Hospice Care
Lower Columbia Hospice helps families navigate terminal illness or the end stage of life. We understand that the end of life is about so much more than the logistics of physical care. That's why we provide emotional support and companionship for the entire family. We listen to you to learn what you want this time to be like. Then we do our best to make that vision a reality.
Hospice services
Lower Columbia Hospice is an outreach program of Columbia Memorial Hospital. We serve all of Clatsop County with compassionate, in-home hospice care.
Many people view hospice as something just for the last few weeks of life. But quality hospice care can be an integrated part of your treatment for as long as you need it. We coordinate care with your primary care provider and work together to give you the best quality of life possible.
We bring expert care to you with home visits by nurses and other health professionals — whether home is a private home, a nursing home or another facility. Your hospice team can:
- Manage symptoms and pain.
- Assist with prescribed medical treatments.
- Teach family members how to care for you.
- Obtain medical equipment and supplies.
- Assist with physical, occupational and speech therapy.
- Provide information about insurance, financial aid, in-home health and transportation.
Our team is also on call 24 hours a day for crisis assistance.
Your caring hospice team
Hospice requires caregivers with a special touch. Our hospice nurses are called to this work. They're passionate about supporting patients and families during a difficult time. Our team stays on top of hospice and palliative care research. And we work closely with other care providers. This helps us provide care that is comprehensive and truly multidisciplinary.
Reviewed 8/23/2022
End-of-life care: True or false?
Do you know the difference between hospice care and palliative care? There's some overlap in the kind of care they provide, so it's easy to confuse the terms. Take this quiz to improve your knowledge about how these valuable services can improve quality of life for people with serious illness.
True or false: Palliative care is only for people who are dying.
False. While hospice is end-of-life care, you can receive palliative care at any time. And you don't have to have a life-threatening illness. It's simply focused on improving your comfort and quality of life—you can have palliative care alongside curative care. In fact, it can help the whole family. And it may provide the best conditions for healing.
True or false: Accepting hospice care mean stopping all medical care.
False. Hospice care is given to people whose chances for recovery are small and whose life expectancy is measured in months rather than years. The focus shifts from cure to comfort. Still, hospice patients receive the medical care they need to manage symptoms.
True or false: Hospice care is only for older people who are dying of age-related illness.
False. Age doesn't matter. Hospice care is open to anyone with a life expectancy of less than six months. Whether it's cancer, Alzheimer's or any other terminal illness, hospice is available to ease pain and promote comfort in the final months of life.
True or false: Hospice care and palliative care can be provided wherever the person lives.
True. Both hospice care and palliative care can be provided in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospice centers or a person's own home.
True or false: There is no limit to how long a person can receive hospice care.
True. Although hospice care is for people who are not expected to live longer than six months, many people do live longer. Predicting how long someone will live isn't an exact science, and doctors' estimates may fall short. Medicare will continue to pay for hospice as long as the patient's life expectancy is measured in months—even if they live for years.
These are just a few of the facts about types of care that could make life easier for the ill person and their family. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor about palliative or hospice care—it's a decision you can make together.
Sources: Administration for Community Living; National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization; National Institute on Aging
Your primary care provider can refer you to hospice. Or you can reach out to us at 503.338.6230 to discuss what services are available. Medicare and Medicaid both cover hospice care, and most private insurance does too. But we accept patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Grief support
Hospice care continues after loss. We provide a full range of grief support services for families.
It can help to talk to people who are having similar experiences. Our drop-in grief support group meets the third Thursday of each month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Ask for the meeting room at the hospital front desk.
We also offer a robust eight-week grief support program. This group meets once a week and works through the program together. Our bereavement coordinator can also meet with you one-on-one, if you prefer.
Grief support services are available to everyone in our community. It doesn't matter if your loved one was a hospice patient or how long ago the loss happened. We are here for you.
To learn more about grief support services, call 503.338.6230 or email Jeanette Johnson.
Get involved with Lower Columbia Hospice
Much of what we do is only possible thanks to the support of our community. If you'd like to be involved, we have volunteer opportunities available. See Volunteer Services to get started. Or if you'd like to support hospice with a financial gift, please visit the CMH Foundation.