Hospice is a special kind of care designed to provide comfort and support to people who are facing a life-limiting illness. What makes hospice care unique is that it provides support not only to individuals but their entire family. This type of healthcare focuses on caring and comforting, not curing. It offers choices, helps preserve dignity and seeks to maintain the highest quality of life.

Who is Eligible?
Hope Hospice is for persons living in Lee, Hendry, Glades, Highlands, Hardee and Polk Counties. Care is available to people of all ages, including children, who are experiencing the final phase of their disease. We serve patients with all diagnoses, including:

• cancer
• cardiac disease
• neurological disorders
• respiratory disease
• congestive heart failure
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Parkinson's disease
• renal disease
• liver disease
• Alzheimer's
• AIDS

What Services are Offered?
Hope Hospice provides a comprehensive array of services for patients and their families:

• Physical care including medical and nursing services
• Pain control and symptom management
• Family education regarding patient care, medications and what to expect
• Practical care such as the bathing and assistance with daily activities by personal care specialists
• Prescription medications, medical supplies and equipment related to the diagnosis
• Occasional cooking and light housekeeping provided by homemakers
• Assistance with insurance paperwork and other matters of financial concern
• Spiritual and emotional support
• Professional grief counseling and support
• Care designed to improve comfort and well being through integrative and expressive therapies such as aromatherapy, massage, pet, music, and art therapies
• Additional services that may be required to serve individual patient needs

Who Provides Hospice Services?
Services are provided by a team of Hope Hospice professionals, including: physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, personal care specialists, homemakers, counselors, therapists, and volunteers.

The patient's physician participates in the establishment of the plan of care and works with the Hope Hospice team in caring for the patient. The physician continues to provide medical direction and orders. The Hope Hospice Medical Director or Hospice physician is available as a consultant on matters of specialized pain and symptom control and provides care if the patient or their physician requests. Choosing hospice care does not affect the individual relationship between patients and their attending physicians.

Choosing Hospice Care
Choosing the right care for you or your loved one is never a decision that comes easy. Regardless of age, diagnosis, or financial standing, it's important to have a clear understanding about the care choices that are available and to know which is best suited to each person's specific needs.

Referrals
Most patients are referred to Hope Hospice by their physicians or other health care professionals. However, anyone - family, friends and neighbors - can refer patients to Hope Hospice.

We require that their physician approve the hospice admission and certify the patient's medical condition. Early referrals are encouraged so that the patient and family can receive all the benefits of hospice care. For more information on Hope Hospice, please call (239) 482-4673 or (800) 835-1673.

Is it Time for Hospice Care?
Are you wondering if its time for Hope Hospice care? Answer the following questions about yourself or a loved one:

Have you or a loved one:

• Been hospitalized or to the emergency room several times in the past six months?
• Been making more frequent phone calls to your physicians?
• Started taking medication to lessen physical pain?
• Started spending most of the day in a chair or bed?
• Fallen several times over the past six months?
• Started needing help with bathing, dressing, getting out of bed, walking, or eating?
• Started feeling weaker or more tired?
• Experienced weight loss so that clothes are noticeably looser?
• Noticed a shortness of breath, even while resting?
• Been told by a doctor that you have a life-limiting illness?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, Hope Hospice may be able to help you. To learn more, please call our Care Resources team at (800) 835-1673.

Who Pays for Hope Hospice Services?

Integrative and Expressive Therapies

Where is Care Provided?