Senior Living Homes | In-Hospital Care | Cardiac Program | ALS Program
Hospice care is comfort and care for adults that emphasize the quality of life by treating the person, not the disease.
The BJC Hospice team of health care professionals and volunteers is sensitive to the emotional and spiritual need of adult patients, as well as their families. This interdisciplinary team of experts in hospice care; pain and symptom management; and spiritual, psychosocial and bereavement support, service the patient, family and caregivers. Palliative care helps patients manage their pain and symptoms, while they continue to live their lives with peace and dignity.
Hospice focuses on the needs of the patient and family. Team members and trained volunteers provide support in the patient's home, an extended care facility or a residential care facility. Our team of professionals manages the patient's discomfort; coordinates home medical equipment and pharmacy requirements; and provides counsel on spiritual and emotional needs.
BJC Hospice offers:
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Comfort, not curative treatment
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Treatment for the person, not the disease
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An emphasis on quality, not length of life
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Promotion of family-centered care in the home, extended care facility or residential care facility
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Respite care, inpatient and continuous care
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Expressive therapies
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Psychosocial and spiritual support
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Bereavement follow-up
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24-hour, on-call nurses
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Alternative therapies, including music, art and short-term massage therapy
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Medication assistance
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Equipment and supplies
Our highly trained team consists of:
To qualify for the BJC Hospice program:
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The patient and family must be willing to participate in the plan of care and accept the philosophy of hospice care
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No further curative treatments can be planned
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The physician must agree with the hospice philosophy and direct the patient's medical care accordingly
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The patient must prefer to remain at home or reside in a long-term care facility, rather than remain in the hospital for treatment
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The patient must be informed by his or her physician of a prognosis of six months or less for Medicare to cover the cost of hospice care
Programs
BJC Hospice Care in Senior Living Homes
Available in the metro St. Louis, Sullivan and Illinois areas
BJC Hospice supplements the care provided to residents of senior living homes and their families with a comprehensive plan of care that focuses on physical, psychosocial, spiritual and practical needs during the end-of-life experience. This program benefits patients who:
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Reside in senior living homes and could benefit from hospice services
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Have a physician-diagnosed terminal illness resulting in a life expectancy of six months or less if the diagnosis takes its normal course
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Agree, along with their family and physician, that hospice care is desirable
BJC Hospice provides:
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An interdisciplinary team of staff to complement the care provided
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24-hour, seven-day-per-week availability for consultation or care
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Expertise and consultation in pain management and symptom control
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Support for personal care needs
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Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Medical Director available for consult with attending physician
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Skilled and supportive nursing to provide hands-on care or consultation services with staff
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Medical social workers to provide counseling to patients, families and significant others, including bereavement support for at least 13 months following the resident's death
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Chaplains to provide spiritual support to resident and family
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Volunteers who provide friendship and visitation to the resident and family
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Medical equipment, medications, oxygen and supplies related to the terminal illness
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In-service training, education and grief support for the nursing facility staff
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Consultation with the hospice medical directors and attending physicians
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Referral to other disciplines as needed, including dietary, physical therapy, etc.
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Healing touch therapy, art therapy, pet therapy and massage therapy as needed
In addition to providing comfort and support to patients living in long-term care facilities and to their families, the BJC Hospice team offers in-service training for the staff of the senior living homes. Topics include:
Requests for in-service topics can be made at any time.
BJC Hospice in the Hospital
Acute inpatient hospice care is available to provide acute symptom management prior to discharge. The care team comes to the patient and family, and follows the patient with any changes in location.
Hospice team members can assist in the management of uncontrolled physical, spiritual and emotional symptoms prior to discharge home. By initiating hospice services prior to discharge, the transition to the home setting may be eased. Expert coordination of care and aggressive symptom management will often shorten hospitalization, and all services, including nurses, social workers, chaplains and medical director consultations, are provided. The team focuses on compassionate and respectful comfort care and support of both the patient and family.
Hospice admission for hospitalized patients is a benefit available to all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, whether short-term prior to discharge home or when death is imminent. Hospice can bring care and expertise to patients and families, no matter where they are.
Hospice in the Hospital emphasizes:
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Comfort care and acute symptom management
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Care coordinated with the patient, family, physician and staff
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A discontinuation of diagnostic tests and invasive procedures that are not conducive to the patient's comfort
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Additional support for the family
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Availability of a BJC Hospice nurse at the time of death to support the family
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Consultation by the BJC Hospice medical director
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13 months of bereavement support for the family
Cardiac Hospice Program
BJC Hospice Cardiac Program provides supportive services for adults with life-limiting illnesses, regardless of the diagnosis. The primary goal of hospice care is the relief of symptoms, whether they are physical, spiritual, emotional or psychological, with the focus of care being the entire family, rather than just the patient. All cardiac patients with Class IV symptoms despite maximal medical interventions are potential candidates for the Program.
Patients in the BJC Hospice Cardiac Program have the benefit of receiving their care in various locations, but the vast majority of care is usually provided in the home. This allows the patients to be in a more comfortable setting, with family and friends present.
ALS Hospice Program
BJC Hospice provides specialized services for patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as "Lou Gehrig's disease."
Symptom management includes:
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Constipation/GI problems
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Depression
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Respiratory problems
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Urinary difficulties
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Sleep disturbances
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Excess secretions
The BJC Hospice nurse provides:
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Medication instruction and scheduling
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Skin integrity management
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Disease progression instruction
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Symptom management
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Safety instruction
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When to call the physician
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Equipment instruction, i.e., tube feeding pumps, vents, hospital beds, specialty wheelchairs
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Communication instruction
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Managing patient care at home and preventing recurring hospitalizations
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Liaison between patient/family and physician
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End of life care decision-making, i.e., advanced directives, FPOA, MPOA
Therapies and Counseling for the ALS Patient
Registered Dietitian
Physical Therapy
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Light aerobic exercise and stretching to help the patient stay strong, reduce fatigue and depression, and prevent muscle cramps and spasms
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Teaching safety with activities
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Therapy for control of contractures, joint stiffness and pain, and neck muscle weakness
Speech-Language Therapy and Swallowing Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Social Worker: