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November is Hospice Month
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| News-Times/Kate Burke Susan Stearns is the volunteer coordinator at AseraCare Hospice of York. |
By Kate Burke
YORK — Two hospice services operate in York. AseraCare is part of Golden Living, a nationwide provider of healthcare services for the elderly. Tabitha is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and is headquartered in Lincoln.
Tabitha serves 29 southeast Nebraska counties. AseraCare serves most of the eastern half of the state.
Modern hospice originates in the mid-20th century, when health caregivers began to give attention to the end of life for terminally ill patients.
Hospice is not just for cancer patients; it is effective for anyone who has a life-limiting illness, such as Alzheimer’s disease or heart disease.
Hospice emphasizes quality of life, effective pain control, comfort and dignity. Hospice develops a plan for total care, including medical care, and spiritual and emotional support, for the patient and for family.
Care extends to bereavement support for family.
Hospice is usually most effective during the last six months of life. Susan Stearns, volunteer coordinator at AseraCare in York, says, “There’s this myth out there about hospice. People think you’ve got to be dying to get on it. Our goal is quality of life before death.”
Hospice coordinates the services of medical and psycho-social professionals with the companionship and spiritual support of volunteers.
Sherry Noler, of Beaver Crossing, volunteers with both Tabitha and AseraCare. Currently, Sherry has four hospice clients. She spends about half an hour a month with each.
“I pray with them,” she says. “They just like to visit, a lot of them. I’m glad that I can spend a little time with them and break up their day.”
Hospice is available to people living at home, in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
Service at both Tabitha and AseraCare is covered by most insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Both hospice services welcome new volunteers.
For more information, contact AseraCare at 402-362-7733, or visit the Web site at www.aseracare.com.
In York, phone Tabitha at 402-362-7739, or visit the Web site at www.tabitha.org/services/home_based/hospice.html.
Tabitha serves 29 southeast Nebraska counties. AseraCare serves most of the eastern half of the state.
Modern hospice originates in the mid-20th century, when health caregivers began to give attention to the end of life for terminally ill patients.
Hospice is not just for cancer patients; it is effective for anyone who has a life-limiting illness, such as Alzheimer’s disease or heart disease.
Hospice emphasizes quality of life, effective pain control, comfort and dignity. Hospice develops a plan for total care, including medical care, and spiritual and emotional support, for the patient and for family.
Care extends to bereavement support for family.
Hospice is usually most effective during the last six months of life. Susan Stearns, volunteer coordinator at AseraCare in York, says, “There’s this myth out there about hospice. People think you’ve got to be dying to get on it. Our goal is quality of life before death.”
Hospice coordinates the services of medical and psycho-social professionals with the companionship and spiritual support of volunteers.
Sherry Noler, of Beaver Crossing, volunteers with both Tabitha and AseraCare. Currently, Sherry has four hospice clients. She spends about half an hour a month with each.
“I pray with them,” she says. “They just like to visit, a lot of them. I’m glad that I can spend a little time with them and break up their day.”
Hospice is available to people living at home, in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
Service at both Tabitha and AseraCare is covered by most insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Both hospice services welcome new volunteers.
For more information, contact AseraCare at 402-362-7733, or visit the Web site at www.aseracare.com.
In York, phone Tabitha at 402-362-7739, or visit the Web site at www.tabitha.org/services/home_based/hospice.html.
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