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Hospice is a specialized, multi-disciplinary program
of care providing clinical expertise and support for
people in the final stages of a life-limiting
illness and their families. By focusing not only on
the physical, but also the social, emotional and
spiritual aspects of life, hospice insures that each
patient achieves the best quality of life possible
for whatever time he or she has left.
Dying is a natural part of life. A patient and
family may turn to Good Samaritan Hospice when
prospect of recovery from a disease is limited, and
further curative medical intervention would not
contribute significantly to quality of life.
Hospice care is provided in the home or a home-like
setting. Good Samaritan Hospice's interdisciplinary
team of nurses, social workers, chaplains, certified
nursing assistants, bereavement counselors and
volunteers are specially trained to assist the
patient to live as fully as comfortably as possible
with his or her rights to dignity and choice
intact. We work with both the patient and his or
her family to alleviate distressing symptoms (such
as pain), provide personal care, assist with
decision-making, provide emotional support and, in
general, provide a "safety net" that people need
during this time of life.
Good Samaritan’s approach to hospice is about
choice. At the heart of the hospice philosophy is
the belief that patients who face terminal illness
should be encouraged to remain independent and in
control of their lives. We encourage the patient and
family to participate fully in every decision about
care.
The
last stage of life can be a time for growing,
sharing, cherishing, savoring, and letting go. At
Good Samaritan Hospice, we are experts at helping
people care for loved ones facing advanced stages of
illness.
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A hospice
director's perspective on hospice... |
"As
difficult as it is to face the end of life, it can
be a time of peace and reconciliation. For most of
us working in hospice, it is a calling...it is
walking on sacred ground."
Sue Moore |
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