Loving Care Hospice

 

What is Loving Care Hospice?

The goal of hospice care is to attend to the medical, social, financial and spiritual issues of terminal care. Loving Care’s services extend not only to the needs of the patient, but to the family as well. In a hospice setting, the patient’s symptoms are diagnosed and treated. The disease is allowed to run its course.

Above all, hospice helps patients to live their remaining days with dignity, comfort and control. Our patients make their own choices governing their stay. And we are dedicated to honoring their wishes and supporting the decisions they make.

Where is Hospice Care Provided?

Hospice care is home-based and honors the sanctity and privacy of the patient’s home.
When needed, special short-term hospitalizations can be arranged. We take special care to make sure that all of the usual tests are not done unless absolutely necessary.

At Loving Care, the patient and family have complete control. We are as committed to respecting your wishes as we are to providing compassionate care.

Benefits of Hospice Care:

• The patient is cared for at home.
• The patient and family make the decisions about care.
• The hospice medical director can assist the patient’s physician by making house calls when needed.
• Nurses are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Many types of family support services are available at no cost. Bereavement services are provided to each family following the patient’s death and can continue for one year.

How is a Patient Referred for Services?

Physicians, hospitals and discharge planners provide most of our referrals, but family members, clergy, and even the patient can request our services. The patient’s physician must authorize care.

Our offices are open weekdays from 8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m. for referrals and information. Our toll-free number allows easy access to all residents of Madison and Union Counties.

 

John C. Starr, M.D. and Mary Applegate, M.D. are Loving Care Hospice medical directors. Dr. Starr is board-certified in hospice and palliative care. He is the past president of the International Academy of Hospice Physicians.