Hospice

When it's time for caring, not curing, Hospice is there. Hospice of the Heartland provides end-of-life care for patients in Kossuth and Hancock County. Hospice care is available at home, or in a home-like setting in the hospital, nursing home or the location of your choice.

How Hospice Works

Hospice services are available to persons who can no longer benefit from curative treatment; the typical Hospice patient has a life-limiting illness of six months or less. Services are provided by a team of trained, local professionals: physicians, nurses, social worker, chaplains, pharmacist, dietician, home health aides, and volunteers - who provide medical care and support services not only to the patent, but to the entire family.

Referrals can be made by physicians, family members, friends, clergy, or health professionals. Referrals received are then discussed by the interdisciplinary team to determine eligibility and appropriateness for services. 

Guidelines for Admission

1. Patients must be diagnosed terminally ill.
2. Patients must have the approval of their primary physician.
3. Patients must have a responsible relative or friend available to assist with care-giving.
4. Patients are accepted regardless of type of disease, age, color, sex, race, religious affiliation, disability, or national origin.
5. Patients must reside in either Kossuth or Hancock counties.

 Program Characteristics

• Under the direction of a physician, Hospice offers palliative (comfort care) rather than curative treatment. Hospice uses sophisticated methods of pain and symptom control that enable the patient to live as fully and comfortably as possible.
• Hospice helps the person and family - not the disease. The interdisciplinary Hospice team is made up of professionals who address the medical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the patient and family.
• Hospice emphasizes quality, rather than length of life. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death: it affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. The Hospice movement stresses human values that go beyond the physical needs of the patient.
• Hospice considers the entire family, not just the patient, as the “unit of care.” Patients and families are included in the decision-making process, and bereavement counseling is provided to the family after the death of their loved one.
• Hospice offers help and support to the patient and family on a 24-hour a day/7 day a week basis. For Hospice patients and their families, help is just a phone call away. Patients routinely receive periodic in-home services of a nurse, home health aide, social worker, volunteers, and other members of the Hospice interdisciplinary team.

Support for loved ones

Grief Support Group: Hospice of the Heartland offers a grief support group once a month. This group is free and all are welcome to participate. Your loved one did not need to receive care through Hospice of the Heartland for you to attend. For more information, contact Kathy Dearchs, LISW, at 515-295-4437.

Lights of Life Memorial Service and Tree-Lighting: This annual event occurs in December and provides an opportunity for people to remember a special loved one by sponsoring a light on Hospice's holiday tree. To learn more, contact Community Health at 515-295-4430.

Butterfly Release and Memorial Service: This annual June event offers a time for families to remember their loved ones at a memorial service and release a butterfly in their honor. To reserve a butterfly or to learn more about this event, contact Community Health at 515-295-4430.

For more information about Hospice of the Heartland, please contact Community Health and Hospice at 515-295-2451 and ask to be directed or call 800-603-8433.