What Hospice Care Really Means: Comfort, Dignity, and Support When It Matters Most
/Hospice care doesn’t have to be a lonely or even a sad experience. At our communities, we offer hospice care that feels meaningful, comfortable, and respectful, so residents are surrounded by loving family and a supportive care team as they make their unique journey.
Our designated hospice care and end of life options are Olive Grove Hospice in Blaine, Minnesota and Relief Suites at Comforts of Home Advanced Assisted Living - The Willows in Hudson, Wisconsin. Just as we have for our assisted living and memory care communities, we’ve built these unique communities to provide the best possible care and service—in this case, for residents and families who are going through the most difficult time of their lives.
Now, let’s explore what hospice care really means and how our hospice and end of life care centers can offer your loved one comfort, dignity, and support at the end of life.
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is a specialized type of end of life care that guides individuals through their final chapter. It often takes place in the weeks and days leading up to an individual’s passing and is usually considered for a person who has a terminal diagnosis and a life expectancy of six months or fewer and is no longer seeking treatments to cure their condition.
Care tends to focus on enhancing the quality of life for patients with an emphasis on comfort and support for both the patient and their families, giving families more quality time together and relieving the stress of navigating the experience alone.
Paying for hospice care
When it comes to financing, hospice care can primarily be covered by private health insurance plans and Medicaid. Does Medicare cover hospice? Yes, Medicare Part A covers hospice care for people with a terminal illness, including the costs of palliative care, medical and nursing services, hospice drugs, and medical equipment.
Is hospice care different from palliative and end of life care?
Hospice care is unique in that it is a form of palliative care that provides relief from symptoms and stress of a serious illness to improve quality of life. The difference between hospice care vs. palliative care is that palliative care is often provided alongside curative treatments. Both fall under the umbrella of end of life care, a term that encompasses all care and support provided during the final phase of a terminal condition.
Compassionate hospice care for your loved one
At our hospice care centers, professional hospice care teams focus on helping individuals live each moment fully, while providing emotional, spiritual, and medical support that prioritizes quality of life, individualized care, and meaningful family time.
Our hospice team is also fully integrated into our housing communities, allowing us to provide seamless care in a safe, peaceful home environment with 24/7 support. Our end of life and hospice care also prioritizes patient and family-directed care planning and collaborative and transparent communication, which makes for a truly person-centered approach.
Services we offer
At Olive Grove and Relief Suites, our hospice care services provide:
Help with personal care and activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, grooming,
Pain and symptom management for shortness of breath, anxiety, fatigue, and more.
A 13-month bereavement program for families that offers grief counseling, phone check-ins, and help finding local support groups.
Social workers to provide support in preparation for the end of life.
Spiritual care to help individuals find peace and meaning in their last days.
Ordering and delivery for all residents’ medication and medical supply needs.
Olive Grove also specializes in end of life care for veterans, including care for service-related conditions, incorporating military history into care plans, and help coordinating burial benefits, chaplain services, and social worker support. To this end, Olive Grove partners with We Honor Veterans, a program of National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the VA) to provide the best possible veteran care.
At Relief Suites, our teams focus on offering specialized medical services that include medication setup and administration, diabetic management, meal preparation and assistance with feeding, catheter care, and bathing assistance. Other services include two person transfers including mechanical lifts, incontinence management, routine safety checks, and Coumadin management.
Navigating next steps
If you’re beginning to explore hospice care for your parent or loved one, our team is here to answer your questions, listen to your concerns, and help you find the right support for your family. To learn more about our end of life care options as well as our assisted living and memory care communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin or schedule an in-person visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.