Description
Considered to be a model for quality, compassionate care at the end-of-life, Hospice of the Piedmont's program involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's needs and wishes.
Support is extended to the patient's loved ones, as well. At the center of our program is the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, with our families receiving the necessary support to allow us to do so. The focus is on caring, not curing, and, in most cases, care is provided in the patient's home. Hospice of the Piedmont's promise is fulfilled every day as we care for the dying and their families in Central Virginia.
Working closely with the patient's physician, Hospice of the Piedmont provides a continuum of care that includes the following:
Care in the Home
The primary focus of Hospice of the Piedmont's program is care in the home. Interdisciplinary teams of nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains and volunteers support and enable patients to spend their final weeks at home with family and friends, or in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and retirement communities.
Inpatient Hospice Care
During periods of medical crisis, acute care can be provided in hospice-contracted beds in area hospitals and nursing homes, under the direction of hospice's professional staff with expertise in pain control and symptom management.
Respite Care
Recognizing the burden placed on caregivers of the terminally ill, Hospice of the Piedmont can arrange patient care for short periods from overnight to five days.
Continuous Care
When around-the-clock care in the home is required for a limited time, hospice provides bedside care by nurses and home health aides skilled in end-of-life care. Lasting from several hours to several days, this level of care is sometimes needed for pain or symptom control or because of family issues.
Bereavement Care
Individual and group support services are provided to guide family and friends through the process of grief for an extended period after the death of the patient. These services are open to anyone in the community who is dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Journeys Program For Children
Facilitated by board certified art therapists, Journeys helps children and adolescents in their journey through the grief process. The program is available to the entire area as a public service.
Transitions
A pre-hospice program sponsored by Hospice of the Piedmont. Transitions offers case management and volunteer support to clients with a life limiting illness who may or may not be undergoing curative treatment and are not yet eligible for hospice care. The service is provided without fee.
Community Outreach
Hospice of the Piedmont quietly touches the lives of many in our community by advocating for better end-of-life care, providing overnight and day camp experiences for grieving children and teens, support services for those not ready for hospice care, and care for indigent patients who otherwise would not be able to afford adequate end-of-life care. Hospice professionals also offer crisis counseling for area school systems in times of grief, and make presentations to civic, church and professional groups to highlight resources available to families and patients dealing with terminal illness. |
