IU Health Hospice House provides end of life care in home-like setting
An IU Health Bloomington Release
Bloomington, Ind. (April 24, 2012) – In the final days of life, many find comfort in the ability to be with their loved ones in a comfortable environment where time can be spent together. The Indiana University Health Hospice House in Bloomington strives to provide this to its patients and their loved ones.
After more than two months of caring for patients and families, the IU Health Hospice House is proving to be a key piece of the hospice program.
“We have cared for a number of people since we opened Hospice House,” says Rob Stone, MD, assistant director of IU Health Hospice in Bloomington. “The support and caregiving we are able to offer our patients and their families with this facility is outstanding. It’s not a typical inpatient care setting, but allows for all of the expertise of a nursing team you would find in a hospital.”
Nestled on a three acre tract of land just south of Bloomington, the IU Health Hospice House features a warm and comfortable home-like setting. The facility has 10,000 square feet and can accommodate up to eight patients. Common areas, which allow families and friends to gather, include a kitchen, dining room, living room, counseling/meditation area, and a children’s playroom.
“We encourage families and friends to spend as much time as they’d like with their loved one at the IU Health Hospice House. We work to be as accommodating as possible to our patients and their families knowing what a difficult situation they are facing,” Dr. Stone says.
The IU Health Hospice House is staffed by at least one registered nurse 24 hours a day and provides services such as the management of symptoms, emotional and/or spiritual support, assistance with daily living activities, and bereavement support for loved ones.
“Hospice care is about achieving the highest level of physical comfort, meaningfulness and peace of mind,” reminds Dr. Stone.
The IU Health Hospice House adds to the continuum of care provided by IU Health Hospice in Bloomington. Depending on the patient’s needs, hospice care may take place in the patient’s home, or in the new IU Health Hospice House.
To learn more about IU Health Hospice and Hospice House, call 812.353.9818 or click “Hospice” under Medical Services at iuhealth.org/bloomington.
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About Indiana University Health
Indiana University Health Bloomington has provided leading care to south central Indiana for more than 105 years. As a not-for-profit organization, IU Health Bloomington serves a patient base of more than 415,000 people in 10 south central Indiana counties. It holds Magnet designation as well as Primary Stroke Center certification, is an accredited Chest Pain Center and received approval with commendation from the Commission on Cancer. To learn more about IU Health Bloomington, visit iuhealth.org/bloomington or call 812.353.5252.
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