What is hospice?
Hospice is not about the last months of life — it’s about living those months to the fullest.
We want to enable our patients to spend time with those they love, continue the activities they enjoy, and embrace their unique spirit that inspires all of us.
At Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (formerly Lower Cape Fear Hospice), our compassionate and expert care teams coordinate with you, your doctors and loved ones to navigate your physical, emotional and spiritual needs, supporting your goals of care, in your home or the place you call home.
We serve hospice patients wherever they call “home.” This could be assisted living, a private home, a long-term nursing facility or one of our home-like hospice care centers. We want to help our patients live life to the fullest in whatever environment is best for their well-being.
Many families tell us they wish they had known about hospice sooner.
We serve our patients right where they live, which may include:
- Private homes
- Assisted living centers
- Hospitals
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Our care centers
We provide care to people living in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover,Onslow, and Pender counties in North Carolina. In addition, we serve Horry, Georgetown and Marion counties inSouth Carolina.
Patients and their families have access to our team of experts, which include:
- Hospice physicians and physician assistants
- Registered nurses and nurse practitioners
- Hospice nurse case managers
- Medical social workers
- Chaplains and volunteers
- Certified nursing assistants
- Grief counselors
What services are offered through Lower Cape Fear LifeCare?
Our team includes board-certified physicians, nurses and counselors whose expertise helps our patients and their families live as fully and as comfortably as possible. In addition, many of our physicians, nurses and nursing assistants have earned specialized certifications in hospice and palliative care.
We provide a support network that offers:
- Expertise in reducing pain and easing symptoms
- Bathing and other personal care
- Grief and spiritual counseling and support
- Companionship, respite, and assistance with errands
- Advance care planning and decision-making assistance
- Help with family discussions
- Assistance in accessing community resources
Respite Care is also offered as part of the Hospice Benefit. It allows for short-term inpatient care for hospice patients, so family members or other caregivers can have a break. For more information about Respite Care, contact your care team.
Who qualifies for hospice care?
Anyone facing a life-limiting illness, whose current prognosis indicates a life expectancy of six months or less, can qualify as a hospice patient. Many people think hospice care is just for the elderly or is only for cancer patients. That’s not true.
We serve patients whose diagnoses may include, but are not limited, to:
- Cancer
- End-stages of chronic illnesses such as lung, heart, and kidney disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
- Strokes
- ALS
- Neurological diseases
Anyone can refer a patient for hospice care: a loved one, physician, friend, neighbor, member of the community, or even the patient themselves. Call us about how to get the care you or someone you know needs.
Let’s talk about palliative care…
Did you know that palliative care can begin the moment you are diagnosed with a serious illness? Those who receive palliative care in the early stages of their illness can live more and do more of the activities they love.
Palliative care relieves pain and symptoms while curative treatment is ongoing.
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Palliative careis about improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Patients of any age may receive palliative care at any stage in their diagnosis.
Through palliative care, we work with your physicians to provide relief from issues such as pain, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties and depression. We encourage you or your loved one to take advantage of palliative services as soon as you receive a diagnosis of a serious illness.
Palliative care nurse practitioners/physician assistants visit patients once (sometimes twice) a month to access care needs and provide pain and symptom management.
Those receiving palliative care experience fewer hospitalizations and, for those hospitalized, a shorter stay.
Do you have questions about palliative care? We welcome the opportunity to speak with you and help in any way we can. Call to find out if you qualify for our palliative care program.
Be together. Let us take care of the rest.
Contact us at 800.733.1476 to discuss your palliative care options. We’ll be happy to help guide you through important conversations to have with your doctor.
Each year, Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies do not cover over $1 million in hospice and palliative care services provided to those in our community. Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation allows us to continue to provide these services to the community regardless of someone’s ability to pay. Please consider getting involved today.
