HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE
PERSONALIZED SERVICESAt Missouri Palliative & Hospice Care our mission is to serve others. Patients near the end of their life, family members trying their best to support their loved ones, caregivers and professionals striving to provide the best care possible need assistance and we want to provide that assistance!
Hospice Care
Hospice focuses on caring, not curing and, in most cases, care is provided in the patient’s home. Hospice care also is provided in freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Hospice services are available to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness. Hospice care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations.
Palliative Care
The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) defines Palliative Care as “specialized care for people with serious illnesses,” with the following characteristics:
- Focuses on relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness
- Aims to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family
- Provides an extra layer of support at any stage in a serious illness, and can be provided along with curative treatment
After-Hours Triage
Gain peace of mind knowing that your loved one or patient will always have access to reliable hospice and palliative care services. Members of our Palliative Care staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services. Our Palliative Care staff is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
Home Hospice and Palliative Care
The Missouri Palliative & Hospice Care team are experts in taking care of seniors in the home. Most hospice service providers prefer to take care of hospice patients in facilities such as assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals or in-patient facilities and push in-home patients into facilities. We provide most equipment and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis at no charge. Equipment and supplies are expensive so many patients are unable to afford these much needed services.
To learn more about Missouri Palliative & Hospice Care please contact any of our staff or submit a question online.
Psychosocial Support
The reality of facing a life-limiting illness is a very difficult challenge for patient and family. A sense of despair, anxiety, sadness or depression may make it difficult to cope with each new day. Missouri Palliative & Hospice Care recognizes that at any particular time, the patient and family may need additional supportive hospice services. With this in mind, social workers, and bereavement services are available to help with anticipatory grief and grief after the death.
Spiritual Support
Spiritual care addresses patients’ and their families’ emotional, psychological, and existential needs, providing support and comfort during this vulnerable time. Hospices have trained chaplains who specialize in bridging the gap between faith traditions and personal beliefs, offering a listening ear, and cultivating peace and acceptance. For example, voicing genuine fear, regret, anger, and doubt to a hospice chaplain may relieve stress and help calm the mind and spirit.
Grief Support
We provide grief support to the family and friends of the ones we serve. Visit our Grief Support page for more information.
Veterans Support
Missouri Palliative & Hospice Care partners with the Veterans Administration to serve our heroes in their time of need. Veterans have served to provide security for us and our country. We believe they should be served in their time of need in a way that recognizes, honors and responds to the unique needs of the Veteran and their family. Our team members are end-of-life experts who have received education and training on identifying, assessing and meeting the needs of Veterans and their families from the time of referral through bereavement services.
Now Offering Music Therapy
Music therapy draws from the patient’s memories, culture, and religious/spiritual beliefs to create a healing experience that is profoundly personal and significant. Combined with other healing methods, music therapy addresses the emotional, cognitive, physical, and social needs of hospice patients.
Hospice & Palliative Medical Team
The patient and their hospice care team will develop a plan of care that meets each patient’s individual needs for pain management and symptom control. Our team usually consists of:
- The patient and their caregivers.
- The patient’s personal physician;
- Hospice physician (or medical director);
- Nurses;
- Home health aides;
- Social workers;
- Chaplains;
- Trained volunteers;
- Speech, physical, and occupational therapists, if needed.
There are major differences in the way hospice care is delivered.
While Medicare mandates minimum levels of care and minimum required services there are many benefits to the patient that are left to the discretion of the provider. Make sure you understand the Missouri Palliative & Hospice Care services differences.