Enriching Lives & Preserving Dignity

Hospice Services

Offering You & Your Loved Ones the Care & Comfort You Deserve

For many families and patients, the idea of hospice brings about fear and confusion. At Alinea Family Hospice Care, we work with you to alleviate these fears by providing supportive counsel, educational materials, and most importantly, the highest quality of care and services. Hospice is a philosophy of care, and we take a team approach to meet the needs of patients and their families. Each member of our staff is here to help you understand the services available and bring comfort to you and your loved ones as you navigate this time in your lives.

A New Alignment in Hospice Care

Hospice generally does not seek a cure, but enriches life without hastening or postponing ones end of life transition. We focus on caring for individuals with life-limiting illnesses that are not curable. We provide the clinical care they need in their last six months and work to put value in everyday. We provide care for individuals with conditions including:

Cancer
Dementia
Heart disease
HIV/AIDS

Liver disease
Pulmonary disease
Renal failure
Stroke/coma

In addition, our care focuses on the person’s needs through managing the symptoms of a disease and highlighting quality of life versus length of life. It provides great support in making many important decisions involving both the patient and their family.

Male hospice nurse with patient | Alinea Family Hospice Care in Longview, TX

Our Dedicated Team Is Here for You

We offer a wide range of services and operate out of offices in Terrell, and Athens, TX. We have a dedicated team of full-time nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers here to help you. Each member of our team takes pride in providing the best possible hospice and assisted living care to each and every patient. We have the ability to provide services for a variety of different language speakers including Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese.

Our Levels of Care

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Routine Home Care

This service is provided wherever the patient resides (private home or skilled nursing facility). Team members will provide core services to our patients and families in either environment.

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Short Term Hospitalization

Inpatient care at hospitals to providing symptom management requiring 24-hour care that is unavailable in the home or long term.

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Respite Care

24-hour care provided in hospital or long-term care facilities (that meet Medicare requirements) to give the caregiver rest (for up to five days)

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Crisis Care

24-hour care when patients are experiencing a “crisis situation”. An RN case manager monitors the patient and will determine when the patient meets the criteria for this service.

Our Services

AFHC recognizes that nurturing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient and their families will enrich their lives to the fullest and prepare them for the final event of life.

Coordination of Services

Hospice will coordinate the patient’s care with other healthcare providers. Whether the patient is in their private home or a skilled nursing facility, all efforts are designed to be part of the plan of care.

Interdisciplinary Plan of Care

AFHC offers support-based on each team members’ area of professional expertise frequently and consistently. The patient is visited by each discipline based on their specific needs identified in their plan of care. Together, the team provides comprehensive palliative care aimed at relieving symptoms and giving social, emotional, and spiritual support.

The hospice team meets every two weeks to discuss the patient’s plan of care. This is the time when any changes or needs may be addressed, and family members are more than welcome to voice their concerns and opinions.

After Hours Calls

The Alinea Family Hospice Care staff is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! We always have a nurse and other interdisciplinary team members on call day and night. Our RNs answer our phones. We believe there is no greater need than that of our patients and families.

Medications

Hospice provides medication and medical supplies that relate to the incurable illness for symptom control and palliation. Medications are available 24 hours a day through contracted pharmacies. Hospice protocol does not provide chemotherapy, although in most cases radiation can be considered if needed as comfort measures. Hospice does not provide medication or treatments considered as aggressive or curative.

Medical Equipment

Hospice provides the durable medical equipment that is necessary for the patient’s safety, care, and comfort. All equipment is provided under the oversight of the physician and his/her direct order.

Alternate Modalities Services

Massage

Massage is a systematic form of manual manipulation to the soft tissues of the body. It has been used for over 5000 years in many cultures.

Massage can relax or stimulate the body using various strokes, depths and rhythms depending on the desired effect. Massage is known to relax muscles, promote circulation, and lower anxiety.

The License Massage Therapist (LMT) is licensed by the state of Texas when graduating from accrediting licensed school. The Massage Therapist must complete an internship and must pass the State Boards Exam (MBLEX) before practicing as a License Massage Therapist.

At AFHC we promote the use of soft touch massage to relieve discomfort, stress and anxiety. All forms of massage are under the oversight of a physician. The Therapist will only do massage according to the physician written order. This ensures the patient receives the appropriate massage modality beneficial to meet their specific needs. All patients are thoroughly assessed by a licensed nurse and a Licensed Massage Therapist prior to receiving any massage modality.

Other modalities used at AFHC to benefit the patient’s specific need may include aromatic or musical modalities. All modalities including soft touch massage are implemented only after the patient’s specific needs are identified by the Interdisciplinary Group.

