HOSPICE AT HOME™
Learning about hospice care before a life threatening illness occurs can reduce stress and be an important part of your personal planning.

Hospice is not a building or a place, but a concept of care that is recognized as the model of quality, compassionate health care delivery for people facing life-limiting illness, regardless of diagnosis. Hospice allows the illness to follow its natural course. Our focus is on caring, not curing.

Hospice care utilizes a team of specially trained health care professionals and volunteers that, collectively, address symptom control, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's needs and wishes.

Most private insurance plans, HMOs and other managed care plans, provide coverage for hospice services, as does Medicare.

Hospice eligibility requirements should not be confused with length of service.  While many insurance companies, as well as the Medicare Hospice Benefit, require that a terminally ill patient have a prognosis of six months or less, there is not a six-month limit to hospice care services. In fact, a patient in the final phase of life may receive hospice care for as long as necessary when a physician certifies that he or she continues to meet eligibility requirements.

The Hospice at Home™ program of Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut is in its third decade of service to the community.

When a patient and/or family chooses Hospice at Home™, they enter into a partnership with not only our caregiving team, but also the many community resources that we access on behalf of our patients. There are many valuable facets of our program, not the least of which is our extensive experience in caring for thousands of patients since our inception in 1981.

About our Care

• Our team is available to provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.
• While most hospice services are provided in the home where patients are most comfortable, care is also available in most skilled nursing facilities and residential care settings.
• Our team's knowledge and expertise in symptom control and pain management is utilized to enhance the quality of life experienced by our patients.
• Support, caregiver training and grief counseling are all available for family and loved ones.
• Our Bereavement Coordinator ensures that family and loved ones have access to bereavement services for over a year after the patient's death, ensuring assistance in coping and adjusting.
• A hospice nurse coordinates the team and if the patient is admitted to a hospital, the nurse ensures that the hospice plan of care continues to be followed.

Palliative Care
See a description of this service under “Specialties.”

You Can Help Ensure that Hospice Care is Available to All in Need

Volunteer
See “Support VNS” for more information on becoming a hospice volunteer.

Financial Contribution
See “Support VNS”

Did you Know?

1. A nationwide Gallup survey, conducted for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization found that:
   • Nine out of ten adults would prefer to be cared for at home, rather than in a hospital or nursing home if diagnosed with a terminal illness. (96% of hospice care is provided in the patient's home or place of residence.

2. When asked to name their greatest fear associated with death, respondents most cited "being a burden to family and friend," followed by "pain" and "lack of control."
   • Addressing the whole range of physical and psychological needs of the patient and his or her family in an interdisciplinary way is what makes hospice care so special.

3. 90% of adults believe it is the family’s responsibility to care for the dying.
   • Hospice provides families with the support needed to keep their loved one at home. Our staff can take over fully to give the caretaker short “respite” periods.

4. Most adults believe it would take a year or more to adjust to the death of a loved one. However, only 10% of adults have ever participated in a bereavement program or grief counseling following the death of a loved one.
   • Hospice at Home offers at least one year of grief counseling for the surviving family and loved ones.

Tree of Light  
The Tree of Light Program is an annual holiday tradition, which provides a forum to remember family and friends in the warmth of a community ceremony. A tax-deductible gift will illuminate a light on a tree in memory of a loved one. Names are listed on the Tree of Light Memorial Roll and read aloud during the tree lighting ceremony. The ceremony is non-denominational and features music and readings. Proceeds benefit our Hospice at Home™ program.

For more information:
 (203) 330-5511