Hospice Care

Our Approach

Hospice is a philosophy of caring. Franciscan Hospice Care affirms and celebrates life and regards dying as a natural process, recognizing that every person has the right to die with dignity, peace and comfort. Reaching the decision to choose hospice care is sometimes difficult because of common misconceptions concerning the care of someone nearing the end of life. Questions abound about when it is appropriate to seek hospice care, what it means regarding treatment and medications and how long hospice care can be provided.

Our team of professionals and volunteers provides kind and competent hospice care to patients with a life expectancy of six months or less.

What is hospice care?

Franciscan Hospice Care offers individuals with a life-limiting illness the choice to live as fully as possible. It allows the patient and family to be in control of their own plan of care when curative treatment is no longer appropriate and enables them to be free to attain a measure of mental and spiritual readiness for death.

Hospice care is a transition from medically curative treatment to a focus on comfort and quality of life.

Our services reach people receiving care in hospitals, long-term care facilities - including nursing homes and assisted living facilities - or in the patient's or family's own home. Our team can assist with the transition to different care settings as needed.

When care at home is no longer feasible, the Franciscan Hospice House in Indianapolis provides patients specialized care and respite care for their families, all in a beautiful facility that provides all the comforts of home.

Why consider hospice care?

Unique physical, emotional, spiritual, social and financial needs occur during the final phases of life-limiting illness. Hospice provides experienced, skilled specialists who give needed help and support during this difficult time. Your hospice team works with the attending physician and family to develop care which meets the patient/family needs and wishes concerning treatment and lifestyle.

What does hospice care include?

Franciscan hospice continues the ministry of Christ through compassionate care of the patient regardless of his or her ethnic or faith background, or ability to pay. Our skilled and compassionate team cares for patients with a variety of conditions, such as heart, lung, liver or kidney disease; Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia; all forms of cancer and other end-stage conditions.

Medical Pain Management: The hospice team works to relieve pain and unpleasant symptoms and ease the fears associated with the dying process. Hospice provides the most aggressive pain management available. Hospice stays abreast of the latest in pain management techniques and is adept at teaching the families themselves how to administer medication by a variety of means.

Emotional and Spiritual Support: Hospice care supports the needs of the patient and family, promoting quality of life with dignity and respect. The hospice team includes Spiritual Care coordinators who help patients and families come to terms with the process of dying. Social workers can provide counseling and help arrange access to community resources.

Practical Support: The chores of daily living can be overwhelming to the caregiver. Hospice can relieve some of the burden performing many functions, including sitting by the bedside, to allow the caregiver an opportunity to take a break from continuous care.

Financial Relief & Insurance: Most patients receiving hospice care access Medicare Hospice benefits. Medicare hospice benefits typically cover all hospice services. Hospice also accepts Medicaid and private insurance. The financial services specialists at hospice will assist in negotiating with individual carriers. Financial services specialists at hospice can assist you with insurance benefits. To speak with someone, call 866-865-0363.

Bereavement Support: The bereavement care staff at hospice will follow the family for a full 13 months after the death of the loved one. In addition to monthly newsletters sent to the family, hospice offers both short term bereavement education classes and long-term bereavement support.