The Staff at AFHC continue to rely on “tried and true” traditional pain and symptom management, but for those who choose a more “holistic” management, these additional modalities are available.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the application of water in any of the three forms (Solid, Liquid, Vapor) to the body for therapeutic purposes. Hydrotherapy is an additional aid to the healthy function of the body. Changes in the body are classified as thermal, mechanical and chemical. Thermal effects are produced by application of water at various temperatures to achieve the desired results.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the practice of using natural oils and extras from the various parts of plants to enhance the well – being of mental and physical well – being. The alternative medicine method utilizes the inhalation or absorption of oils to stimulate better body function. Different oils are used for different treatments and remedies for various conditions.

Bereavement Services

Designated caregivers will be provided bereavement services for 13 months after the death of their loved one. This allows families to express their grief, fears/feelings about their loss.

Educational Services

AFHC is pleased to provide in-service education to the community, hospital, long-term care facilities and individuals. At AFHC, we want to alleviate the fear of hospice through educational and supportive counsel. As many people do not understand the full concept of hospice, AFHC is dedicated to educating all entities on the specifics of hospice services, when it is needed, how to obtain it, and the financial benefits.

We are here to answer your questions and address your concerns. For more information about our quality of care and available services, please give us a call today.

Frequently Asked Questions & Resources

What areas does Alinea Family Hospice Care serve?

Our company serves the following counties in Texas: Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Morris, Raines, Rockwall, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood.

When is it time to consider hospice? Who should make this decision?

When an individual is experiencing a life-limiting illness, it is essential to discuss all of the care options, including hospice. By law, this decision belongs to the patient. We accept patients who have a life expectancy of six months or less and who are referred by their personal physician.

Times to Consider Hospice

When an individual is experiencing a life-limiting illness and has chosen to no longer seek aggressive treatment for the illness.
When an individual displays a rapid decline or excessive and/or consistent weight loss compounded by a comorbidities and is not responding successfully to treatment.
When an individual is experiencing excessive physician visits and hospitalization secondary to a late-stage disease.
When an individual is incapable of appropriately communicating any potential discomfort/pain secondary to their physical or mental condition, hospice care is an option to consider.
When an individual is no longer capable of safely consuming any nutrition by mouth, and other alternatives of feeding have been declined.

Should we wait for our doctor to raise the topic of hospice or should we raise it first?

You should feel free to discuss this topic at any time with your doctor, other healthcare professionals, clergy, or friends.

What is the referral process?

Our referral process is as follows:

Express concern of clinical issues with patient and/or family and explain the desire to refer the patient to hospice service.
Call Alinea Family Hospice Care. Our team will provide you with appropriate education throughout the entire referral process.
Alinea Family Hospice Care admission coordinator will contact family and set up an appointment.
A qualified registered nurse will assess the patient for clinical need for hospice care. On the decision to being hospice services, the order will be obtained from the physician of patient’s or family’s choice.
One simple phone call from your and Alinea Family Hospice Care will do the rest. AFHC believes in a team approach and will communicate the interdisciplinary plan of care with all appropriate care professionals, caregivers, and the patient.

What is Palliative care vs Hospice care?

Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms, pain, and stress associated with serious illness, and can be received alongside curative treatment. Hospice care, on the other hand, is specifically for individuals near the end of life, providing comfort and support when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired.

Is all hospice care the same?

Not at all. Many communities have more than one hospice. All certified hospices are required to provide a basic level of care, but the quality of care can vary from one company today another. Finding the right hospice to fit your needs is a big decision. Speaking with your physician, friends, social workers, clergy, or others who have received care for a loved one is important. If you have questions about our services, we encourage you to contact us today.

What if a patient shows sign of recovery while they are in hospice care?

If an individual’s condition improves and they seem to be moving into remission, they can be discharged from hospice and return to more aggressive treatments or to their daily life. Should a patient need to return to our care, Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose.

What is the hospice admission process?

One of the first things we do is contact the patient’s physician to make sure they agree that hospice care is appropriate for the patient at this time. The patient will be asked to sign insurance and consent forms. These forms are similar to those you sign when you enter a hospital. For Medicare patients, this form also lists out how hospice benefits affect other Medicare coverage.

What changes or equipment do I need to bring into my home before hospice begins?

We will assess your needs and provide you with the necessary equipment. AFHC has its own inventory of durable medical supplies, and our team will efficiently place or extract all equipment from your home. We are here to make your home care experience as convenient, safe, and comfortable as possible.

What is a DNR?

A DNR, which stands for “Do Not Resuscitate”, is a medical order that indicates a person’s wish to not receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. It is typically requested by individuals who have advanced illness or a poor prognosis and do not wish to undergo aggressive life-saving measures.