Hospice
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What is Hospice?
Hospice is for people who have been diagnosed as terminally ill with an estimated life expectancy of six months or less. It focuses on pain and symptom management, comfort, and quality of life rather than treatment of an underlying disease. Patients can remain in the company of loved ones at home or any environment they choose.
UR Medicine offers hospice care for patients in Monroe, Ontario, and Yates counties. Typically, the care is provided in a residential home but it can also take place in settings such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and comfort care homes.
Hospice care does not hasten or postpone death. Choosing hospice doesn’t mean giving up hope.
When faced with a terminal illness, many patients and family members dwell on the imminent loss of life instead of making the most of the life remaining. Hospice helps patients reclaim the spirit of life. It helps them understand that although death leads to sadness, anger, and pain, it also leads to opportunities for reminiscence, reconciliation, laughter, and hope.
Hospice should not be confused with palliative care, which provides relief from the symptoms, pain, and stresses of a serious illness to meet physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and/or existential needs. Palliative care can be offered in hospice but also can be provided along with curative treatment. Hospice adds life to a person’s days, not days to a person’s life.
UR Medicine's Approach
A prospective patient or a member of their family can call for information at any time. A common response by many patients and families is “I wish we had called hospice sooner." Early contact can help people understand the role hospice care might play. The hospice staff will contact the patient’s physician concerning medical appropriateness for hospice.
At the start of services, hospice professionals develop an individualized plan of care based on the needs, wishes, and beliefs of the patient and family. The plan is continuously reviewed and updated. Services include medical, nursing, social work, home health aides, spiritual, volunteer services, bereavement support, and inpatient care.
Treatments are available to address comfort and quality of life and help control pain and other distressing symptoms.
A patient can discontinue hospice services at any time and resume services at any time.
For the families, providing care to a dying loved one is never easy and sometimes quite difficult, but it also can be very rewarding. A hospice nurse is on call 24 hours a day to answer questions, provide guidance, give support and reassurance, or provide an emergency visit.
Hospice provides grief support or bereavement services for up to one year after the patient dies. The amount and type of support is determined by the survivors’ needs.
Toll Free: 1-800-253-4439
Local: (585) 787-2233
What Sets Us Apart?
We have partnered with We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and Veterans Affairs. During a formal ceremony that publicly acknowledges military service and sacrifices, each veteran is given a certificate, a pin, and an American flag blanket. A staff member reads formal words of appreciation and ceremonially places the blanket’s stars over the veteran’s heart.
Some veterans face unique health risks from psychological trauma, chemical agents, or illnesses that are not common in the general population. Our professionals have special training that enables them to understand and address these medical concerns.
Providers
Patient Education & Support
UR Medicine Resources
External Resources
Understanding End-of-Life Options: New Book Details Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking
Palliative care expert Timothy Quill, M.D., explores the legal, ethical, and emotional aspects of the lesser known end-of-life option, voluntarily stopping eating and drinking.
Wings of Hope: Memorial Butterfly Release
Release a beautiful live butterfly to honor memories and remember loved ones.
The butterfly is a fitting symbol of the cycle of life: birth, transition, healing, and renewal. You are invited to join us to celebrate life, commemorate a special occasion or remember those who have passed on. The ceremony will include live music, inspirational messages, a public reading of the names of those being remembered, and the butterfly release.
For more information, email Janice_DiDuro@URMC.Rochester.edu or call (315) 759-8225.