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“Thank you just seems so small of a thing to say to some one as wonderful as you. You brought great comfort to our Mom and to us as well. We acknowledge with deep appreciation your kind expression of sympathy.”
Southern Tier Hospice
Patient Family Member
FAQ about Hospice Care
Our Patients section is here to provide information and understanding to the questions and answers important to those who may be considering Hospice care. In this section you will find detailed information about what Hospice care provides, admisson criteria, benefits, and cost.
If you have any questions throughout your decision making process do not hesitate to call us. Southern Tier Hospice is here to help you understand your options and the resources available.
General Questions/ Hospice Care
General Questions:
Q: What is Hospice?
A: Hospice is a special kind of care designed to provide sensitivity and support for people in the final phase of a terminal illness. Hospice care allows patients to carry on an alert, pain-free life and to manage other symptoms so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality at home or in a home-like setting.
Q: Is this the Elmira, NY Hospice?
A: Many don't realize that we are Southern Tier Hospice & Palliative Care (STHPC). Our office has been located in Corning, NY since March, 2001. We serve Steuben, Schuyler and Chemung Counties in New York State, which includes the cities and towns of Bath, Hornell, Corning, Horseheads, Elmira, Watkins Glen and other surrounding towns and villages.
Q: Is Hospice just for cancer patients?
A: No, STHPC serves patients with a wide variety of diagnoses from cancer and heart-related diseases to Alzheimer's... as long as other admission criteria are met. Hospice cares for people of all ages since life-limiting illnesses affect all ages. Our staff is trained to help with dying and bereavement processes throughout the life cycle. Hospice provides care to all sectors without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, diagnosis or religion.
Q: When I call, am I getting the answering service?
A: Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 4:30p.m. you will reach our receptionist. Hours outside of that, you will reach our answering service. It is important that the operator asks you questions about your call so that it may be routed to the proper staff member when the office is closed. Our numbers are listed at the bottom of most every page at this site.
Q: What services are offered?
A: Hospice care involves much more than emotional support and hand holding. Although we hold a lot of hands and hug a lot of people, our care involves complete medical care. Our nurses, home health aides, medical social workers, spiritual care counselors and volunteers contribute to a highly specialized interdisciplinary team. We work closely with patients' physicians. We specialize in pain and symptom management for the patient as well as counseling for the complete family. Our staff is trained and experienced in meeting the special needs of families experiencing the crisis of caring for a loved one who is terminally ill.
Q: Is Hospice the same as home health care?
A: No. Both home health care and Hospice provide care for people in poor health, but only Hospice provides specialized care for the terminally ill patient and the patient's family. Our nurses are trained in pain management and work with the patient's doctor to control symptoms. They also help the family understand what to expect at each stage of the illness. Available 24 hours a day, our nurses support the family through any medical concern.
Q: Will hospice be able to come in and take over care? Will they be able to spend the night?
A: Hospice is not a 24 hour a day in-home nursing service. We are a support program to assist families in helping their loved ones to be comfortable and make the best use of their remaining time while at home. We do provide up to an hour a day to give personal care such as bathing and skin care to the patient. But, the bulk of the care is done by families, friends, neighbors, and many families use hired caregivers they hire themselves. We do have an on-call service where you can reach a nurse 24 hours a day 7 days a week, but we do not have a nurse in the home all the time. We do, however, make arrangements for regular visits by the hospice nurse, social worker, volunteer and spiritual care counselor.
Q: Shouldn’t I wait until I am sicker to call Hospice? What if I am admitted to hospice now, and can’t be re-admitted later?
A: As long as your doctor certifies that you are expected to live only six more months if the disease runs its normal course, you can be admitted to hospice care. If, after six months, your doctor continues to certify that you are terminally ill and your condition is worsening, you will continue receiving hospice care. If your condition does stabilize, you can revoke the services of hospice, and can be readmitted when and if your condition begins to decline. Let a hospice admissions nurse help you with this determination, as some situations vary depending on your insurance coverage.
Q: Just because I am admitted to the care of hospice, does this mean I am giving up?
A: No. Hospice is a means to help you live more fully and comfortably, even at the end of life.
Q: How does a patient get admitted to Hospice?
A: Anyone can make a Hospice referral. However, a physician must certify that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less and provide a written order to that effect. It is not necessary that the doctor make the initial contact with Hospice, which can be done by the patient or family member.
Q: When is the best time to begin Hospice care?
