The Hospice House, located at 372 Hudlow Rd, Forest City, NC officially began serving patients September 16, 2004. The facility is staffed with nurses and certified nursing assistants 24 hours a day. Social workers, chaplains, and volunteers are also available for patients. Weekly activities include bible studies, devotionals, crafts, music and singing, and even pet therapy. Our goal is for patients to feel at home. Patients receive three home cooked meals a day.

Visitors are welcome 24 hours a day, as long as the patient feels like having company. Patients may bring personal items in, such as pictures, throws, stuffed animals, etc to make them feel more at home. There is also a play ground area on the Hospice House grounds along with children’s videos, coloring books and crayons that are available to keep children entertained while they are visiting. Payment sources for Hospice House include Medicare, Medicaid, Special Assistance, insurance, and private pay, however no one is refused admittance based on ability to pay.

Description of Suites

Each suite includes a bedroom area for the patient that includes a bed, night stand, private telephone, cafe table with two chairs, and an armoire, complete with TV/DVD/VCR and cable. The suites have a kitchenette with microwave, mini-refrigerator, coffee maker, and sink. The sitting room area has a recliner and a pull out couch that can be used by a loved one to spend the night when necessary. All the private bathrooms have walk-in showers with a bench seat. Each suite has an exit door to their own patio area. The patios have gliding patio sets.

Admissions to Hospice House

All patients served in the Hospice House have been certified by a physician to have a prognosis of less than six months. Admittance to Hospice House is not on a first come first serve basis. Hospice prioritizes patients for admission by accessing their clinical, home, and family/caregiver status. Safety issues in the patient’s home and/or care giving concerns are considered prior to admission. Rutherford County residents always have priority, but out of county/state patients are welcomed when beds are available. Patients may be admitted to Hospice House directly from home or a hospital. Occasionally patients are moved to the Hospice House from assisted living facilities or skilled nursing facilities. However, with the patient already being in a safe/stable environment, they are not as high of a priority. The facility has twelve patient suites. Four are designated as general inpatient (GIP) level of care and eight are designated for residential level of care.

Description of Levels of Care

1. General Inpatient (GIP) Level of Care:
   GIP level of care is always short term and is typically used by a patient for less than two weeks. It is available for patients that are either experiencing symptoms that are not controlled or they appear to have a prognosis of less than two weeks. Some examples of uncontrolled symptoms are agitation, ascites, bleeding, cardiac failure, insomnia, intestinal obstruction, nausea/vomiting, pain, respiratory failure/dyspnea, seizure, wound care, renal failure, terminal restlessness, etc. There are specific signs/symptoms that must be present to show that the symptom is uncontrolled and meets the inpatient criteria. When a patient is GIP, a physician makes regular visits to assist with symptom management. GIP services are covered 100% by Medicare and Medicaid. Hospice accepts other insurances also, though the insurance coverage/benefits may vary. If a patient stops meeting the criteria for GIP, discharge planning will begin. Discharge planning options include returning home or to a family/friend’s home, placement at an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, or a patient may decide to transfer to residential status if available.
   
   
2. Residential Level of Care:
   Residential level of care is for patients that lack the caregiving that their physical condition warrants. There is no limit to the amount of time patients spend in residential care; however a residential patient must maintain a prognosis of less than three months. If a patient stops meeting the residential criteria, discharge planning will begin. Patients that access residential level may pay privately for the room and board based on a sliding scale. Hospice House also accepts long term care insurance and Special Assistance through the Department of Social Services.
   
   
3. Respite Care:
   Respite care is available for patients/caregivers to access when a caregiver needs to take a short break. However, patients that need GIP level always take priority over respite care. Respite is funded by Medicare, Medicaid, and some insurance.

What should a patient bring to the Hospice House?

• Medicare/Medicaid/insurance cards (including pharmacy cards).
• Copies of Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, DNR.
• Medications (Only current med's that are in original bottle, if none are available, Hospice House will order).
• Personal items for patient (clothes, glasses, dentures, pictures, phone numbers, etc).
• Drinks and snacks for family to have while they visit.