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.
• Grief.
• Financial planning.
• Understand your rights.

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.
• PREPARE es un programa con historias en video para ayudarlo a sea partícipe de su atención médica - Videos - Become an Active Participant in Your Health Care.

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. The event involves reflections by hospice staff, a lighting of the candles ceremony and a slideshow in which the names of the individuals being honored and remembered are shown. Honorees need not have been under the care of hospice.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s event will be virtual. The Light up a Life event will be available on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at samhealth.org/LUAL2020. 

Viewers of this year’s virtual event will be able to customize their experience by clicking through reflections from hospice chaplains, a memorial slideshow of hospice patients in their area and a lighting of candles tribute. All are invited to attend this impactful event.

To make a donation by phone, please call 844-768-4256. For more information about Light up a Life, contact Samaritan Evergreen Hospice at 541-812-4662.  

For more information, visit samhealth.org/LUAL.