Anyone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness such as cancer, congestive heart failure, emphysema or any illness where a cure is not currently possible.

• Home visits by specially trained hospice nurses
• Pain management and symptom control
• Personal hygiene care from certified home health aides
• All medications related to the terminal diagnosis
• All specialized therapies required for the terminal diagnosis
• All durable medical equipment related to the terminal diagnosis
• Psychosocial, spiritual and grief support services

Any illness where cure is currently not possible including:

• respiratory disease
• emphysema
• ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease)
• congestive heart failure
• neurological disorders
• end-stage Alzheimer's disease
• end-stage liver and/or kidney disease
• cancer

LEVEL OF CARE
The staff at Hospice of the Valley is specially trained and certified to care for individuals with terminal illnesses. Generally speaking, most home care agencies are not specialists in caring for the terminally ill.

RESTRICTIONS TO MOBILITY
In traditional home care, the patient must be homebound; not so with hospice care. Patients are encouraged to do as much as they feel they can do.

MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT
Under hospice reimbursement, the patient is entitled to additional items and services as appropriate.

Hospice care is also a benefit provided under Medicare, Medicaid and most types of private insurance.

Generally, hospice care is offered when a physician certifies that a patient has a life expectancy of six months or less. However, care can be extended if the patient's condition warrants.

Once a referral is made, Hospice of the Valley will make the admission as soon as needed - generally within 48 hours.

You can ask your doctor to make a referral to Hospice of the Valley or you can contact Hospice of the Valley yourself and request services.

If I am being cared for by Hospice of the Valley, do I still see my doctor?

Yes. Think of Hospice of the Valley as an extension of your physician's office.