A: Hospice is designed for the terminally ill patient with a life expectancy of six months or less and the patient's family. It is at this point that Hospice should become involved. Six months can give the patient and family time to adjust to the limited life expectancy and to work with staff to try to resolve medical, financial, legal or family issues. This also gives the patient and family time to build a relationship of trust with the Hospice staff and volunteers that will help sustain them through this difficult time.
Q: Can I refer myself to hospice?
A: Yes. Your prognosis will have to be verified by your doctor in order to meet the requirements for admission, but the process can be initiated by yourself. We welcome your call. See also: How Are Referrals Made?
Palliative Care
Q: What is 'Palliative Care'? What does the word mean?
A: STHPC offers a Palliative Care program that is a coordinated health care plan providing comfort care, as well as supportive care to patients, their families, and other caregivers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the home or in facility-based settings. With a focus on enhancing quality of life for the patient and the family, physical, social, spiritual, and emotional care are provided by a medically directed interdisciplinary team consisting of the patient/family, STHPC professionals, and volunteers. Please refer to our page on Palliative Care.
Q: Do I have to be a Hospice patient to take part in your palliative care program?
A: No. The criterion for admission to palliative care is having an advanced and progressive disease.
Bereavement
Q: How does Hospice staff deal with sadness?
A: We have a well established bereavement process within our organization that assists staff where it is needed.
Q: What bereavement programs are offered to the public?
A: There are many services offered; individual grief counseling, grief counseling though the schools, family grief counseling, the 'Widow/Widowers' and the 'Helping Hands' support groups. We also provide bereavement mailings and literature. Information is available at (607) 962-4100 Ext. 145. See our Bereavement & Support section.
Q: How can volunteers be involved in bereavement services?
A: Volunteers are often utilized to make calls or visits to families or friends of the deceased and will often participate in the memorial services that we hold several times a year.
Q: How are volunteers trained in bereavement?
A: The Bereavement Coordinator will conduct one-on-one consultations and reviews. Bereavement techniques are also presented during the initial 'Patient Care' training for volunteers.
Q: What would a volunteer do if he or she felt that a patient or family member needed greater or professional help?
A: He or she would contact the Bereavement Coordinator or patient's nurse immediately.
Q: Does a volunteer have to have lost a loved one to participate as a bereavement volunteer?
A: No. ANY life change or crisis yields knowledge which can aid in supporting others.
Q: What if someone wants to become a volunteer but is uncomfortable talking about death?
A: The Bereavement Coordinator can connect the volunteer with other volunteers for peer consultation and support.
Q: As a member of the Hospice support staff, how do you view the role of the volunteer?
A: The volunteer is integral in keeping families connected with emotional and practical support, especially after the patient has died. Volunteers help to allow Hospice to continue to serve these families and friends.
Clinical Support
Q: What is a Clinical Support RN?
A: The Clinical Support RN deals with many families, doctor's offices, pharmacists, DME providers, etc., and processes information/handles general or specific questions or concerns about a patient or the hospice process.
Q: What are some additional responsibilities of the Clinical Support RN?
A: The Clinical Support RN has daily contact with all RN Case Managers, maintains their daily schedules and makes changes as needed. The Clinical Support RN also maintains our inventory of medical and office supplies for patient needs.
Spiritual Care
Q: Can you give support without 'God-talk'?
A: Yes, everyone has a spirituality that seeks the meaning of human experience. Conversation about concerns and significant life history can be helpful. The Spiritual Care Counselor responds to the individual interests of the patient.
Q: I don't have a church. Is that OK?
A: That which is right for the patient is respected. The Spiritual Care Counselor is concerned about doing supportive listening and helping the patient recognize aspects of life that are sources of satisfaction.
Q: Would the Hospice Spiritual Care Counselor do the Memorial Service when the time comes?
A: Yes, the patient may want to have his or her wishes expressed. The Spiritual Care Coordinator would plan to spend time with the family to plan a meaningful celebration of life.
Donations
Q: How do I make a donation? Are patients' families sent an acknowledgement on my behalf after making a donation?
A: There are several types of donations and they can be made in various ways. Please go to Gifts and Donations and see the various options and types of monetary donations most people make. When a 'memorial' or 'tribute' donation is made, a notification is mailed to the patient's family at your request.
Q: Do you accept donations of equipment or supplies?
A: Yes, sometimes we do. WE DO NOT accept beds, medicines, wheelchairs or other Durable Medical Equipment (DMEs). We often accept walkers, shower stools and paper products (Chux, Depends...) for example. It is always best to phone prior to dropping an item off. Please call (607) 962-3100 with your questions.
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