Hospice & Palliative Care

Hospice is a philosophy of care for people of all ages in the last stages of a terminal illness.Common terminal diseases may include cancer, end-stage cardiac disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), end-stage dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) and neurological disorders.

Hospice does not hasten death. It affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.

Whenever possible, hospice patients stay in the familiar surroundings of their own homes, in an atmosphere of dignity and support for the patient and the family. 

Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, most commercial and private health insurance plans, and by worker’s compensation. If needed, our staff can assist you with insurance coverage information.

A patient’s physician continues to direct all of the medical care provided by hospice staff.

Our dedicated and professional hospice team helps patients and families by offering:

• Skilled nursing care (24-hour on-call nursing services available)
• Pain and other symptom management
• Medical social services and counseling
• Spiritual support
• Hospice aides
• Trained hospice volunteers
• Bereavement support
• Medication and equipment as appropriate
• Stress management

Depending on your location, the following value-added services are provided at no additional cost to the patient and are often provided by hospice volunteers:

• Respite for caregivers
• Bedside vigil
• Companionship

Samaritan Hospice Services recognizes and works to meet these special needs of the dying:

• Relief from pain and discomfort
• To be close to loved ones
• Quality of life for the patient and family
• Bereavement support for family
• Understanding the special needs of Veterans by participating in the We Honor Veteran’s Program

Our staff and volunteers support patients and family members through the final stages of illness. Ongoing contact and support for the family is offered through our bereavement program.

The decision to receive palliative or hospice care can often be an overwhelming task. Nevertheless, it’s important to be well informed, so that you can select the path of care that is right for you and your family. 

Below are a number of resources that we hope will help you become more familiar with the benefits of hospice and palliative care:

• Hospice information
• Palliative care
• Advance care planning, advance directives, living wills
• Caregiving
• Pain
• Grief
• Financial planning
• Issues relating to the workplace

Spanish/bi-lingual resources:

• Mis deseos a la atencion de mi Salud: Medicas o Directivas Anticipadas - Advance Directives: My Wishes for Medical Attention
• Cuidado Paliativo o Cuidado de Hospice - Hospice and Palliative Care
• Apoyo para el cuidador - How to Support Someone Caring for Another
• Las etapas en los finales de la vida - Phases at the End of Life
• Afliccion por una perdida - Grief and Loss

We are here to help answer your questions and help you understand the benefits of hospice and palliative care. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Each year, the Samaritan-affiliated hospices host a remembrance event, Light Up a Life, during the holiday season to honor individuals who have passed on.

Each event involves reflections by hospice staff, music and a ceremony in which the names of the individuals being honored and remembered are read. Honorees need not have been under the care of hospice.

2018 Light Up a Life events

Samaritan Evergreen Hospice, Albany General Hospital Foundation & Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation

Sunday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m.

Boulder Falls Center (605 Mullins Drive in Lebanon)

Details

Samaritan Pacific Hospice & Pacific Communities Health District Foundation

Friday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m.

Center for Health Education (740 SW 9th St.)