Hospice care is a form of healthcare that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for seriously ill patients who are approaching the end of life, along with support for their caregivers. A compassionate team of experts provides comfort, support, and dignity to individuals when their life expectancy is six months or less.
Patients choose hospice treatment when they prefer to stop treatments, and instead decide to live through the end of their life at home surrounded by loved ones, rather than in the hospital.
“I wish we called sooner” is one of the most common statements we hear from family members who quickly realize the countless benefits of hospice care.
Access an experienced hospice treatment team 24/7 to answer your questions at no charge.
The primary goal of hospice care is to provide comfort and support to individuals with a terminal illness, enabling them to live as fully and comfortably as possible until the end of their life. Hospice care focuses on symptom management and pain control to achieve comfort. Other goals of hospice care include:
Seven benefits of hospice care include:
Hospice provides expert care from a team of trained professionals focused on enhancing the patient’s quality of life based on their wishes. Patients and families have peace of mind with an on-call staff available 24 hours a day.
Hospice care not only assists patients but also educates and supports their caregivers, helping them manage the challenges and stress of caregiving. Caregivers are provided with hands-on training and easy to understand care tips. Additionally, a Samaritan nurse is available 24/7 to answer questions.
Hospice care can be provided in a familiar and comfortable setting, as opposed to a hospital, allowing for more quality time with family and loved ones. Hospice treatment can be provided wherever you live – at home, in an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. Essential equipment will be conveniently delivered to you. For those who require 24/7 symptom management, Samaritan also provides care at our two dedicated facilities in South Jersey.
Regular visits from Samaritan nurses and hospice aides ensure effective pain and symptom management, reducing emergency hospital visits. Hospice medications are provided for the patient. To coordinate your care our team maintains ongoing communication with your existing physician and/or specialist.
When in hospice care, out-of-pocket expenses are notably less. Hospice services are usually covered by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or VA.
Samaritan’s patient-centered hospice care empowers individuals to regain a sense of relief and control over their end-of-life journey.
Thirteen months of bereavement counseling are available for those who request it after the loss of a loved one.
Many patients and families wonder when hospice care is appropriate. Time is precious. During the end-of-life journey, it is essential for patients and their families to embrace each moment. Choosing hospice treatment sooner than later helps. In fact, it is a decision families say they often wish they made sooner, because of all the benefits hospice treatment offers in terms of improving quality of life for everyone involved.
Read more: When hospice care is appropriate?
To get started, call Samaritan to speak with a nurse coordinator at (800) 229-8183, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You do not need to wait until your primary care physician or specialist suggests hospice care to receive an evaluation.
Our hospice admission’s team can provide you and your loved ones with invaluable knowledge and can help you determine if it is time for hospice.
During the evaluation, a hospice admission nurse will ask for information about your loved one’s diagnosis, symptoms or discomfort, medications, and a brief health history. They will ask about other physicians and specialists. They will also explain hospice services, the goals of these services, and answer any of your questions.
Samaritan provides hospice care treatment for our South Jersey community, allowing patients and families to enjoy the benefits of time that hospice treatment can provide.
Additionally, Samaritan offers specialized hospice programs, including the only advanced cardiac care hospice program in New Jersey that is built in collaboration with the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation.
Please know that you can reach out to us at any time and we will help you assess when hospice may be right for you and your loved one. We are ready to help make sure that your end-of-life journey is full of good days.
Now that you know what hospice care is, as well as the benefits of treatment, the next step is exploring your options. We recommend the following steps for finding care:
Ask Your Healthcare Professionals
Ask your primary care physician or specialist about hospices near you in South NJ. Your hospital discharge planner or case manager can also identify hospice providers.
Ask Your Friends and Family
Ask your friends, neighbors, or colleagues about hands-on experiences they have had with hospice providers. They can provide recommendations.
Ask Your Local Government
Ask your local government offices that provide senior or health services which hospice providers are in your area.
Ask the Right Questions
Start by learning what to look for in a hospice program. Consumer Reports recommends choosing a hospice with a not-for-profit status, more than 20 years’ experience serving the community, hospice-certified staff on-call 24/7, and the availability of inpatient care.
Samaritan provides this special care for the South Jersey community. We’re here for you and those you love. We provide hospice treatment for the patient and also offer education, advice, and grief support for loved ones.
Samaritan’s hospice care program provides you peace of mind knowing that not only will you be cared for with dignity through the end of life, but you will also be giving the gift of hospice care to your loved ones. This gift means that your loved one will have access to the support they need through your care and after.
As Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the hospice movement, said, “You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.”
Samaritan is here to help you have good days with those you love through the final months of life. Your Samaritan team of expert caregivers bring their warmth and love into your home where we provide dedicated hospice care. Each expert on your team provides hospice treatment personalized for your individual needs. Consult our hospice FAQ to get answers to all your hospice-related questions.
• Hospice Team Members
• Eligibility Requirements
• Who pays for hospice care?
• Hospice Medical Equipment
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Veteran-specific Hospice Care
• What is Active Dying?