Beloit Regional Hospice Inc

MEDICAL CARE AND SUPPORT

HISTORY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BELOIT REGIONAL HOSPICE IS AN INDEPENDENT HOSPICE ORGANIZATION SERVING TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN A FIVE-COUNTY AREA OF THE WISCONSIN-ILLINOIS STATELINE. HOSPICE PROVIDES AN END-OF-LIFE OPTION THAT SUPPORTS DYING PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH COMFORT, COMPASSION, AND DIGNITY AT THE END OF LIFE. CURRENT PROGRAM AND ACTIVITIESBELOIT REGIONAL HOSPICE FOCUSES ON PROVIDING COMFORT AND DIGNITY TO ITS PATIENTS BY OFFERING THEM INDEPENDENCE AND CONTROL DURING THIS POIGNANT PHASE OF LIFE'S JOURNEY. ANY PERSON, WHOSE ILLNESS HAS ADVANCED TO THE POINT OF HIM/HER NO LONGER SEEKING LIFE-EXTENDING CARE BUT RATHER COMFORT AND QUALITY OF LIFE, IS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES OFFERED BY BELOIT REGIONAL HOSPICE, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. PATIENTS INCLUDE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND A VARIETY OF ILLNESSES. APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE CARE HAVE A CANCER DIAGNOSIS. OTHERS MAY INCLUDE END STAGE DISEASES SUCH AS HEART, LUNG, HUNTINGTON'S, AND ALZHEIMER'S & OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE ALLEVIATION OF PAIN AND OTHER SYMPTOMS THAT INCLUDE THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE DYING PERSON AS WELL AS THE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS. HOSPICE CARE INVOLVES A TEAM-ORIENTED APPROACH THAT INCLUDES PHYSICIANS, NURSES, HOME HEALTH AIDES, SOCIAL WORKERS, CLERGY, AND VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK TOGETHER, ALONGSIDE THE PATIENT AND THEIR FAMILY, TO PLAN AND COORDINATE CARE. BELOIT REGIONAL HOSPICE OFFERS BEREAVEMENT SERVICES AT NO CHARGE TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE OFFERING A VARIETY OF GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS.

TRANSITIONS PROGRAMTHE TRANSITIONS PROGRAM IS A VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN PROGRAM FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WHO FACE A LIFE-LIMITING ILLNESS. SERVICES INCLUDE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, EDUCATION, PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE, AND TIMELY COORDINATED REFERRAL TO A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SERVICES. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES COPE WITH THE DAY TO DAY STRUGGLES AND TO FIND THE INFORMATION THEY NEED.NO PROGRAM COSTS ARE PASSED ON TO THE CLIENT. COMMUNITY SUPPORT THROUGH GRANTS, FOUNDATION GIFTS, AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS PROVIDE NECESSARY FUNDING.SERVICES ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF TWO YEARS OR LESS. THESE INDIVIDUALS MAY STILL BE SEEKING CURATIVE TREATMENT. TRANSITIONS DOES NOT PROVIDE NURSING SERVICES, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OR MEDICATIONS. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH CLIENTS TO ENHANCE THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM AND HELPS THEM ADJUST TO LIVING WITH THEIR ILLNESS. VOLUNTEERS HOWEVER SUPPORT CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BASED ON EACH FAMILY'S OWN UNIQUE NEEDS. SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES ARE: OFFERING COMPANIONSHIP, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, PREPARING MEALS, LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING, AND RUNNING ERRANDS.TRANSITIONS SERVES RESIDENTS IN ROCK, GREEN, AND WALWORTH COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN AND WINNEBAGO AND BOONE COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS.