Hoosier Uplands
News/Information
Departments
Projects
Employment
Contact Us*
Administration
Hoosier Uplands - Home Health Care & Hospice Services Main Page


Home Health Care & Hospice Services - Hospice  

 "The Choice of Hoosier Families for Generations!"  

Hoosier Uplands Hospice covers Lawrence, Washington, Orange, Crawford and Martin counties, and portions of Harrison, Scott, Clark, Jackson, Perry, Dubois, and Greene counties

         Hospice Team
                                                                 
                                                                                       

Seated:  Dr. George Sorrells, Hospice Medical Director.  Standing:  Amanda Bernet, RN, Home Health/Hospice Liaison and Hospice Patient Care Coordinator, Becky Haagsma, LSW, Bereavement Coordinator, Keri Southern, Hospice RN, and Lee Grimes, Hospice Intake/Volunteer Coordinator and Hospice Medical Records Manager.  Not Pictured:  Phyllis Morris, RN



  

           
  

My doctor recently posted the following two articles, and I found them to be very touching.  The first is entitled, "I Know You Love Me - Now Let Me Die."


http://exopermaculture.com/2016/01/19/how-we-used-to-die-how-we-die-now/


The second is entitled, "Knowing How Doctors Die Can Change End of Life Discussions."


http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/07/06/413691959/knowing-how-doctors-die-can-change-end-of-life-discussions



 
We Honor Veterans:     
  
Melissa Jeremiah, RN, CHCE, Director of Operations would like to take this time to congratulate the Hoosier Uplands Hospice team who recently earned their Level 4 accreditation through We Honor Veterans.  Level 4 accreditation helps Hoosier Uplands Hospice increase access and improve quality of care for Veterans in our community.

We are one of only 10 Level 4 organizations in the state of Indiana; which is the highest rank available.


                          


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
                        
Team Concept
Hospice care is a team concept. The Hospice team strives to meet the physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of the client and family. The team usually consists of a doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain, home care aide, and volunteer.

Physical Care
Making suggestions to achieve maximum control of symptoms, such as pain, nausea, and anxiety, is one of the many things Hospice nurses do. Another function of the nursing staff is to educate the patient/family on disease progression and appropriate care. They provide physical assessment of the patient and assess ways to assist the caregiver. The addition of a home health aide to the Hospice team provides either partial or complete assistance with bathing and other grooming needs. This can be a tremendous benefit to the caregiver or family member.

Social Work Services
Coping with effects of life threatening illness, death, and grief is difficult. Medical social workers closely work with the patient, family, and significant others to identify and develop a plan to address emotional, social, and financial concerns. Medical social services help the client gain control over decisions affecting all areas of living.

Spiritual Care
The chaplain's role is to provide spiritual support to the patient and family. Some patients and families aren't close to a church or pastor, and would like to talk to someone on a spiritual level about feelings/questions. Other times the chaplain works closely with the patient's own minister to meet the patient's spiritual needs. The chaplain can be someone comforting to talk with, while striving to help the patient and family come to a resolution with spiritual issues.

Volunteer Service
Hospice Volunteers are caring people who want to make a difference in the lives of others. Most volunteers provide patient/family support by giving the caregiver a chance to "take a break". This can be time for running errands, getting groceries, working in the yard, or just taking a nap. Volunteers visit with the patient and family, offering a "listening ear". Hospice also offers opportunities for volunteering in office/clerical work, public relations, and more.

Hoosier Uplands Hospice encourages surviving family members to wait one year following a patient's death to serve as a direct care volunteer or in public relations activities.

Anyone wishing to become a volunteer may contact Lee Grimes, Volunteer Coordinator at (812) 849-4447 or (800) 827-2219. Hoosier Uplands will provide hospice training at no cost.  Hoosier Uplands core counties are Lawrence, Washington, Orange, Crawford and Martin counties.

Bereavement Care
Hospice helps the patient and family prepare for death and continues to help families understand and discuss the grieving process, following death. It may affect the family members and friends physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Hospice offers Bereavement Care up to 12 months. This may include a series of informational bereavement letters, telephone contacts, and visits. An annual memorial service is held and information or personal counseling is available if needed.

Financial Help
When funded by Medicare/Medicaid, or a per diem payment from commercial insurance, Hospice helps the family financially, paying for items that have to do with terminal illness, such as, medications, medical equipment, and supplies. Helping with the financial aspect can be a great comfort for our patients families already overwhelmed by medical bills.