Hospice

Hospice is that place where the road bends at our journey's end, and we are embraced by the care and understanding of people who are strangers to us only once, but friends to those we love forever.

What is Hospice?

The word "hospice" originally represented a place of refuge that provided shelter, nourishment and comfort for weary travelers. Today, "hospice" is a program that provides care and support for people as they near the end of life's journey.

During the course of certain illnesses, when the patient, doctor and family decide that aggressive curative treatment is no longer appropriate, hospice offers new hope. Our hospice program treats the whole person, and our goal is to meet all of the patient's needs - physical, emotional, social and spiritual.

Hospice offers patients and families greater control over end-of-life decisions. Our goal is to keep intact the independence, dignity and personal choices of the patient. We can do this by focusing on the specific needs of each patient and the family.

Hospice recognizes dying as a normal process of living and focuses on maintaining quality of life. Thus, our patients can live in the comfort of their own home, participate in the decision making that effects their care and attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparedness for death that is satisfactory to them.

For a free videotape of the Health Beat cable program that discusses Hospice Care at Torrance Memorial, please call our HealthLine at 310-517-4711.

Who is Eligible for Hospice Care?

We serve those who:

• Have a terminal illness and seek hospice professionals to provide medical and/or psychological support
• Have elected treatment which seeks to relieve symptoms rather than cure the disease
• Have a physician primarily responsible for medical care who will work with the hospice program
• Live within our program boundaries
• Have someone available who will assist with continuing care

(In order to qualify for Medicare benefits the above criteria must be met)

Referrals accepted from:

• Physicians
• Hospital Personnel*
• Families and Friends*

*These require confirmation from primary physician as to appropriateness of hospice care

The admission process:

Referring a patient to the hospice program is a simple process for the attending physician, discharge planner or social worker.

To begin the program:

• Call the hospice office with the patient's name, address, age, present location, diagnosis and estimated prognosis [Often this information is sufficient to make an admission decision].
• A hospice nurse will visit the patient and family at home or in the hospital to assess immediate needs, recommend an initial plan of care and obtain an informed consent.
• Once the plan of care has been determined, on-call help is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Licensed, Experienced Care

Founded in 1983, Torrance Memorial Medical Center's hospice program is Medicare-certified and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The agency is also a member of the National Hospice Organization.

Our staff and volunteers provide support not only to the patient but to the entire family. Services are provided with care and respect for each family's individual situation.

Hospice services include:

• Nursing care - RNs, LVNs
• Social services for the patient and family
• Psychological and social counseling
• Spiritual support/Chaplain services
• Pain control and symptom management
• Short-term inpatient care at Torrance Memorial Medical Center for acute episodes*
• Volunteer services for companionship and family respite
• Home health aides to provide personal care
• Medical supplies and equipment
• Bereavement counseling and one year follow-up

*Must be authorized by the hospice team

Although we believe the above services achieve the best results when presented as a total program, the patient and the family may choose which services they wish to receive.

Who Pays for Home Hospice?

Hospice care is insured by the Medicare Hospice Benefit enacted in 1982. Additionally, hospice is an optional benefit under Medi-Cal and many other private insurance companies.

Hospice services are available to patients regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap. Seniors in managed care programs may elect any hospice they choose and Medicare will pay for services.

How Physicians and Hospice Work Together

The hospice team believes that the role of the attending physician is more important to a terminally ill patient than at any other time in the patient's life.

The attending physician:

• Approves admission to hospice
• Determines the type and intensity of services
• Provides palliative care orders
• Evaluates the effectiveness of hospice care

Our hospice team is composed of a professional staff with clinical expertise in identifying and counseling persons who might benefit from hospice care.

The hospice team:

• Treats the patient and family as a unit
• Develops a care plan to maximize the services provided to each patient
• Monitors pain and symptom management to assure the highest level of comfort for the patient
• Provides regular reports to the physician
• Provides supportive care to relieve the anxiety and fear of the patient and family
• Teaches family and friends care techniques

Bereavement Services

Grief is the normal response we all have to the experience of loss. It is natural and universal, but can also be stressful. Our bereavement services are provided by professionals, as well as professionally trained volunteers. We assist those who are grieving the death of a loved one, and help the caregivers, family members and friends of a terminally ill person. To help you through these difficult times, we offer a variety of bereavement support groups to meet your needs.

• Drop-In Groups
  These groups are available Monday evenings in Room 4 at the Health Conference Center from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday afternoons in Room 3 at the Health Conference Center from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Health Conference Center, Room 5. Come when you can, come when you must, but know that we'll be there for you.
• Bereavement Support Groups
  For more sustained support please join one of our six week-long grief support groups. We can help you find the help you need. For more information, or to arrange a personal consultation, please contact 310/ 784-3754.
• Volunteer Bereavement Training
  In-depth training to prepare volunteers in providing bereavement support to those who are grieving is offered at various times throughout the year. For more specific days and times, please call 310/ 784-3754.

Spiritual Care

• Patient-centered: We believe you; what is important to you is important to us.
• Understanding: We accept you as you are, and help you understand yourself.
• Non-religious: We realize that not everyone has or practices a religion, but we affirm that every person is spiritual in his or her own way.
• Specialized: We respond to your own special spiritual needs. For instance, at your request we will arrange for clergy of your own faith, or coordinate with others to ensure your spiritual care.

In hospice, we help with hope, we appreciate the bonds of love, we aim to enhance inner strengths, and we support growth. We bring encouragement in the face of fear, acceptance in times of doubt, and understanding of the unique significance of your life. Above all, we care.

Thank you for welcoming us and letting us share this meaningful time with you.