Hospice Care
The Hospice Approach
Time spent with family and friends becomes even more precious when diagnosed with a terminal illness. This is why many terminally ill patients turn to the Covenant Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) for Hospice Care services. Hospice is a non-profit health care program that enables patients to spend their final days at home in dignity and comfort with loved ones attheir side.
Covenant VNA is committed to providing compassionate hospice are in the patient’s home or if that is not possible, in a homelike setting such as the James E. Cartwright Care Center. Our goal is not to cure, but rather to help both the patient and family cope with many end-of-life issues – including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial challenges.
Expert Services
Covenant VNA’s Hospice Team crosses many disciplines and is focused on ensuring quality of life during the last six months of the patient’s illness. Guided by the patient’s physician, the team designs an individually tailored care plan for each patient and family. Our team of hospice-certified nurses, physicians, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, chaplains, dietitians, therapists and volunteers offer the following services:
- Professional on-call 24-hr nursing care
- Pain management and symptom control
- Medication direction
- Nutritional counseling
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Spiritual and bereavement support for patient and family members
- Financial counseling
- Respite care
- Companionship, errands and personal care
Hospice Eligibility
Hospice care is typically offered to patients who meet these criteria:
- Have a life expectancy of six months or less
- Choose treatments to enhance quality of life
- Agree to work with the Hospice Team in cooperation with the family and attending physician
- Have someone to help at home if in-home care is requested
Both family and friends can request hospice services for their loved one. Our representatives can personally meet with the patient and family to discuss the best hospice approach for the patient regarding their illness. The earlier VNA Hospice Care is contacted concerning the illness, the more time we will have in providing the best possible support.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are an essential element in the hospice concept. They are our helping hands -- assisting our organization in providing the additional care and support our hospice patients and family members need. Volunteers offer our patients much needed support, companionship, and assistance with everyday activities. They help ensure that patients spend their final days in dignity and comfort.
We invite you to become a Covenant VNA Hospice Care volunteer. As a volunteer, you'll become an integral member of our caring team of professionals. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Patient and Family Care such as visiting or calling a family member; helping with shopping or errands; or spending time with a patient to offer an interval of rest for cargivers.
- Administrative Duties including general office functions.
- Community Functions such as helping at a health fair; flu clinic; or hospice function.
Emails can be directed to Darcie Johnson, Volunteer Specialist. If you want to speak to someone, please call Darcie at 989.799.6020 or 800.862.4968
Grief Support
Hospice reaches more than the patient. We help prepare family and friends for the loss of a loved one. After a patient dies, hospice provides individual and family counseling, visits by trained volunteers, holiday programs, support groups, and seminars on death and grief. Many of our services are available to anyone who wishes to attend. A new grief support group specially designed for spouses will debut in January. Come back here soon for details!! In the meantime, if you need grief support information, please call Gail Crachiola at 989.799.6020.
Just a Phone Call Away
VNA COMPREHENSIVE HOME CARE for services such as in-home nursing, physical, occupational, or speech therapy, call 1.800.VNA.4.YOU or 989.799.6020
VNA HOSPICE CARE for in-home hospice visits or details about the James E. Cartwright Care Center, call 1.800.VNA.4.YOU or 989.799.6020
VNA HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT for prescription and non-prescription medical equipment, call 1.800.VNA.4.YOU; 989.799.6020 (500 S. Hamilton St. in Saginaw); or 989.583.6017 (Covenant Cooper campus); or 989.652.1582 (600 N. Main St. in Frankenmuth)
VNA INFUSION THERAPY for in-home services such as IV antibiotics or Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), call 1.800.VNA.4.YOU or 989.799.6020.
VNSS (VISITING NURSE SPECIAL SERVICES) for special private-pay services, call 1.800.936.6326 or 989.797.0828
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