Hospice services have evolved over years
Roni Lucas, community educator for Good Samaritan Hospice, includes the possibility of a memory quilt when she talks to a family about hospice care.
“I'm one of the fortunate ones that gets to deliver the quilt,” said Lucas.
“Hospice has changed. It has evolved over the years.”
She recommends getting information about hospice before there is a crisis.
According to Lucas, both Medicare and private insurance are available to pay for hospice as part of hospitalization benefits.
“Hospice is a choice that people have in their health care,” said Lucas. “It's looking at their health and saying I've done everything, I've tried everything and now I want to focus on the things that are important to me in my life. It's a different way of thinking.”
“You're not getting back on your feet. You've made the decision you're no longer going to seek active treatment,” Lucas said. “You're electing to have the basic comfort.”
Good Samaritan Hospice is a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries. It provides hospice at home and at three in-patient facilities, including one in Cabot.
Hospice also is available through Amedisys Hospice Care, VA Butler Healthcare, VNA Hospice of Western Pennsylvania and Medi Home Hospice, all in Butler; St. Barnabas Hospice, Gibsonia; Hope Hospice, Pittsburgh; and other organizations.
