Fitzgibbon-Mary Montgomer Hospice

Fitzgibbon Mary Montgomery Hospice is a non-profit team of specially trained volunteers. We provide home-centered care for terminally ill people and their families, emphasizing comfort and support to patients and their family when a life-limiting illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments.

The very existence of Fitzgibbon Mary Montgomery Hospice serves as a lasting memorial to one special woman and her family. When Mary Montgomery learned she was terminally ill, she chose to live out her last days in her home. With the help of her family, friends and others, her request was granted.

After her death on March 18, 1986, her daughters formed a volunteer hospice organization dedicated to providing support to other families facing a terminal illness.

What is hospice? Hospice is end-of-life care for those whose illness no longer responds to curative treatment. The goal is to provide compassionate, comfort care while maintaining dignity and quality of life.

Through the years, services have grown to meet the needs of the surrounding region. Now affiliated with Fitzgibbon Hospital, the comprehensive hospice program has a complete staff of professionals trained to meet the needs of the dying patient. Fitzgibbon - Mary Montgomery Hospice is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. It received certification from Medicare in mid-1993.

Who pays for hospice? Because hospice is dedicated to meeting the needs of terminally ill people and their families, care is given regardless of the patient's available insurance coverage or their ability to pay. Periodic fund-raisers, contributions from the community, memorial donations and bequests make it possible for the hospice program to care for those who otherwise would have no means of payment.

Hospice is Caring.

The hospice Medicare benefit includes coverage of:

short-term inpatient hospital stays when medically necessary or for caregiver respite
round-the-clock nursing care in the home at times of patient crisis
medications for pain control and symptom management
hospice aide services; periodic visits from trained volunteers
medical supplies and equipment related to the terminal illness
medical social services
hospice chaplain services
dietary counseling; and physical, speech and occupation therapies when appropriate
Medicaid and many private insurance plans also pay for hospice services

The hospice team works with the patient's family to develop a personalized plan of care right in the patient's home, assisted living or in a nursing home. At present Fitzgibbon Mary Montgomery Hospice provides hospice care at nursing and residential facilities in the area.

Hospice is Special.

Emphasis is on "palliative" rather than curative treatment. Pain and symptom control enable the patient to live each day as fully and as comfortably as possible.
Hospice treats the person, not the disease. The hospice team helps the patient and family see dying as a natural process. It seeks neither to hasten nor postpone death, but rather to help the patient live with dignity and respect, surrounded by loved ones.
Care is home-centered. Patients value the familiar surroundings. Loved ones or significant others are encouraged to provide as much of the care as possible and are provided instructions as needed.
Patient and family are treated as a unit. All are included in decision-making, and patients may choose how and where they want to spend the rest of their lives.
Emotional and spiritual support are provided by the hospice team. The hospice social worker, chaplain and volunteers are there to listen, not only to patients but also to caregivers, who may neglect their own needs. Bereavement counseling is provided after the death of a loved one.
A hospice nurse is on call 24 hours a day. Although regular hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, the hospice nurse may be contacted at any time to answer your questions.
Special bereavement services are available. Available Bereavement Services include a bereavement letter program consisting of monthly correspondence and educational material about grief; bi-annual grief support in a group setting; a library consisting of educational resources on grief and loss; and an annual tree of life to remember and honor loved ones during the holiday season. These services are available free of charge to all interested persons.

Hospice is Giving.

Trained volunteers provide aid to the patient and family. A volunteer may sit with a patient while the caregiver naps or runs errands, read to the patient, sing or just be a good listener. We are proud of our compassionate, caring and dedicated group of volunteers.

Through the centuries, hospice has meant "a place of rest for travelers." Today, it refers to a special type of program that provides skilled care and emotional support to families and patients in the last month of life. While quality medical care under the direction of a patient's attending physician is an important aspect of hospice, meeting the spiritual, social and emotional needs of the family unit is equally important.

Links:

www.caringinfo.org

www.nhpco.org

www.mohospice.org

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