OVERALL PROGRAM

• Does the hospice accept my insurance? What services and treatments will be covered? To find out what services and treatments are covered, click HERE.

• How long has Dunes Hospice been serving patients? We have been serving patients since 2014.

• Where are hospice services provided? Our services enable the patient to stay in the comfort of their own “home” environment, whether that be a private residence, assisted living, or long-term care facility.

• Will the hospice provide a hospital bed and other medical equipment I might need? Yes, arrangements are made to provide a hospital bed and other medical equipment you might need as appropriate for hospice care.

AVAILABILITY

• Will I have the same hospice nurse? What other members of the hospice team might I see, and how often will I see them? Yes, you will be assigned a case manager nurse who will be your main nurse. If you so elect, you will also see a Certified Nursing Assistant, a social worker, a chaplain, and a volunteer. The frequency of those visits will be determined at the time of consent signing and by patient need.

• How many patients are assigned to each hospice nurse? Each hospice nurse has approximately 10 patients

• Does the hospice have help after business hours? Nights? Weekends? Holidays? We have on-call nurses available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year as needed.

• When I call with an urgent need, how long will it take for someone from the hospice team to respond? We will respond to your urgent phone call within a matter of minutes. A member of our team will communicate arrival time if a nursing visit is needed.

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT

• How will the hospice team manage my pain or other symptoms that arise? Our goal is to provide comfort from pain and other symptoms. Our nurses are trained to help with pain management and and utilize medicines and non-prescription ways of controlling pain. For more information about how we help with pain, click HERE.

• Can I take my current medications? Not all medications are covered by the hospice benefit. Our team will review your medications to see which ones are appropriate to continue and you will be informed which medications are not covered.

• What if my symptoms become uncontrollable at home? Can I go to the hospital? Our hospice team becomes your “9-1-1” and after consultation with us, if pain continues to be uncontrollable, we will help you make the determination regarding going to the hospital.

COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION, AND EDUCATION

• How will the hospice team keep me and my family informed about my condition? Yes, our team is your team and will update patients, families, and caregivers as often as necessary and especially when there are any changes in condition.

• Will my family and I be involved in making care decisions? Yes, our team works with the patients and families to develop a plan of care.

• How do I communicate any questions or concerns I have about my care? You can communicate questions or concerns directly to any of our staff at any time, either when they are physically present to provide care or by calling our office.

• Can I still see my regular doctor if I am on hospice? If yes, how will the hospice team coordinate care with my doctor? If your regular doctor chooses to continue to provide your care once you come on hospice services, you may still see them while on hospice and we will consult with them as we provide care. If not, one of our qualified physicians will direct your care.

• How will the hospice team prepare me and my family for what to expect? Our hospice team provides education verbally and we also provide pamphlets and other written material for you to reference.

CAREGIVER RESOURCES

• Can we speak with other caregivers to learn of their experience with the hospice? We have many testimonials that we are willing to share.

• What support services are offered by the hospice? What are our options if we need a break from providing care? Our support services include social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. We also utilize many other local organizations as needed to help with support services. If you need to take a break from providing care, simply let a member of our team know and we will work to provide that support.

• What if we cannot take care of our loved one at home? If you cannot take care of your loved one at home, we can help explore and facilitate other options such as assisted living and long-term care.

• How will the hospice team support us emotionally through the grieving process? Our hospice has a dedicated bereavement team that will provide emotional support through phone calls, in-person visits, cards, letters, and other identified needs. We offer grief support groups that meet throughout the week with both in-person and online options. We also provide a memorial service every six months to honor the patients who have passed and provide comfort to those grieving.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

• Spiritual Care

  • In addition to the physical care needed by our patients, we also provide emotional support with a focus on spiritual well-being. Whether you express spirituality through organized religion or in your own way, our chaplains are skilled caregivers that can help meet the spiritual support needs of patients and families in ways that don’t prioritize one belief system over another. We provide listening, encouragement, reassurance, and as appropriate, religious rituals like sacred writings, music, and prayers. Typically we visit two times per month (more or less as requested) and can also provide spiritual support to caregivers as needed. When patients have meaningful connections to local churches, our chaplains work with those communities to coordinate important religious rites as requested. Our chaplains can also provide funeral/memorial services when asked.

• Social Work

  • Hospice social workers engage in all the non-medical aspects of patients' care, including coordinating community resources, answering patients' and family members' questions, helping family members cope with the loss of a loved one, and providing patients and families with emotional support through their hospice journey. A hospice social worker is here to help guide a patient and family through difficult conversations and decisions about end of life care. We help navigate those difficult conversations (if needed) about funeral home preferences, code status, and other discussions about a patients last wishes. We are also here not just for the patient, but the family too. If a family member needs extra support we are here to talk and more importantly, to listen.

• Bereavement

  • As you begin your grief journey, remember that you will be grieving in your own unique way. Only you know what feels right to you when you are grieving. Dunes Hospice also provides a bereavement program for up to 13 months following the death of a loved one. This program is offered to families, friends, and caregivers of Dunes Hospice patients, both before and after the patient’s death. We understand the need to share common experiences and gain the support of others in similar situations. These meetings are facilitated by both a Social Worker and a Chaplain and we offer support to anyone who is struggling. We offer support groups throughout Northwest Indiana. Please reach out to our bereavement coordinator at (888) 602-9004 for more information about times and locations.