Daily Egyptian Spring 04
Spring '04 Edition
Hospice care offers an alternative to hospitalization
Monique Garcia
Daily Egyptian
For more information about the Hospice of Southern Illinois and hospice services call 1-800-233-1708.
"For us, this is an everyday occurrence. People die, it happens, we just have to remember that we are letting these people die with some dignity. You are helping them stay at home." -Gayle Phelps, clinical services manager
The nurses are used to it.
Everyday someone dies and everyday someone new comes into the program. Some are young, fresh out of college. But, most are elderly, with a full life behind them.
It is hard to see people come and go. It is hard to get close to someone, learn about a person and then have it all taken away.
But this is their job; this is what they are trained to do. This is their responsibility.
They are here to make it a little easier for the patient and the family.
Nurses and staff members at the Hospice of Southern Illinois in Marion know that from the outside looking in their job seems morbid, but they are proud of the service they offer.
"It is always hard when you get to know people and their family," said Gayle Phelps, clinical services manager. "It is tough, but we get support from each other.
"For us, this is an everyday occurrence. People die, it happens, we just have to remember that we are letting these people die with some dignity. You are helping them stay at home."
The hospice services the lower 15 counties and provides in-home care for approximately 120 patients a day. Debbie Hogg, community educator, said the hospice is a perfect way to allow patients the comforts at home with the same medical care they would receive in a hospital.
"Our purpose is to assist them so that they can stay at home," Hogg said. "It allows them to be in their own bed with family and friends.
"We provide patients and their families with everything they need, be it personal care products, medical equipment or even cleaning up around the house ˆ we realize taking care of an ill family member can be a burden, and we like to help the caregivers when we can."
Hogg said it is usually difficult to decide if hospice care is necessary, but there are a few general guidelines.
The best time to begin the admission process is when curative treatment in no longer an option. Hogg said patients must be referred to the program, either by a doctor or family member, and have a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less.
She also noted that the hospice does nothing to speed up or slow down the dying process, they simply try to control symptoms and ease pain.
While physical pain can be controlled with the right medication, emotional pain is a little more complicated.
"Most patients deal with it, they accept it because they know they can't change it," Hogg said. "The primary concern is to help the family. It is emotionally trying, especially for those who are there every day. But we have social workers and we have counselors that help facilitate the bereavement process for up to a year after the death."
Along with counselor visits, the hospice is offering a unique opportunity for families to heal together this summer.
For the first time, they will sponsor a day camp aimed at children, who are often hit the hardest with a death.
The camp will take place July 31 at the Herrin Catholic Church, and an adult must accompany all children. Hogg said adults would also be able to participate during the camp.
"It is designed to help the adults help the children," Hogg said. "Most people complain that no one will talk to them about a relative dying when they need it the most. This is trying to facilitate that dialogue and help the healing process."
While family members have hospice staff members to help them deal with their pain, the staff members only have each other, and their personal experience with hospice care.
Phelps said part of the reason she chose to work with terminally ill patients because her father needed hospice care at the end of his life. She said most of the staff members share similar experiences.
"I would say at least half of the nurses have had personal experiences with hospice care," Phelps said. "After seeing the care my father received I left the hospital setting and came here and I have been here for four years now. I know it looks sick to other people who aren't in the business, but we are providing a service.
"Sometimes it bothers you for a while, but life goes on. We try to go to the funerals and visitations. But it just depends, every patient and every family is different."
The hospice is a non-profit organization covered under Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers. However, insurance coverage is not required.
"We are really proud that only 19 percent of our budget goes towards administration and staff," Hogg said. "The rest goes directly to the patients and families, and that is what makes us different.
"Yes, there are other hospices and yes, there are hospital beds and yes there is dying, but there is more. It is about living."
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