Brochure for Nathan Adelson Hospice, 1985

What is Hospice Who is eligible for Hospice services How are services initiated What Hospice services are available Who pays for Hospice care "Hospice affirms life. Hospice exists to provide support and care for persons in the last stages of incurable disease so that they might live as fully and comfortably as possible." National Hospice Organization WHAT IS HOSPICE? Hospice is a philosophy of care for those patients with a life-shortening illness for whom the goal is com-fort and peace rather than cure. The Nathan Adelson Hospice is a licensed home health care agency whose program strives to achieve these goals by: ? preventing/controlling pain and other distressful symptoms ? implementing this program with the primary physician ? preparing an individualized management program for each patient/family unit ? allowing patient to maintain control as long as possible with maximum dignity ? educating caregivers regarding necessary home care skills ? alleviating loneliness, anger and fear through team intervention ? providing emotional support for patient and family during periods of illness and later to surviving family during time of bereavement ? offering the full scope of hospice services to each patient regardless of individual lifestyle, personal preferences, age, sex, religion or financial status Who is eligible for Hospice What Hospice services WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HOSPICE SERVICES? The criteria for admission to The Nathan Adelson Hospice include: ? the patient is a resident of Clark County ? the patient has a confirmed diagnosis of cancer with a limited life expectancy ? the patient has been informed of the diagnosis and understands that continuing therapy will be palliative rather than curative in nature ? there is a family member or other reliable care-giver available to the patient in the home to share responsibility with the hospice team for the care of the patient ? the patient, family and physician understand the the philosophy and scope of services provided by the hospice program What Hospice services HOW ARE SERVICES INITIATED? Any patient who appears to meet the criteria for ad-mission to the hospice program will receive immediate consideration and a medical evaluation upon referral from: ? the primary physician who may request the assist-ance of the hospice team with his/her medical management of the patient's care ? any family member or other concerned individual as well as the patient him/herself What Hospice services WHAT HOSPICE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE? Hospice patients receive a variety of services from a team of trained professional and volunteer personnel. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include: ? skilled nursing care on a regularly scheduled basis as frequently as necessary. The nurses will conduct an initial assessment, generate a patient/family care plan and initiate and coordinate patient health care in the home. ? counseling services are available to assist the patient/family unit with non-medical concerns. The medical social workers will assess family functioning, offer necessary counseling, explore available financial assistance and make appropriate referrals to community resources when indicated. ? spiritual counseling is available through the hospice chaplain who will assist the patient/family unit with religious needs as requested. Clergy support extends through the period of illness to bereavement follow-up for the surviving family member either on an individual basis or in an organized group setting. ? consultation services from the Medical Director are available at the request of the primary physi-cian. Also these consultation services are continuously available to the health care team on behalf of individual, patients and in the form of on-going staff training. ? volunteers are available to provide supportive services to the patient and family. Well-trained, caring volunteers can perform a variety of tasks from personal care to routine homemaking to companionship as determined by the individual needs of the patient. What Hospice services WHO PAYS FOR HOSPICE CARE? Although the cost of hospice care is the responsibili-ty of the patient and family, admission to the program will never be determined on the basis of payment source. The Nathan Adelson Hospice is a licensed home health care agency so reimbursement for its services are available from: ? governmental insurance plans such as Medicare and Nevada's State Assistance to the Medically Indigent (Title XIX/S.A.M.I.) ? private insurance plans which include home health care benefits. Founded November 1978 THE NATHAN ADELSON HOSPICE 3201 Maryland Parkway ? Suite 330 Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 (702) 733-0320