Hospice & Palliative Care in Lafayette, LA (Acadiana)

Community Hospice and Palliative Care consists of a Physician, Nurse Practitioner, RN, Chaplain, Social Worker and Volunteers. Our team specializes in pain management and symptom control. We involve all family members in our care planning process.

Our Hospice team provides a comprehensive treatment plan developed with the assistance of the family. Family goals are considered and honored as part of the plan. Our team consists of the following:

• Skilled Nursing
• Social Worker
• Chaplain / Counselor
• Personal Care Services
• Bereavement
• Volunteers
• Physician Oversight
• Nurse Practitioner

Patients who meet most of the guidelines may still be eligible for the service if they have a six month or less prognosis and demonstrate significant life-limiting co-morbid conditions. Patient’s medical records are obtained and reviewed with the hospice physician and an onsite evaluation by a registered nurse to determine hospice appropriateness. A signed order alone is NOT sufficient.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice focuses on caring, not curing and in most cases care is provided in the patient’s home. Hospice care also is provided in freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Hospice services are available to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness. Hospice care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations.

How does hospice care work?

Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make decisions for the terminally ill individual. Members of the hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services. Hospice staff is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The hospice team develops a care plan that meets each patient’s individual needs for pain management and symptom control. The team usually consists of:

• The patient’ s personal physician;
• Hospice physician (or medical director);
• Nurses;
• Home health aides;
• Social workers;
• Clergy or other counselors
• Trained volunteers;
• Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapists, if needed.

What services are provided?

Among its major responsibilities, the interdisciplinary hospice team:

1. Manages the patient’s pain and symptoms;
2. Assists the patient with the emotional and psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying;
3. Provides needed drugs, medical supplies, and equipment;
4. Coaches the family on how to care for the patient;
5. Delivers special services like speech and physical therapy when needed;
6. Makes short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, or the caregiver needs respite time;
7. Provides bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends.