Land stopped at places called Hospices for food and lodging. Eventually, Hospices became known as way stations for sick and dying travelers who could go no further. Over time the word hospice has become a symbol of caring for strangers in need of help. Hospice is a place where the weary can take refuge as they travel on life's journey. Modern hospice is true to its ancient beginnings. Caring in the midst of a frightening and often overwhelming time of life is still the spirit behind hospice care. The current model of hospice attempts to serve as an alternative to the "technology oriented" care that patients with life-threatening illnesses so often receive. The Hospice movement is fairly new in the United States. In 1974, the first U.S. hospice opened in New Haven, Connecticut. As word quickly spread about this new and exciting idea in healthcare, hospices began springing up all over the country. In 1981 a group of individuals in Berrien County organized to determine the need for localized Hospice care. In June of 1981 the group officially became Board incorporated by the State of Michigan and Hospice at Home was launched. The first Hospice volunteer training was conducted in the spring of '82, with the first patients being admitted in July of the same year. In 1984, Betty Matthews, an oncology nurse for South Haven Community Hospital, noticed that patients and families were left struggling and trying to cope after attempts at curative treatments were ended. Funded by the local hospital, Betty investigated hospices in Michigan, and as a result of her efforts South Haven Area Hospice was created in February 1985. The first patient was admitted in March of the same year. In 1985 Hospice at Home became one of the first Hospices in the State to satisfy Michigan's stringent licensing laws. In 1986 Hospice at Home received certification for both Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
In 1996 Hospice at Home and South Haven Area, sharing the vision of offering comfort and compassion to the seriously ill in Southwest Michigan entered into a partnership agreement, under the auspices of Hospice Cares.
Currently Hospice at Home provides care to hundreds of
patients and families each year. We have moved a long way from those weary
travelers-and yet not so far. We still reach out to people in time of
great need and offer them our hand to guide them on a difficult journey.
The Mission of Hospice at Home is to:
SERVE
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