• Your physician told you that you have an incurable illness
• Over the course of weeks or months, there has been a decline in your health inspite of treatments---weight loss, decreased in activity level, increase in pain and symptoms
• Frequent admissions to hospitals and emergency rooms
• You choose comfort care versus aggressive treatment
• You and your family need more assistance in the home in caring for your loved one

Too often people are admitted to Hospice during the final few days of their life And wish they would have had Hospice sooner.

• Talk with your physician
• Contact Hospice for more information at (712) 233-4144 or 1-800-383-4545

We understand that making the decision to accept Hospice is often a difficult decision. Confronting the reality that an illness is incurable may be frightening for many individuals and it may be thought that accepting hospice means giving up hope. Hope changes with the start of hospice care from hope for a cure of an illness to ...

Hope for ...

• Comfort
• Treatment choices known and respected
• Personal and business closure achieved
• Respect for dignity
• Emotional and Spiritual support for self and family

Medicare, Iowa Medicaid and many private insurance companies provide funding for hospice services. Medicare and Iowa Medicaid pay Hospice of Siouxland a daily rate to provide hospice services. This daily rate is established by Medicare and Medicaid and covers the following services:

• Interdisciplinary team services
• Medications for pain and symptom management of the illness
• Medical equipment
• Medical supplies
• Outpatient services
• Inpatient care for pain and symptom management
• Respite care for relief of caregivers

Private insurance coverage varies by individual plans.

Though many people think Hospice only cares for cancer patients, Hospice is available for any person facing a life limiting illness regardless of the diagnosis. Illnesses may include heart disease, lung disease, dementia, kidney failure, strokes, Lou Gehrig's disease, or illnesses combined together to cause a clinical decline.

Hospice of Siouxland and area Nursing Facilities have teamed up to offer end of life care needs for persons residing in a nursing facility. Because end of life creates unique needs for individuals and their families, it is important to combine the expertise of Hospice and Nursing Facility staff to meet the unique needs of the resident. Hospice of Siouxland can offer the expertise in pain and symptom management, additional emotional support for the resident and family, and bereavement services for family members after the loss of a loved one. The Medicare Hospice benefit is available for residents who are Medicare eligible.