Welcome to St. Joseph Hospice
Founded in 2002, St. Joseph Hospice is named for the Patron Saint of a Peaceful Death, St. Joseph, and provides peace, comfort, support, and dignity to those facing life-limiting illnesses.
What is Hospice?
Hospice not a "place," but a type of care. It is a unique philosophy and approach to end-of-life care that focuses on both the patient as well as their family. Hospice is holistic care, addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical concerns.
St. Joseph Hospice Care Providers
Our team is committed to helping patients welcome each day with the hope and expectation of tomorrow. St. Joseph Hospice provides every patient with a team of healthcare professionals who work together with the patient and family to meet their unique needs and wishes for care.
The team at St. Joseph Hospice includes:
- Board-certified hospice & palliative care physicians
- Registered nurses
- Licensed practical nurses
- Certified nursing assistants
- Medical social workers
- Non-denominational chaplains & pastors
- Bereavement professionals
- Hospice trained volunteers
Hospice Care Cost & Coverage
Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, like all hospice agencies, whether they are for-profit or nonprofit.
St. Joseph Hospice also provides medication, durable medical equipment, and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis, with no charge to the patient.
Hospice Care: "Your Home or Ours"
St. Joseph Hospice brings comfort and supportive care to patients and caregivers, wherever they call home. Our care teams offer our full range of hospice services in the patient's or caregiver's home, senior living communities, assisted living, skilled nursing care facilities, and our own hospice care homes.
The Carpenter House is your resource for comfort and end-of-life care and symptom management, along with respite care, to relieve hospice primary caregivers. It is a place of peace and comfort care for those facing terminal illnesses who need around-the-clock attention.
As a home-like inpatient hospice facility, The Carpenter House is more than hospice—it is a warm and comforting environment featuring a family room and family dining room, onsite chaplain and bereavement counselor to make patients and their families feel safe and at ease.
At The Carpenter House, families can find peace as they plan for and face the challenges ahead. Learn more about The Carpenter House and take a virtual tour of our facilities.
Common Hospice Misconceptions
Hospice means that the patient will soon die.
Receiving hospice care does not mean giving up hope or that death is imminent. The earlier an individual receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to help manage symptoms and pain, address other needs and ensure a better quality of life for the patient and family.
Hospice is only for cancer patients
A large number of hospice patients have congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, chronic lung disease, or other conditions.
Hospice means giving up hope
When faced with a terminal illness, many patients and family members tend to dwell on the imminent loss of life, rather than on making the most of the life that remains. Hospice helps patients reclaim the spirit of life. It helps them understand that even though death can lead to sadness, anger, and pain, it can also lead to opportunities for reminiscence, laughter, and reunion.
Once a patient elects hospice, he/she can no longer receive care from their primary care physician
Hospice reinforces the patient-primary physician relationship by advocating either office or home visits, according to the physician preference. Hospice agencies work closely with primary care physicians and consider the continuation of the patient-physician relationship to be of the highest priority.
Is Hospice Your Answer?
Wondering if you or a loved one can benefit from hospice care? Take a few minutes to review this brief questionnaire that can help you decide whether hospice is the right choice for you or a loved one. Click the image or click here for a printable copy and call us to review it with you. If you have care needs but feel hospice is not your answer, we can guide you to other care options of benefit until you feel hospice is the best type of care.
Hospice Alternative
Patients who desire to continue curative care including chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis, etc. or symptom and pain management for illnesses such as advanced COPD and congestive heart failure can benefit from AIM Palliative Home Health. This specially designed in-home palliative care program can also benefit anyone with a life-limiting illness needing more time and information to make informed decisions about treatment and care options. Call us or visit our AIM page to learn more.
We Can Help
We are here to answer all of your questions and concerns about Hospice & Palliative Care. We are available to compassionately listen and share all care options to help you decide what is best.
Use our directory to find and call a St. Joseph Hospice location near you. We are here 24/7 to answer your questions and support you.
Locations
Service locations are throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Southeast Texas and South Alabama for emergency evacuations and/or relocations.