Happy 30th Anniversary Enloe Hospice
Read an article about how we got started and how we have changed. It also includes suggestions if you know someone who has a terminal illness.
Enloe Hospice
It's about how you live
If you or someone you love is coping with a life-limiting illness, Enloe Hospice can help. Hospice is a philosophy of care where the focus is on quality of life. Hospice team members provide care to control symptoms, allow for improved comfort and support, enabling a person to remain at home. Hospice care is based on the understanding that:
- Dying is a natural process that is neither to be hastened or delayed.
- Dying is a human process, with attention to social, emotional and spiritual needs, as well as medical care.
- Quality of life is most important.
- The person and their family are central to care and decisions about what care is to occur.
We recognize that your decision to seek Hospice Care may be a difficult one. We hope that our services will provide you with the comfort and reassurance you need. Hospice Care is provided in the patient’s home, or other residence such as an assisted living facility or nursing home. It is our privilege to serve you.
About us
Enloe Hospice began serving the community as a volunteer organization in 1978. The professional staff now includes medical director, registered nurses, medical social workers, physical therapy, home health aides and volunteer coordinator. Working together with you and your physician, this team develops a care plan to best meet your needs. We serve hundreds of families each year in Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties and are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Who is on the Hospice team?
The Hospice Team recognizes that any individual is more than their illness. We strive to provide care and support to social, emotional and spiritual concerns, as well as physical needs. The team members are available to assist you include:
Physician: In most cases, personal physicians continue to be involved in the care of patients who enroll in hospice. The hospice will keep the physician aware of the patient’s condition and the physician will continue to prescribe necessary medication. Enloe Hospice’s Medical Director regularly consults with the hospice team as well.
Nurses: Registered nurses will regularly visit and assess the patient. They provide management of pain and control of other symptoms. The nurses also provide instruction regarding other comfort measures and what might be expected.
Social Workers: A Medical Social Worker also will visit each patient to help:
- identify and obtain needed community resources
- provide supportive counseling to patient and family for adaptive response to change and loss
- provide information about healthy coping mechanisms
- improve communication and understanding among family members
- offer support around grief and available bereavement services
- provide information about funeral plans
Physical Therapist: The therapist works with the patient and their family or caregivers in developing a plan to maximize functional mobility, safety, strength, and comfort. This may include instruction in adaptive techniques for walking and transfers, equipment use, massage, or a gentle exercise program as desired.
Health Aides: These team members provide personal care such as bathing, dressing and linen changes.
Spiritual Care: These volunteer team members are available to provide non-denominational spiritual support to patients and/or caregivers. Some examples of the services can include:
- faith-based support respectful of and consistent with the patient’s beliefs
- exploration of what gives meaning to a patient’s life
- help to resolve unfinished business with family and friends
- sharing of inspirational readings or music that nurtures the soul
- silent and/or prayerful companionship at the bedside
Volunteers: These hospice trained individuals act as helpers to patients and caregivers, often freeing the caregiver to attend to other functions. A professional Volunteer Coordinator oversees education, training, and matches a volunteer to the needs of a patient. Their services can include:
- provision of free time to the caregiver
- practical assistance by running errands, reading aloud, writing letters
- emotional support through being present with companionship and listening
- bereavement support by offering assistance and calls as requested by the family
- quality of life enhancement wherever possible
Pharmacist: A consulting pharmacist provides the team with information on drug interactions, side effects, and alternative medication options as necessary.
Others: Dietician, Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist.
Bereavement
Care and support is available in anticipation of the loss of a loved one, and for up to a year following the patient’s care. Social workers and professionally trained volunteers provide individual and group support.
Coverage of care services
Most services provided by Enloe Hospice are covered by Medicare, MediCal, and private insurances. Coverage includes the home visits, medical equipment and medications related to the illness. We are committed to providing care and do not deny care because of an inability to pay.
Community service information is available through the Billing Help Line at 530.332.6300, or on our billinq guestions web page. The generous support of community members and organizations makes this care possible.
