When hospice care becomes the treatment of choice, there is a shift from curative to supportive care measures. The primary focus of Hospice Services is helping people live as fully and as comfortably as possible. Dying is a natural part of life. But receiving a diagnosis of a terminal disease doesn’t mean you have to quit living. Hospice agencies are comprised of an interdisciplinary team of professionals that listen to your wishes and works with you to develop a care plan individualized to your needs and preferences. These teams typically include the following:

• Hospice medical director is responsible for the management of the terminal illness and any related conditions.
• Primary physician continues to be involved in your hospice care.
• Nurse practitioner assists with symptom management and makes home visits if needed.
• Registered nurse (RN) patient care coordinator visits regularly and makes ongoing assessments of physical, emotional and spiritual symptoms (each person is assigned one RN coordinator).
• Hospice visiting nurse may assist with medication management, dressing changes, other physical care and emotional support.
• Hospice aide provides personal care, homemaking services and other supportive services.
• Pharmacist is dedicated to hospice, regularly reviews your medications and provides input to manage symptoms to improve quality of life.
• Social worker meets with you and caregivers to assess financial issues, emotional stress, safety of environment and coping skills.
• Bereavement coordinator provides follow-up, support and grief education for loved ones throughout 13 months following death.
• Volunteers are screened and trained by hospice staff to provide a variety of services, including companionship and a supportive presence.
• Chaplain/spiritual care coordinator respects individual beliefs and practices and is available for spiritual, religious support or both.
• Other professionals are available based on your needs, including physical, occupational, speech and integrative therapists, and dietitians.

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Below are the Hospice Agencies in the Roanoke Valley: