What is Hospice?
When life becomes most challenging, patients and families need to focus on pain and symptom management, education, and support. This is what truly matters, and it’s exactly what Merigold Hospice provides. Our hospice team is committed to helping patients and their make the most of the time they have left, using a unique integrated healthcare approach that prioritizes the patient and family over the disease. Hospice consists of specially trained healthcare professionals who care for the patient while easing the anxiety of caregivers and families. Our support team addresses symptom management as well as the social, emotional, and grief issues that patients and families may encounter. Merigold Hospice brings comfort, quality, and support during the remaining months, weeks, days.
We are Compassionate Comfort Care.
Who is Eligible for Hospice?
Hospice care is for people who have a life-limiting illness that possibly can transition the loved one within six months, and have chosen to focus on comfort care over aggressive treatment. Diagnoses commonly associated with hospice care include these and other terminal diseases:
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Heart Disease
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Respiratory Diseases
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AIDS/HIV
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Alzheimer’s/Dementia
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Liver/Renal Failure
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Neurologic Diseases
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Cancer
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Stroke or Coma
Merigold Hospice works with the patient and family to develop a customized plan of care, specific to their disease and individual needs. Eligibility criteria includes:
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Frequent hospitalizations
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Progressive weight loss
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Deteriorating mental abilities
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Frequent infections
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Multiple falls in the last six months
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Treatment is more of a burden than a benefit
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Shortness of breath even while resting
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Spending most of the day in a chair or bed
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Increased medication to manage pain or symptoms
Hospice care plays a vital role in providing support and comfort to patients and their families during challenging times. From assistance to practical resources, hospice can help with a variety of needs. Here’s a list of ways hospice can make a difference:
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Bathing
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Dressing
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Eating
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Mobility
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Getting out of bed
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, please reach out to Merigold Hospice, and we will tailor our services to meet your needs.
Where is Hospice Care Provided?
Hospice services can be provided in the patient’s preferred environment, often in their own homes with their families. Merigold Hospice offers a compassionate approach by visiting patients rather than relocating them to unfamiliar settings.
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Private Residences or Apartments
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A Relative or Friend’s Home
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Assisted Living / Group Home Facilities
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Nursing Homes
We go wherever “Home” is.
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Who provides hospice Care?
Merigold Hospice comprises an integrated clinical team dedicated to ensuring the continuity of care for patients. Each discipline, guided by the customized individual care plan developed with family involvement, brings the patient’s specific needs, wishes, and values to the declining loved one. This comprehensive care plan is directed by the patient and executed by our support team, which includes:
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Patient and Family
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Medical Director
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Experienced Registered Nurses – RN/LPN
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Certified Nursing Assistants – CNA
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Social Workers
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Chaplain/Bereavement Counselor
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Patient’s Physician
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Trained Volunteers
Merigold Hospice Provides A Teamwork Approach
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Who Pays for Hospice Care?
Hospice care is covered under the Hospice Medicare Benefit, most Medicaid plans, and many private insurance plans. Consequently, patients and their families typically incur no out-of-pocket expenses. Most plans provide coverage for hospice care and the necessary medications, medical supplies, and medical equipment related to the hospice prognosis.
Earlier referrals to hospice facilitate access for patients and their families, enabling them to receive the maximum benefit and the full range of hospice services.