About Hospice Care

What Is Hospice?

Hospice services address the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of a person’s being. Hospice recognizes dying as a part of the normal process of living. Hospice provides support and care for those in the last phases of life-limiting illness. Hospice care affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death. Care focuses are on quality of life for individuals and their family caregivers.

What services are provided by Hospice?

Every hospice patient has access to a registered nurse, social worker, home health aide, chaplain and volunteer (also known as the interdisciplinary team). For each patient and family, the interdisciplinary team writes a care plan with the patient/family that is used to make sure the patient and family receive the care they need from the team.

All visits are based on the patient and family needs as described in the care plan and the condition of the patient during the course of illness. The frequency of volunteers and spiritual care is often dependent upon the family request. Equipment, supplies and medication necessary for care and management of the terminal illness.

How does Hospice work to keep the patient comfortable?

Patients may have pain and other serious symptoms as illness progresses. Hospice staff receives special training to care for all types of physical and emotional symptoms that cause pain, discomfort and distress. Hospice staff works with the patient’s physician to make sure that medication, therapies and procedures are designed to achieve the goals outlined in the patient’s care plan. The care plan is reviewed frequently to make sure any changes and new goals are in the plan. Keeping the patient comfortable and pain-free is an important part of hospice care.

What makes Hospice of Salina different?

Hospice of Salina is the only not-for-profit Hospice in the surrounding area. We are funded through insurance reimbursement and donations. We are affiliated with Salina Regional Health Center and pride ourselves in providing compassionate and individualized care for members of our community.