Hospice is a philosophy of care provided to patients with a life-limiting illness who have chosen a palliative approach to care. Hospice care focuses on the patient’s quality of life by allowing them to remain pain free, relaxed and comfortable while being surrounded by loved ones.

Emphasis is placed on caring for the whole person—physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. In addition, hospice care allows patients and their family members to prepare for the end of life in a way that meets their individual needs.

The VNA provides hospice care in Omaha and surrounding communities. In Southwest Iowa, hospice is provided through our partnership in Hospice of Southwest Iowa.

For more information or to make a hospice referral, call VNA at (402) 342-5566, (800) 342-5566 or email Joanie Kush, Vice President of Hospice and Pharmacy, at jkush@thevnacares.org.

Download the Hospice and Palliative Care brochure (PDF 224 KB)

When is Hospice Necessary?

Hospice care is appropriate at the time a patient’s illness no longer responds to aggressive, cure-oriented treatment, and the focus is shifted to providing comfort to the patient through the end of life. Hospice care is centered on treating symptoms of the illness in order to ensure the patient remains as comfortable as possible.

Often, patients and families remark that they would have benefited from starting hospice services earlier. By requesting hospice care sooner, patients and their families can receive the greatest benefits through the emotional and physical support that hospice professionals provide.

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VNA Hospice Services

The VNA Hospice team provides a full spectrum of services, which include:

• Physician-directed care
• Individualized care provided by a trained interdisciplinary team, including a medical director, nurses, social workers, home health aides, chaplains, bereavement counselors and volunteers
• Support services include physical, occupational, and speech therapies
• Expertise in complex pain and symptom management
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Bereavement support
• Volunteer support
• Short-term hospice inpatient benefit
• Respite benefit
• Continuous care benefit

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Hospice and Palliative Care Team

The VNA Hospice team is a group of highly skilled, caring professionals focused on providing emotional and physical support to the patient and their loved ones. The team is comprised of the following professionals:

• Hospice and palliative care medical director
• Certified hospice and palliative care nurses
• Medical social workers
• Chaplains
• Home health aides
• Registered dietitians
• Pharmacists
• Rehabilitation therapists
• Adult and teen volunteers
• Bereavement counselors

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Patient and Family Respect

VNA’s certified hospice and palliative care nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide patients and their families with the highest quality of care. Our staff respects the privacy and lifestyle of our patients and their families. That is why the patient and family, together with the hospice team, agree on a plan of care that meets their needs. Short-term respite care is also available on an intermittent basis to allow families time to take care of their own personal needs.

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Why Choose VNA Hospice?

Hospice is a choice—a choice to enhance the life of a loved one with a terminal illness. VNA is pleased to offer superior end of life care services centered on improving quality of life. Our certified hospice and palliative care nurses are focused on making this difficult time as comfortable as possible for both the patient and their loved ones.

We also believe in the utilization of a variety of therapies to meet the needs of each individual patient. This includes the incorporation of pain and symptom management, as well as alternative therapies including music and aromatherapy. In addition, our volunteer and bereavement programs offer extra comfort and support for the family of hospice patients throughout the illness and for 13 months after the death of a loved one.

We have proven experience in providing quality hospice and palliative care with excellent clinical outcomes. Our affiliations with multiple nursing facilities in the area allow your decision to choose VNA to be uncomplicated. For more information or to arrange services, please call VNA at (402) 342-5566 or (800) 456-8869.

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Cost, Coverage and Eligibility

Hospice care is a covered benefit under Medicare and Medicaid. In addition, many private health insurance companies and many HMOs cover hospice care as the benefits and cost-effectiveness of palliative care become more and more evident. Coverage generally includes visits by members of the hospice team, as well as medications, medical equipment and supplies related to the terminal condition.

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Living Will

A Living Will (also known as an Advanced Health Care Directive) is a document that tells your doctor or other medical staff about your wishes for life-sustaining treatment, including artificially administered nutrition and hydration, when you are in a terminal condition or in a persistent vegetative state.

Click here for more information (PDF 22 KB) on Advanced Directive and developing a Living Will, or log on to the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services website at www.hhs.state.ne.us.

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