Hospice of the Bluegrass is a private non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. The program is a member of the National Hospice Organization, is certified by Medicare and Medicaid, is licensed by the State of Kentucky and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Hospice of the Bluegrass serves more than 1,000 patients daily in 32 central, southeastern and northern Kentucky counties.
Hospice Affirms Life
The program exists to provide support and care for persons in the last phase of an incurable disease so that they can live as fully and comfortably as possible. Dying is recognized as a normal process, and death is neither hastened nor postponed. Hospice, which is not a place but a concept of care, exists in the hope and belief that, through appropriate care and the promotion of a caring community sensitive to their needs, patients and families may be free to attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is satisfactory to them.
Hospice Is a Team
The team includes professionals from several disciplines as well as the patient and family. The patient, along with the family, are in charge of treatment decisions. The patient's own physician works with the Hospice team and remains in involved in care. The Hospice nurse performs an evaluation, carefully assessing medical problems. The nurse makes regular home visits and teaches the family how best to care for the patient. A nurse is always on-call to answer questions or provide nursing care. The social worker assesses the patient and/or family's need for counseling, social services, and/or financial assistance. The chaplain provides spiritual care, but does not replace the family's own minister or priest. If needed, Hospice augments the team with a certified nursing assistant, who can provide personal care, a trained volunteer and in some cases, lawyers, dentists, speech, physical, and occupational therapists or other professionals to provide additional services and counseling. A bereavement counselor provides support for family members and friends during the patient's illness and for a year following the death. Click here to learn more about admission criteria and our service area.
