What is Hospice Care?

What is Hospice Care?

By Cassandra Cotton

Simply put, hospice is specialized care provided at the end of life to help manage pain and symptoms. As the largest, oldest and only nonprofit hospice in Southern Nevada, Nathan Adelson Hospice has been providing the Las Vegas community with comprehensive and compassionate end-of-life care for over 40 years.

The philosophy of hospice is to provide support and care during the last phase of life, so that people may live as fully and as comfortably as possible. Hospice care enables patients to carry on alert, pain-free lives and to manage symptoms, so their last days may be spent with dignity and quality. The hospice philosophy focuses on the well-being of the whole person, and Nathan Adelson Hospice services are designed to address the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of our patients and their loved ones.

Hospice patients are cared for at home or in a home-like setting. While many families fear the responsibilities of home care, hospice can lessen the burdens on the family through a coordinated system of physical, emotional and spiritual care. Many people are also concerned about the cost of hospice care. The good news is that hospice is 100% covered by Medicare and most major insurers.

Nathan Adelson Hospice uses a team approach to address all aspects of end-of-life care for patients and their families. This team consists of doctors, nurses, certified nursing aides, medical social workers, chaplains and specially-trained volunteers. The hospice team also works with you and your current physician to tailor your plan of care to match your specific needs.

Individualized attention and personalized care plans are hallmarks of Nathan Adelson Hospice’s high standards, and why we continue to be the trusted partner on our community’s journey of care. Our vision is that no one ends the journey of life alone, afraid or in pain.