Hospice
Affirms Life
Hospice
is a way of caring that brings comfort to persons living with a terminal
illness, and gives support to them as well as to their families. Hospice neither
hastens nor postpones death, but affirms life, emphasizing quality, not length.
Patients live their final days with peace and dignity, either in the comfort of
their own home, long term care facility, or the VNA Arthur B. and
Ethel V. Horton Hospice Center .
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The
interdisciplinary team consists of:
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The
team provides
effective pain management and symptom control, along with psychosocial,
emotional and spiritual support. The
Hospice team respects the patient and family unit’s right to make decisions
about his or her own care. The goal
of Hospice is to enable terminally ill patients to live life as fully as
possible with a spirit of hope and a sense of personal satisfaction and worth.
The
Services of Hospice
All Hospice
patients receive a combination of services and support provided by the Hospice
team:
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Scheduled
visits by the interdisciplinary Hospice team members.
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Pain
management and symptom control.
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Instruction,
consultation and support for the family.
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Direction
of care by the patient's physician.
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24
hour, 7 day a week on-call availability of a Registered Nurse to answer
questions, discuss concerns and visit patients when needed.
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Companionship
and support provided by volunteers.
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Communication
with patient's clergy or spiritual support provided by Hospice chaplain.
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Social
services to assist with psychosocial, emotional and financial needs.
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Bereavement
services including mailings, support groups, memorial services, and
counseling for
family and caregivers to assist in coping with the death of a loved one.
VNA
Hospice Home Care and the the VNA Arthur B. and
Ethel V. Horton Hospice Center
are certified
providers of the Hospice Medicare Benefit and certified by the Indiana State
Department of Health.
Admission
Criteria For Hospice
VNA
Hospice Home Care introduced the concept of Hospice care to Porter County in
1983. There are several criteria
for admission, such as:
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The
patient has a limited life expectancy of six months or
less.
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Curative
medical intervention is no longer possible or desired.
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An
attending physician is directing the patient’s care.
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Patients
receiving VNA Hospice Care in their home must have a plan to have caregivers
who will provide care between Hospice staff visits, when needed.
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A
patient must reside in the geographical coverage area of the agency.
Funding
for Services
Hospice
Care is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, some private insurance programs,
individual resources and donations.
VNA
Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton Hospice Center
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In medieval days, a
hospice was a shelter where weary travelers on a difficult journey could find
comfort and hospitality. Today, the Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice
Center welcomes terminally ill patients who need special care. Either for a
short respite stay or for the last weeks or days of their life, it becomes their
shelter of comfort and hospitality - their home.
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The Arthur B. and
Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice Center is a unique facility, designed with both
patient and family needs in mind. With 20 patient rooms, the VNA Hospice Center
can accommodate patients with critical care needs and residential patients. The
Ameling Family Room offers a kitchenette/dining area, and seating area, and
serves as a gathering place for families. The Leetz and Manakee Dayrooms provide
additional space and may accommodate family members overnight as needed.
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The Valparaiso Rotary
Club Children's
Playroom provides an area where kids can be kids, and the Watkins Music
Room/Library is a place of quiet and solace. The McGill 30 Year Club Family
Laundry Room and the Uzelac vending room are amenities which allow families to
remain at the center when necessary. The Schreiner Chapel is a
non-denominational room for prayer or meditation, with comfortable chairs and
various bibles and writings available for the use of families and patients.
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With the murmur of the Kiss
Fountain in the background, the Aldrich Memorial Garden provides yet another
family gathering area, where patients may spend time in the out of doors as
weather permits.
Throughout the Arthur
B. and Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice Center are small touches, meant to provide
comfort and the essence of home. From individualized borders in the patient
rooms, to the "Art
Cart," which enables patients and families to choose artwork for the room that has
meaning to them, the VNA Hospice Center becomes a home away from home.
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The
VNA Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton Hospice Center also offers:
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24 hour professional care provided by a trained staff of registered
nurses, licensed practical nurses, home health aides, and volunteers
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Medical
oversight by our Medical Director, Michael C. Weiss, MD.
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24 hour visiting
hours for children and adults
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the focus on patient and family care and compassion, patients and family
members, together, may live their days as fully as possible. At the Arthur B.
and Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice Center, staff and volunteers help ensure that
patients are able to live their final days with peace, dignity, and a spirit of
hope.
VNA
Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton Hospice Center
2404
Valparaiso Street
Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
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Helping
Hospice Help Others
VNA
Hospice Care relies on caring individuals in the community who volunteer their
time and talents.
Gifts
of time help support Hospice staff as well as patients.
Volunteers receive training in order to provide support for patients and
families, and help with a variety of office and fund-raising projects.
The
Volunteer Coordinator serves as a resource to the volunteers and organizes
training, inservices, support groups, and recognition events for the volunteers.
Gifts
of money in memory or in honor of a
loved one will help continue to increase the amount of Hospice care and support
offered to our terminally ill neighbors.
Please
Contact:
VNA
Hospice Home Care
501
Marquette Street
Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
(219) 462-5195
A
program of Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County Indiana, Inc.
