Hospice Services
Mt. Hood Hospice offers a well-trained and compassionate team to address the needs of the patients and their families.
Our Approach
Direct, compassionate, hands-on care is provided to the patient by the interdisciplinary team who specializes in hospice care, and pain and symptom management.
The nurse visits as often as necessary, assessing the patient’s needs and helping provide sufficient information to the caregiver to assure safe, palliative care. More frequent visits occur as needed.
Each person approaches death in their own way. Death is as unique as the individual who is experiencing it. Mt. Hood Hospice honors the patients’ wishes. We feel it is a privilege to be invited into your home at such an important time.
Hospice brings to the end-of-life journey a holistic philosophy and practice intended to help patients and families accomplish with dignity the outcomes of self-determined life closure, safe and comfortable dying, and effective grieving.
Since our goal is to allow the end of life to take its natural course, hospice care neither hastens nor postpones death.
Team Members:
- The Patient’s Physician: Your doctor and the hospice team will work with you and your family to set up a plan of care that meets your needs.
- The Hospice Medical Director is a physician specially trained to handle pain and symptom management. The Hospice Medical Director oversees the clinical component of the hospice program. She will work with your physician.
- Registered Nurses have advanced training in hospice care and provide comprehensive nursing services in the patient’s home. On-call staff is available to the patient 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
- Hospice Aides provide regular personal care in the home in a respectful and professional manner that promotes dignity for the patient. Hospice Aides can also provide light housekeeping in the patient’s area.
- Medical Social Workers have advanced education in counseling and are trained to help individuals and families cope with emotional, social, and financial stresses associated with life-limiting illnesses and impending loss. They work with both the patient and the family.
- The Bereavement Counselor provides specialized grief support to families following the loss of a loved one. Support groups, reading materials, and individual counseling is open to hospice families and community members for as long as needed after their loss. We often continue supporting family members for many years.
- Volunteers are available who have completed rigorous training to prepare them to help patients and families.
- Physical, Occupational and SpeechTherapists are called in whenever their services would benefit the patient.
- The Hospice Chaplain supports the patient with unconditional regard for all beliefs and values.
- Language Translators are available for non-English speaking patients. Please review our Limited English Proficiency notice.
Dispelling Myths About Hospice Care
- MYTH: A person must agree to a “Do Not Resuscitate” order for hospice to be considered.
FACT: MHH does not require a “Do Not Resuscitate” order. We do provide ongoing support and education about death and dying so the patient can make the decision that matches her or his beliefs and values. - MYTH:Most people cannot afford the expenses of hospice.
FACT: See Hospice and Medicare. Medicare Hospice is covered 100% under your Hospice Medicare Benefit. While most commercial insurance plans cover hospice, we do not refuse patients because of their inability to pay. - MYTH:Hospice is only for patients who are near death and require hospitalization.
FACT: Hospice is appropriate when your life expectancy is less than six months if the disease runs its normal course. When you make the choice for hospice care instead of curative care, you are ready for hospice. - MYTH:A person loses other health care benefits if she or he chooses hospice.
FACT: The person retains access to all services covered under Medicare, HMO, or PPO that are not related to hospice care. See Hospice and Medicare. Should the person change his or her mind about wanting or needing hospice services, she or he can sign out and resume all previous insurance coverage - MYTH:To refer to hospice means giving up hope and focusing on death and dying.
FACT: Hospice affirms life! Through an effective partnership, excellent communication, support, and palliative care, we assist the person and family in achieving the highest possible quality of life, finding meaning in this experience and meeting their individual goals. Hope and healing may be redefined, but remain critical aspects of hospice care.
About Mt. Hood Hospice
Mt. Hood Hospice has been providing care and bereavement support to families in Multnomah and Clackamas Counties for 43 years. We are a not-for-profit, free standing, independent, community-based hospice.
Mt. Hood Hospice was the first free-standing hospice in Oregon to be granted Medicare certification in 1987. Since that time we have stayed current in compliance with changing CMS regulations while remaining true to our original ideal: to provide the highest quality care to families coping with life-limiting illness, emphasizing comfort, dignity and choice.
MT. HOOD HOSPICE CELEBRATES 43 YEARS!
We are a not-for-profit Hospice that provides quality care for terminally ill patients and their loved ones,
regardless of their ability to pay.
Living with a Terminal Illness
When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, the lives of those close to them are impacted as well. It's important to learn as much as you can about the illness. The more information you have, the more in control you will feel. Learn more.
What You Need to Know
Hospice care is covered 100% by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance. You can choose your hospice! Every Medicare beneficiary with Part A entitlement has a Medicare Hospice Benefit allowing them services from ANY Medicare certified hospice. This is regardless of their enrollment in any HMO. We care for people in residential facilities as well as at home. Learn more.
Kind Words From Our Families
Watch this one-minute video testimonial and hear why families choose Mt. Hood Hospice.
Medicare
We are certified by Medicare, which means we get surveyed every 3 to make sure we are following all state and federal hospice regulations.
Support Groups
Caregivers Together Social Hour (Online)
December 3 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am PSTCreative Healing (In Person)
December 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am PSTGrief and Complicated Circumstances Social Hour (Online)
December 5 @ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm PSTGrief & the Holidays (Online)
December 5 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm PSTLiving with Grief Social Hour (Online)
December 9 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PSTCaregivers Together Social Hour (Online)
December 10 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am PSTGrief & Complicated Circumstances Social Hour (Online)
December 12 @ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm PSTBreathe Move Write (Online)
December 12 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm PST
Grief Support Contact
Registration is required prior to meetings. Contact Laura Lirette to register,
503-668-5545
llirette@mthoodhospice.org