Hospice facts
More than 5,000 hospices across the country provide care to more than 1.2 million people each year. Common conditions receiving care include:
- Cancer
- End Stage Heart, Lung, Kidney or Liver Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Dementia
- Functional Decline
We provide care to people of all ages. Help and support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Volunteer opportunities
What gifts might you have to offer as a volunteer? Complete training and ongoing support is available to our volunteer providers. For more information contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 530.332.3180 or hospice@enloe.org.
Forms for current volunteers
Following are two forms that you can print out, fill out and turn in. Or you can go the paperless route by saving them on your hard drive, filling them out electronically and e-mailing them in the the e-mail address on the form.
Volunteers, thank you for all you do!
Memorial Gifts
Bequests and Memorial Gifts in memory and recognition of a loved one can be made to the Enloe Foundation at:
Enloe Foundation
249 W. Sixth Avenue
Chico, CA 95928
Phone: 530.332.4550
Fax: 530.893.6922
Web: www.enloe.org/foundation
E-mail: foundation@enloe.org
We appreciate the generosity of our community in allowing us to provide care to all of those in need at this time of life transition.
Testimonials from families of Enloe Hospice patients
“…thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible medical and personal care you’ve provided these last months. You not only shared compassion for my wife, but guidance for us in her physical and emotional care. Our family has grown from having the opportunity to care for her at home.”
“I kept my mother as ‘Mom’ for as long as I could. Thank you for allowing me the ability to make the decisions, for not being judgmental of my choices.”
“I am so appreciative that I was able to be his friend through his illness and death; I had the comfort of having complete trust in the people who cared for him.”
“I want to thank all of the friendly faces and voices from Enloe hospice. Your efforts allowed my husband to die where he wanted to and gave me the support, strength and comfort to give him this one last gift. I could not have done this without you.”
“I cannot tell you how much our family appreciated your sweet ways with my Dad, and your obvious care for all of us in his final days on earth. Your gentleness, patient explanations, and willingness to check on us all added up to make the whole experience an amazingly peaceful one.”
“The care Mom received while with hospice was special. Your team provides care in a difficult, yet intimate and sacred time. Mom’s journey towards eternity was made easier as everyone provided their own unique part.”
“How can I even begin to express in mere words what my heart feels about all of you? Your guidance, exceptional care, commitment and patience were more than I expected.”
Inspiring quotes
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” - Anonymous
“You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life and we will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.” – Dame Cicely Saunders, Founder of the Hospice Movement
“Hospice is like a dance; sometimes you lead, sometimes I lead. The important thing is that we are always moving together.” – Enloe Hospice Nurse
Stories published about Enloe Hospice
Chico News & Review: A two-part story about one family’s experience with Enloe Hospice.
Chico News & Review
My brush with death: How eight months with a hospice nurse and patient changed my perspective http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=345179
Local care resources
- Enloe Cancer Connections: The staff of social workers, nurses, and volunteers provides assistance in finding educational, financial and practical resources, support groups and wellness programs. Short term counseling related to cancer diagnosis and treatment is also available. 530.332.3854
- Passages Adult Resource Center: Provides information and support programs for those with chronic illness, disability or aging related conditions.
- Independent Living Services of Northern California: Provides referrals for in-home care providers, adaptive technology, and housing options.
Other resources for care and information
- Caring Connections provides information about:
- Hospice and Palliative Care
- Advanced Care Planning, Advanced Directives, Living Wills
- Caregiving
- Pain
- Grief
- Financial Planning
- National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization ( NHPCO) is the national advocacy group to advance end of life care.
- Aging with Dignity: A non-profit organization which provides practical information, advice and legal tools to ensure your wishes, and those of your loved ones will be respected. Obtain a copy of the ‘Five Wishes’ living will.
- On Our Own Terms - Bill Moyers on Dying End of Life tools and resources for how to preprare yourself and your family.
Contact us
If you have questions about hospice care or are wondering if we could be of help, please call and talk to a nurse in the office at 530.332.6060 or e-mail hospice@enloe.org. Regular office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a Registered Nurse is available for consultation. Patients open to care can call 24 hours a day to reach an ‘on call’ nurse at 530.332.6060 for advice, support or a home visit as necessary.
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