Hospice Services

Hospice exists to provide support and care to individuals with life-limiting illness and their loved ones. These services are not intended to take the place of care by family members but rather to guide and support them during a difficult time.

Depending upon individual needs, services may include:

• Physician Services
• Medical Social Services
• Nursing Services
• Counseling Services
• Nursing Assistant/Personal Care Services
• Spiritual Support
• Volunteer Support Services
• Bereavement Support Services
• 24 Hour, 7 Day/Week Support
• Therapy Services

The Hospice Team will arrange for medications, medical equipment and supplies, inpatient care, respite care, dietary counseling, personal care services, and other services as needed for the care and comfort of the patient and support for the family. Hospice of the Good Shepherd also provides help seeking assistance from other community resources (see our “Frequently Asked Questions” for more specific information on hospice services).

We will provide hospice care to all qualified individuals and do not discriminate based on the ability to pay.

Bereavement Support

Hospice of the Good Shepherd’s mission is to provide comprehensive end-of-life care to patients and their loved ones. This comprehensive care does not end with the death of the patient. Following a death, specially trained hospice bereavement staff help the surviving loved ones deal with their grief. At Hospice of the Good Shepherd we support the bereaved for as long as necessary during the healing process. Bereavement services are tailored to meet an individual’s needs and where they are in the grieving process. Bereavement services offered by Hospice of the Good Shepherd are also available to anyone in the community dealing with serious illness, grief or loss.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd offers

• Family Visits
• One-on-one individual counseling sessions with a trained expert
• Telephone Visits
• Grief support groups
• A variety of resources for grief education

We support people of all ages through the challenging times that follow the loss of someone special.

We help you to understand the grief you are experiencing, and identify resources and support to help you manage the way you are feeling.

We offer information, resources and guidance to family and friends who are concerned about someone who is grieving.

We offer support to staff at health care facilities to help with grief issues that arise from taking care of dying patients.

For more information on bereavement support please contact Hospice of the Good Shepherd at (440) 808-6111.

Long Term Care & Assisted Living Facilities
Partners in End-of-Life Care

• 1 of every 3 people over the age of 85 is likely to spend a portion of their remaining life in a long-term care facility.
• Approximately 500,000 people die in nursing facilities each year in America
  (20% of annual deaths).

As in other care settings, those facing life-limiting illness in facilities still experience fear, uncertainty, pain and symptoms. The needs of these residents require a strong partnership, with exceptional coordination of services to meet the goals of the patient.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd’s goal is to enhance the quality of life for both the resident and family while making your job easier. Residents under hospice care are typically NOT sent to the hospital in the last days of life. They can be well managed by the partnership of care between the facility and Hospice of the Good Shepherd.

Our mission at Hospice of the Good Shepherd is to compliment your staff’s efforts with additional resources and assist them in providing comprehensive care for the patient and family.

Complimentary Services

• Pain and symptom management
• Psycho-social support for patient and family
• Volunteers & spiritual support
• Life enrichment
• Support at time of death to facility staff “family”
• Educational resources for facility staff

Hospice of the Good Shepherd team members will meet regularly, with facility staff, to review, coordinate and update the plan of care.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd realizes communication is the key to a good partnership; and you have our commitment to review and discuss any changes regarding medications, medical equipment, change in condition, etc.

Often prolonged illness can leave a family in a crisis situation; we can assist families in the following:

• Advance Directives
• Funeral Planning
• Educational Materials
• Coordination of Community Resources

The earlier that we can help you take care of your terminally-ill residents, the greater the benefit for residents, family and staff. Early referrals give healthcare professionals the opportunity to maximize the benefit of end-of-life care and provide a supportive environment that will meet the patient and family needs and facility goals.