SERVICES
Merit means excellence
Our services are designed to bring physical, social, emotional, and spiritual comfort to the patients we serve and the loved ones supporting them. The Merit Hospice difference is our process to understand your care goals, develop a personalized care plan, and maintain regular communication with you during the course of care to adjust the plan as necessary.
Admission for hospice
Candidates for hospice desire palliative care rather than curative treatment. Our intake meeting can be with the patient, their primary care person, family members, or all of the above, whatever best meets your needs. A Merit team member will review all services we provide, assess the patient’s immediate needs, and recommend a plan of care.
Once the patient or their primary care giver consents to the plan of care, our services start immediately. All Merit Hospice services are provided under the direction of your attending physician.
Our service providers
The full care team for your loved one is collectively called the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group (IDG.) Once the patient care plan is established, we solicit family feedback often to ensure the plan is still what’s best for the patient and meeting family goals. Internally, the IDG meets every two weeks under the direction of the Medical Director to reassess the care plan. We rely on regular, candid communication between patient, family, and the IDG to serve our patients with the kindness, compassion, and respect each deserves.
Merit Hospice has an on-call nurse available 24/7. Patients have the right to refuse any medication or service at any time
Medical Director
The Medical Director is responsible for directing care plan and meeting patient medical needs.
Primary Care Nurse
The Primary Care Nurse is the point person for coordinating all aspects of patient care, including medication monitoring. Also teaches patient’s family to provide patient care.
Social Worker
Social Workers provide emotional support and guidance to patients and loved ones. They can also assist with available community resources, advance directives, and funeral arrangements as needed.
Hospice Aide / Homemaker
Hospice Aide / Homemakers provide part-time patient personal care, under the direction of the primary care nurse. Assistance may include bathing, shaving, hair care, linen changes, and light housekeeping.
Therapists
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy provided by a licensed therapist when approved by the IDG.
Spiritual Counselor
A Spiritual Counselor provides non-denominational spiritual care to patients and families during and after hospice, including regular pastoral visits, on-call crisis care, and funeral/memorial services as requested.
Dietary Counselor
A dietitian, nurse, or other qualified member of the IDG provides counseling to ensure dietary needs are met.
Bereavement Counselor
A Bereavement Counselor assists the patient and any interested family member to cope with grief issues. Services are available for 13 months following the patient’s death.