Services

MEDICAL SUPPORT

Dignity Hospice™ is proud of the exceptional care our interdisciplinary medical team delivers, every day – to every patient. These compassionate professionals help enhance each patient’s quality of life through the end-of-life. Our medical team includes the following skilled professionals:

• Physicians – Typically, hospice patients continue to receive medical care from their primary physician or specialist. These doctors often work in collaboration with our Medical Director to ensure that each patient is receiving the coordinated care they need.
• Nurses – Patients receive regularly scheduled visits from our dedicated nurse case managers. Our nurses are responsible for ensuring that each patient’s physical and medical needs continue to be met. Our on-call nurse is available for urgent matters 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• Physical Therapists – Physical therapists are trained to develop treatment plans that enable patients to move more freely – reducing pain and increasing comfort.
• Occupational Therapists – Our occupational therapists help patients overcome obstacles hindering their ability to perform important daily tasks. This therapy improves the patient’s overall quality of life.
• Speech Language Pathologists – Speech therapists can help identify any swallowing issues that often arise in patients at end of life. Speech language pathologists may also focus on helping patients with their communication skills which can be vital to enhancing their overall quality of life.
• Nutritionists/Dieticians – End-of-life nutrition can be challenging. Patients with life-limiting illnesses and who are in the later stages of their disease sometimes don’t feel the need to eat or drink and, if forced, can experience physical symptoms that cause discomfort or complications. Our certified nutritionists assist patients who need a modified and safe dietary Care Plan.
• Home Health Aides – Person care is essential to a patient’s dignity. Under the supervision of a nurse, Certified Home Health Aides (HHAs) can assist patients with personal care, including bathing or showering and ensuring that they are safe and comfortable. Sometimes, patients and loved ones want more assistance than can be offered by the hospice HHAs. If this is the case, there are other options to help supplement care; just ask your nurse case manager for more information.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

We recognize that patients may suffer from different levels of pain, anxiety, or fear. We also understand that patients’ loved ones typically experience a range of emotions including confusion, exhaustion, sadness, grief, and even guilt.

Dignity Hospice™ understands the importance of providing emotional support to both patients and loved ones who are facing these end-of-life challenges and fears. Our emotional support team includes:

• Social Workers – Our social workers are professionally trained to address concerns, sadness, fears about death, and anxiety surrounding impending loss. It is important to have someone to talk to with the knowledge and ability to assist patients and loved ones in the last stages of life.
• Volunteers – Hospice volunteers provide compassionate support to patients in a variety of ways including providing companionship, reading aloud, and listening to their life stories. Additionally, volunteers can provide short breaks (“respite”) for loved ones who are primary caregivers and may be overwhelmed or exhausted.

SPIRITUAL SUPPORT

Hospice patients and their loved ones often have fears about death and dying. Our non-denominational spiritual support counselors and bereavement specialists can be comforting to patients and loved ones and are available to relieve some of the emotional or spiritual pain that can accompany impending loss. When there is a sense of spiritual wellness, patients and loved ones can enjoy a better quality of life for the time that remains.

• Spiritual Support Counselors – Our spiritual support counselors serve both as a source of spiritual guidance as well as a comforting presence to relieve some of the burdens that patients and loved ones face during the grieving process. Regardless of an individual’s religious background or beliefs, many people find solace in receiving this kind of support both during the dying process and for loved ones, for a period of time after their loss. 
• Bereavement Support Counselors – Dignity Hospice™ understands that most people experience profound grief when they lose someone important to them. Symptoms can include overwhelming sadness, shock and numbness, exhaustion, anger and even guilt. Our bereavement counselors are available for 13 months after a patient passes away. This additional support can bring tremendous comfort to those who are suffering the loss of a loved one.