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View 2008 Tree Planting Ceremony Photo Gallery
St. Alexius Hospice
Mission & Philosophy Statements
St. Alexius Hospice exists to provide professional services to terminally ill patients and their families in the Bismarck/Mandan area and surrounding communities.
St. Alexius Hospice believes that life must be nurtured from beginning to end, regardless of lifestyle, race, color, creed, or status.
St. Alexius Hospice has the responsibility to foster each human being’s right to life and the decisions regarding quality of life and dying with dignity in an environment of their choice.
St. Alexius Hospice recognizes that each individual is a member of a family and that these relationships are central to planning hospice care.
St. Alexius Hospice believes that all members of the health care team are to be treated with dignity, respect, and support. |
Hospice is a special kind of care designed to provide sensitivity and support for people in the final phases of a terminal illness. Hospice enables 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.
Caring for the dying person at home can be overwhelming when faced alone. Hospice eases the burden by providing services and education to the patient and family that include:
- Pain control
- Physical care
- Symptom management
- Spiritual and emotional support
St. Alexius Hospice Provides:
- Nurses who are specially trained to provide pain and symptom management, education and guidance, coordinate patient care with the primary physician and hospice Medical Director.
- Certified Nurse Assistants to assist patients and caregivers with personal care, such as bathing, hair and skin care and homemaking services.
- Social Workers to assist in dealing with emotional issues and connecting with additional community resources.
- A Chaplain to provide spiritual guidance when requested. The chaplain will also participate in grief counseling and bereavement services.
- Volunteers who offer companionship and additional support to patients and their families.
Additional services provided under the hospice program:
- Short-term in-patient and respite care
- Bereavement services
- Medications for pain relief and symptom management
- Physical, occupational and speech-language therapy
- Medical supplies, equipment and appliances
- Dietary, Pharmacy consultation
Who pays for hospice care?
Studies have shown hospice care to be no more costly, and frequently less expensive, than conventional care during the last six months of life. This is because less high-cost technology is used and family, friends and volunteers provide much of the day-to-day care at home. Hospice care is a covered benefit under most private insurance plans. In addition, hospice is a covered Medicare benefit and in some states is a covered Medicaid benefit. While each hospice has its own policies concerning payment for care, it is a principle of hospice to offer services based upon need, rather than the ability to pay.
Who is eligible?
A patient may be admitted to Hospice when he/she meets the following criteria:
- A diagnosis of terminal illness.
- Treatment program is palliative rather than curative. Patient’s treatment plan is seeking comfort measures rather than cure.
- Consent from primary physician.
- Consent from the patient and family.
- The patient should have a family member or designated person who is mainly responsible for the care at home.
- The patient has an identified physician who will assume direct supervision of the patient’s medical care in conjunction with the Hospice Medical Director.
Healing Hearts Day Camp
Experiencing the death of a loved one is difficult, especially for a young child or teenager. Healing Hearts Day Camp offers a unique opportunity for your child to explore the grieving and healing process. Developed by a team of healthcare professionals from St. Alexius, the camp provides a variety of fun activities, group sessions and talks to help enable young persons to understand and express their feelings. Parents are also welcome to attend special educational sessions.
Children ages six to 17 are welcome to enroll.
Tree Planting Ceremonies
St. Alexius Home Care and Hospice’s tree planting ceremonies are a time for families to remember their loved ones. Patients are recognized and their lives celebrated during this touching ceremony. Families have the chance to write a note to their loved one and plant it with the tree. The note is meant to symbolize nourishment for the tree. An open house and fellowship follow the ceremonies that take place in our coverage areas.
Volunteers
Volunteers are an important part of the Hospice program. Anyone who is willing to share his or her time, energy, compassion and talent to enrich their own life and life of the patient can become a volunteer.
Volunteers go through a training program to ensure they are acquainted with the Hospice program and team approach. Volunteers have opportunities throughout the year for additional training and education. Initial and ongoing education exposes the volunteer to death, dying, grief and loss issues; the hospice philosophy; and the psychological and social issues families deal with in the care of their dying loved one.
Volunteers help with activities such as:
- Companionship
- Respite care (relieving family members from the demands of caring for loved ones)
- Errands
- Administrative support
- Weekly flower delivery
- Bereavement support
St. Alexius Hospice asks that volunteers commit to serve a minimum of two times per month for a minimum of one year. Volunteers can choose their schedules based on their assignment. For more information on becoming a hospice volunteer, please call (701)530-4500 or (800) 223-1977.
Finding Hope Through the Holidays
This bereavement support offering is held annually in our rural service area as an opportunity for bereaved community members to learn healthy ways to cope during the stress of the holiday season. The offering is facilitated by the hospice team.
Opportunities to support hospice
Although hospice services are often covered by insurance, such payments rarely cover the full cost of care. Hospices must therefore rely to a great extent on grants and community support.
If you would like more information About St. Alexius hospice services or to donate funds, please contact St. Alexius Home Care & Hospice at (701) 530-4500 or (800) 223-1977.
Or, for additional information on hospice go to ND Hospice Organization.
Harvey Branch – Home Care & Hospice
St. Alexius hospice services are also available in Harvey and the surrounding area. A full hospice team is available to provide all services out of the Harvey branch.
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