Northern Arizona Hospice

Hospice is for patients who have a terminal illness and have decided to shift the focus of care from cure to comfort. Hospice care emphasizes the quality of remaining life and allows the patient to remain at home in familiar surroundings while receiving expert healthcare. It focuses on the comfort of the patient and supports the family members in caring for their loved one at home.

Why Hospice?
Many of us, given the choice, would prefer to spend our remaining time at home rather than a healthcare facility. Families also share this desire. However, the task of caring for a dying person at home can be overwhelming if faced alone.

Hospice tries to ease this burden by providing the necessary physical care as well as emotional, spiritual and practical support.

Who needs Hospice care?
Hospice care is recommended for patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, have an estimated life expectancy of six months or less, and have decided not to seek further medical care to try to cure their illness or prolong their life.

The Hospice team
Hospice is a caring community of professionals and lay volunteers representing a variety of disciplines and skills. This interdisciplinary team includes:

Medical director

Nurses

Social worker

Dietitian

Physical therapist

Speech therapist

Occupational therapist

Chaplain

Home health aides

Trained volunteers

Services are based on patient and family needs
and may include:

Regularly scheduled nursing visits in the home for assessment, symptom control and teaching

Registered nurses on call for emergency assistance 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week

Home health aide visits to assist with bathing and other personal care

Hospice volunteer visits

Medical equipment, supplies and medications

Emotional and spiritual support

Bereavement counseling

Who is eligible?
Patients and families are eligible for services if they:

are facing a life threatening illness with a life expectancy of six months or less

are under the care of a physician

have a primary care giver at home

wish to receive Hospice care

Who pays the cost?

Many of the costs for Hospice services are covered by Medicare or private insurance carriers.

Fund-raising activities and donations help supplement our Hospice program.

How can you help?

You can be a Hospice volunteer.

You can refer persons who need information about Hospice.

You can offer financial support. Memorial gifts, bequests and other tax-deductible donations may be made to Northern Arizona Hospice at any of our locations. Call us for more information.

Northern Arizona Healthcare welcomes your comments about this Web site. If you would like to ask general questions, or give feedback about an experience at any NAH facility please email your comments to the Director of Marketing. All content, photography and art in this Web site is the property of Northern Arizona Healthcare and requires permission for use.

Copyright 2002, Northern Arizona Healthcare, 1200 N. Beaver Street, Flagstaff, Ariz., 86001 928 779-3366.

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