Why choose Hospice Care?

Hospice is a philosophy of care for those facing life-limiting illnesses as well as their families and caregivers. The focus is to help the patient experience peace, comfort and quality of life while offering support to their loved ones.

Hospice care may begin when the patient chooses to discontinue curative treatment, typically when their prognosis is six months or less. An individual plan of care focused on comfort measures and quality of life is developed in cooperation with the patient's physician, the patient and their loved ones. Most families say that they wish they had initiated hospice care sooner due to the positive impact on both the patient and family.

Taking a holistic approach, the hospice care team works diligently not only to manage symptoms and minimize pain but also to address the emotional and spiritual needs that are part of the end-of-life experience. Depending on the patient's condition and needs, care can be provided at home, in an assisted living or nursing home facility or at the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville or the S. Mitchell Mack Hospice House in Mooresville.

Who Can Benefit
Many people think hospice is only for cancer patients. This is a misconception that has kept many from receiving care that could have greatly improved the quality of their end-of-life experience.
In fact, hospice offers comfort care to patients of all ages who are coping with life-limiting conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, diabetes, emphysema, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS as well as cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases.

There are three basic criteria for admission to the Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County program:

• The patient must have a terminal illness with a life-limiting prognosis.
• The patient must live within HPCIC's service area, which encompasses Iredell, Davie, Rowan, North Mecklenburg, Alexander, and surrounding areas.
• The patient must have elected to no longer receive curative treatment and to begin comfort care focused on managing symptoms and maximizing quality of life.

Family Support
One integral but often overlooked aspect of hospice care is the support offered to patients' family and caregivers. Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County works closely with those whose loved ones are facing a limited prognosis, helping them not only to navigate the challenges of the end-of-life experience but also to find opportunities to celebrate life.

In keeping with our commitment to total family care, HPCIC offers families access to bereavement counseling services for a full year following the loss of a loved one.

The Hospice Team
The patient care team – which includes physicians, nurse practitioners, registered and licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical social workers, bereavement counselors, chaplains and trained volunteers – is the heart and soul of hospice.

The patient's care is overseen by the physician who orders treatment, medication and services. Our registered nurses and licensed practical nurses work under the direction of the physician to control pain and other physical symptoms that cause distress or interfere with patient comfort.

HPCIC's certified nursing assistants offer supportive care, making regular visits to the home to help the caregiver with tasks such as bathing, grooming, changing bed linens and ensuring that the patient's living area is kept safe and sanitary.

Our medical social workers help families by providing education and counseling as well connecting families with community resources.  In addition they can help connect families with legal and financial resources.  Our social workers are there to help navigate through this difficult process.    

Our bereavement counselors and chaplains offer emotional and spiritual guidance to patients and families throughout the end-of-life experience. HPCIC's chaplains respect all faiths and traditions, working closely with community clergy to arrange visits when requested by the patient.

It is important to note that the patient and their family are also members of this team and are considered the head of the team, as our role first and foremost is to honor their wishes in helping them achieve the best possible quality of life.

Learn More
For more information, please call the HPCIC office nearest you, or send a request via our contact form.

We also invite you to visit our Hospice FAQs page to find answers to some of the most common questions about hospice care.