HSHS Hospice Central Illinois

Hospice is a program that cares for patients who are considered to be in the last phase of life. Hospice provides support and help for these patients and for their families. Hospice is not a place, but a philosophy of care that recognizes that death is likely near and that improving the quality of life has greater importance than increasing the length of life.

 The program focuses on helping the patient live well until death comes. Hospice services attend to the emotional needs as well as medical issues. They are provided by a team consisting of our medical director, nurses, social worker, chaplain, hospice aides, volunteers, and volunteer/ bereavement coordinator.  All members of the Hospice Team are specially trained in helping people with terminal illness. They know and understand the emotional responses to illness, and they do all they can to ensure that everyday life happens as much as possible for the patient and his/ her family.

Hospice Volunteers

• Support for patients: This can include visiting, reading, taking patients on walks, writing letters for patients, listening to music and providing companionship. 

•Respite and support for family members: Volunteers can assist with shopping or light household maintenance, or sit with a patient at home while allowing the family caregivers the opportunity to take care of necessary errands, exercise, or time to be alone.

•Bereavement support programs: Hospice volunteers provide emotional support for family’s members after a loved one has passed away. Volunteers can make phone calls to families, visit with family members and send out bereavement pamphlets and mailings to families. We also offer support groups and memorial services that volunteers can organize.

• Administrative tasks

• Special skills and interests: Any special skills that can brighten a patient or family member’s day such as hair stylist, barber, beautician musician or singer, Art therapy, aromatherapy, therapy dogs and many more.