Hospice Programs
Pinnacle Hospice is focused on delivering exceptional hospice care and comfort for our patients, caregivers and family members. We provide the services listed below.
Bereavement Services
Our Pinnacle Hospice Bereavement support services are available through the entire hospice experience and after. We know many times that grief begins with the diagnosis and while your journey is most likely filled with hard work, loneliness and sadness, please know that there is someone at Pinnacle Hospice who would like to hear your story and offer you caring and compassionate support. Our support services are available to you and your family free of charge:
Individual bereavement support
Specialized bereavement support groups
"Coping with the Holidays" Programs
"Service of Remembering Your Loved One"
Quarterly newsletters with inspirational messages
Schedule of classes and bereavement support groups
Caregiver Support
Hospice care concentrates on the terminally ill patients and their caregivers. Besides the care provided to the patient, hospice also has a variety of ways of helping individual caregivers. We provide access to any of our staff if you have any questions or would just like to have a discussion. We have a library of articles and information as well as bereavement and caregiver support groups also available. Pinnacle Hospice is also committed to ministering to the needs of the hospice patient’s caregivers.
Hospice Aide
A Pinnacle Hospice aide is specially trained to provide personal care needs to the patient, including, bathing, shampooing and shaving as well as changing bed linens and other tasks. These services are dependent upon the patient and family discussed needs for customized care.
Medical Care
A potential hospice patient’s physician directs the care provided by Hospice Services. Accordingly, the physician may be the patient’s primary physician or Pinnacle Hospice’s Medical Director can assume these responsibilities.
Nursing Care
A Pinnacle Hospice Registered Nurse monitors patient’s medical needs, addresses concerns and efficiently communicates with the patient’s doctor and family to effectively manage the patient’s custom plan of care. Our nurse is available 24 hours a day, everyday to answer any emergency questions or concerns the patient or family may have. Many of our nurses in hospice services are certified in hospice care and palliative care.
Nutrition and Hydration
A clinical dietitian will assess special concerns of patients in either their residential center environment or at home as requested by the Pinnacle Hospice RN Case Manager or by a family member. Our dietitian will review the patient’s diet with the nursing staff to honor their food requests. Nutrition and hydration expectations and patient’s needs in end-of-life can continuously change and are unique to each patient. Our nurse and dietitian will closely monitor these ever-changing needs and adjust where needed. Menus for our hospice patients are planned and approved by our clinical dietitian.
Pain and Symptom Management
Symptom management for a patient is a critical concern of the hospice staff. The registered nurse managing the patient’s care plan will help educate the family and or caregiver on what to expect and watch for as an illness progresses. Proper education and administration of medications is also provided. Pinnacle’s RN is accessible to answer the family members questions about the medications and will provide additional education and support. Patient comfort is the key to every member of our hospice care team.
Respite Care Services
As with any care, the caregiver needs to rest and take care of their needs as well. To assist with this, Pinnacle Hospice Services provides respite care where a volunteer can stay at the home with a patient while the caregiver rests, runs errands or takes a moment to cope. Our respite care services can be arranged through our hospice nurse and is available for home patients up to five days per month.
Social Work Services
Our social worker’s role is to support hospice patients and their caregivers as they seek to deal with the problems affecting quality of life, dignity and care. The social worker will assess any psychosocial needs by providing information, counseling and advocacy. Our social worker is an essential resource and member to Pinnacle’s hospice team and community.
Spiritual Care
Our spiritual care coordinator assists in meeting the spiritual needs of all Pinnacle Hospice Services’ patients and family members. Spiritual care recognizes and respects the patient’s and family’s beliefs including their anguish. Spiritual care supports the patients and their families in their bereavement. It’s an integral aspect in the holistic care concept of hospice. Pinnacle accepts the uniqueness of each person no matter what their background, and observes everyone has a spiritual need in their journey through life.
Volunteer Coordinator
The volunteer coordinator, along with our hospice staff, assesses the needs of the patient, their family and caregivers for our respite and support services. The hospice volunteer coordinator will assign volunteers to meet these specific needs. Our coordinator also supervises and arranges the training needed to become a Pinnacle Hospice Volunteer.
