We are your hometown choice. We are compassionate caregivers who offer comfort to help people live complete and rich lives in spite of loss and grief. We provide support services and programs for patients, their families, and loved ones. We honor and respect your wishes as we tailor our care and support to meet your individual needs. Our programs are designed to alleviate physical and emotional pain and symptoms. Big Lake Hospice specializes in offering care in patients’ homes. Hospice care is provided through a specialized team approach that includes the Big Lake Hospice physician who makes house calls, nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers.

Clinical Services

Big Lake Hospice provides clinical services to meet the end-of-life care needs of our patients. Clinical services primarily address the physical and comfort needs of the patient. We also assist with the social, emotional and spiritual care, as well as relationships with family and close friends. We provide compassionate care for the patient and family, as a unit.

Making the choice to begin care through Big Lake Hospice, allows the patient and family to remain together in the comfort and security of their home or in a home-like setting. Hospice care is available anywhere the patient lives.

The choice for hospice care is made by patients and their primary physicians. Treatment includes relief of pain to improve patient comfort and quality of life.

Once admitted to Big Lake Hospice, the patient is served by a Care Team. The Care Team consists of the hospice physician, nurse, nursing assistant, social worker, chaplain and trained volunteers, tending to all of the patient’s needs. The patient’s physician, nurse, social worker and chaplain are available for support at the patient’s home on a 24-hour, 7-day a week basis.

All patient care, medication, medical supplies, and medical equipment related to the patient’s diagnosis are provided by Big Lake Hospice, as part of the Medicare or Medicaid hospice benefit. Many private insurance policies cover hospice care. Big Lake Hospice will also provide hospice care to patients not eligible for the Medicare and Medicaid hospice benefit and who do not have private insurance. This is possible through the generosity of the community through donations, bequests, memorials and fund-raising efforts.

Team Approach

The Hospice Team – Your Hometown Choice

Physician
Our Hospice physicians are available to provide consultation to patients and/or the patient’s personal physician. They work in conjunction with other team members to ensure each patient’s goals are being met, and are available to make home visits as needed. The Hospice Physician is here for you twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week for crisis or emergency situations.

Nurses
Nurses are responsible for coordinating all services for our patients. Nursing services emphasize palliative (comfort) care to relieve distressful symptoms. Hospice nurses make visits to the patient’s home as often as needed. Our nurses are here for you twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, to respond promptly to any questions or problems.

Certified Nursing Assistants
Our Certified Nursing Assistants are here for you to provide personal care to the patient such as giving showers, baths and personal grooming. CNA’s may also assist in activities of daily living, may fix a light meal for the patient or perform light housekeeping duties.

Social Worker
Social Workers assist patients and their families by providing emotional support and assistance with legal information and resources. They help explore community resources, provide counseling services for individuals and families, conduct support groups, as well as other activities for family members and friends dealing with grief and loss issues.

Chaplains
Big Lake Hospice Chaplains coordinate the spiritual support and coordination with local pastors. Their goal is to provide support to meet the patient’s spiritual needs, as requested by the patient and families.

Volunteers
Patient/Family Support Volunteers provide a great benefit to our patients and those who share their lives! Our volunteers, referred to as Friendly Visitors and/or Hospice Helpers, donate their time to help. They give the caregiver a respite by staying with the patient, or they may run errands and do small chores. Most importantly they --- listen.


Your Hometown Choice