Hospice Care

The staff at Parkview Hospice is dedicated to caring for each individual patient — developing a care plan that best meets their needs. The care team’s goal is to provide support that enables the patient to live comfortably in the end stages of life. Whether at home, in a nursing facility or at Parkview’s Supportive Care Unit, care is provided by:    

• Personal physician: Directs and manages the care plan.
• Hospice medical director: Supervises hospice team and participates in evaluating and developing the patient’s care plan. The director may assume care for patients who have no personal physician.
• Registered nurse: Coordinates care, regularly monitors the patient’s progress, performs medical assessments, provides care that includes symptom and pain management, and instructs family members in patient care techniques. A hospice nurse is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to emergencies.
• Home health aide: Assists patients with bathing, dressing and other needs.
• Social worker: Assists family members with financial planning; coordinates community resources; provides social, emotional and bereavement support.
• Chaplain: Offers spiritual, emotional and bereavement support for patient and caregivers.
• Volunteers: Provide support for patient and caregivers by visiting them and assisting with, and performing, routine errands or tasks. Volunteers also record videos that share the patients’ life story, sew, knit and crochet items for patients, as well as assist staff.
• Pharmacist: Assists the medical team with medication management required to control the patient’s pain and symptoms.
• Massage therapist: Performs manipulation of soft tissue and applies pressure to selected points of the patient’s body as a way of alleviating pain.
• Music therapist: Works individually with the patient and family members to provide instrumental or vocal music that provides an extra form of compassion during the ending stages of life.

Massage and music therapy are provided to patients due to the generosity to Parkview Home Health and Hospice through Parkview Foundations. Click here to learn more about how you can donate to help Home Health and Hospice patients.

A referral is needed to begin receiving hospice services. Generally, a referral is made by the patient’s physician, hospital staff, long-term care/assisted-living facility staff member or other health provider. Referrals are also accepted if made by a family member, member of the clergy, friend or even the individual wishing to receive services. If you are referred for hospice services, a hospice nurse will assess your condition and discuss your medical, social, spiritual and personal needs.

For those needing medical intervention not feasible in a home setting, Parkview Hospice offers inpatient care in our community hospitals. Admitted individuals and their family members experience patient-centered end-of-life care in a calm and peaceful setting — allowing the patient to spend their last days surrounded by the ones they love.

Medicare Part A, Medicaid or private insurance may be used for payment of service. For your convenience, trained Parkview Hospice staff members verify insurance coverage and bill the provider, or assist with identifying financial resources that may be available. For more information or patient referral, call 260-373-9800 or 800-363-9977 during business hours, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.