Hospice is not a place.
We say that because it’s a common misconception. If you think of hospice at all, it’s often as some kind of building, like a nursing home or hospital bed, where you go before you die. Or maybe hospice, whatever it is, is just one of those things you’re supposed to do before death, like getting a legal will and buying a burial plot.
Hospice isn’t a place you travel to, it’s a philosophy of care we’re focused on here at Centrica Care Navigators. The care we provide can be given anywhere. Almost half of all our patients each year are at home when they die, and still more receive care at home before moving to a hospital or hospice site.
You might receive care at a site designed for hospice patients, but it’s the care that’s important, not the location. Hospice care is something that is customized for each and every person.
End-of-life care
In conversation, you might use a phrase like “he’s in hospice,” but what you mean is, “he’s receiving end-of-life care.” Our goal here at Centrica Care Navigators is to improve the quality of life for all our patients, no matter where they’re located. Hospice is not about lying in bed, waiting to die; it’s about doing the best you can with every day. It’s not a place to go, it’s an entire circle of care and compassion for each patient’s body, mind, and spirit.
Hospice care is for people expected to live six months or fewer, and for people who are not actively trying to cure any illness they have. You still get the medicine you need, but it’s not about recovery, it’s about managing your symptoms and living the best life you can in the time you have left. Patients are visited by physicians and nurses on a regular schedule for medical care. The rest of their dedicated care team, like social workers, chaplains, and nurses, also make visits for emotional, spiritual, and other kinds of support.
Support for families
The team travels to wherever their patient is, because hospice is a service, not a location. It’s not even simply a service for patients themselves. Everyone also has a caregiver like a family member or friend who’s there to help with day-to-day tasks and companionship. The care team supports caregivers with information on pain control, the best ways to make the patient comfortable, and more.
We offer more than just the basics, too. This May, we’re opening Centrica Adult Day, our site for guests who need companionship and activity for a few hours each day. The kind of attention guests get at Centrica Adult Day is for people who aren’t ready for traditional hospice care. It can be anything from meals together in a group to social activities like exercise.
We also have extensive grief support services for caregivers, family members, and others. They get the support they need to face and move through their grief.
When you agree to service with Centrica Care Navigators, you’re not going to a place. You’re receiving the care that you need, in whatever form that takes. It’s not a visit to the hospital – though you will work with nurses and doctors looking out for you. It’s not a sign that life is over – it’s a new way of looking at life for you and your caregivers.
Find out more about our hospice and end-of-life care services. You can learn more by exploring our website or calling Centrica Care Navigators at 269.345.0273.
If you’re caring for a loved one, it might feel like you have to become a medical expert in addition to all the other things you do in a day. A person may need medication or assistance moving around. You’re likely not trained in managing medication. Or maybe or you can’t be near someone all every day because of work, family obligations, or some other reason.
If that’s your situation, you can find assistance from professional staff at Centrica Care Navigators. Being in serious pain is something that no one wants, especially someone who isn’t able to clearly communicate the way they’re feeling.
Our Mission is to guide and support individuals and their caregivers coping with illness, aging, dying, and loss by providing compassionate medical, emotional, spiritual, and personal care.
