Quality Hospice Care

HOSPICE… It is the mission of the Benton County Hospice to provide spiritual, emotional, and physical support to individuals with life-limiting illness by providing an added dimension to available health care in the community to those persons needing end of life care.

Senior Patient and Nurse — Benton County Health Department — Warsaw, MO

OUR PHILOSOPHY… Benton County Hospice believes hospice care affirms life. Hospice exists to provide support and care for persons in the last phases of life-limiting illness that they might live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice recognizes dying as a normal process of whether or not resulting from disease. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice exists in the hope and belief that, through appropriate care and the promotion of a caring community sensitive to their needs, patients and families may be free to attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is satisfactory to them.

OUR GOALS…

To provide support to terminally ill individuals and their families in order to allow life to continue with minimal disruptions in normal activities while remaining primarily in the home.

To provide relief from distressing symptoms and yet keep the individual as alert as possible, to allow physical and emotional comforts so that his/her final days can be meaningful.

To allow individual freedom from unnecessary dependency and yet provide assistance to adjust increasing dependency.

To establish a relationship of trust with the individuals and their families so they can feel free to express their thoughts, concerns, fears, and feelings, both positive and negative.

To help the individuals and their families develop or strengthen belief in the meaningfulness of life, and to find strength inappropriate spiritual resources.

To utilize resources to assist the patient/family with financial, physical, or emotional concerns.

To promote a sense of continuing self-respect and identity as unique individuals by giving them control over making decisions about how and under what circumstances they choose to live out their final days.

To provide the individual with freedom from fear of abandonment or social isolation by ensuring increased contact with staff as death approaches.

To provide supportive services for bereaved family members and significant persons.

To educate the community and the health care delivery system about Hospice care principles in order to integrate those principles into the system and community.

What Do Hospice Services Consist Of?

Services consist of, but are not limited to, nursing care (RNs and LPNs), medical social worker, hospice aide/homemaker, therapy services (physical, occupational, speech/language), durable medical equipment, medical supplies and biologicals, physician, counseling services (dietary, pastoral, bereavement) and volunteers. Also four levels of care, which include Routine, General Inpatient, Respite, and Continuous Home Care. These services are available both on a scheduled basis and on an as-needed basis 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How Do I Get Started?

Call us at 660-438-2876 and we will contact your physician, or you can contact your physician directly and ask if you qualify for hospice services.

Our Hospice Staff

Benton County Hospice staff has well over 100 years of combined hospice experience, not to mention longevity among the staff. Hospice staff includes:

  • Skilled Nurses
  • Certified Nurse Aides
  • Social Workers
  • Office Personnel
  • Chaplin
  • Volunteers

The Volunteer Component

The use of volunteers is fundamental to the hospice philosophy. Trained volunteers are available to help hospice families in many different capacities. All certified hospice volunteers complete a training program and are invited to attend continuing education that is provided occasionally. Training for new Benton County Hospice Volunteers is usually two day training. Those who take the training are not obligated to become a volunteer; some take training just for the information.

  • Some of the Things a Hospice Volunteer Might Do Include:

    Office work such as typing and filing


    Visits with patients to reminisce about good times


    Stay with patient while family runs errands


    Take a hospice patient fishing for a couple hours


    Drive to airport to pick up a family member


    Alter the clothing of a hospice patient


    Take patient for a car ride


    Read a book or magazine to a hospice patient


    Do minor yard work or housework a hospice patient can no longer do


    Play a card or board game with the patient


    Bring in firewood


    Help the patient bake a cake or prepare a special meal


    Search the internet for medical information


    The list is endless and will be different according to the patient’s need and what the volunteer wants to do. Volunteers do not provide round the clock patient care or stay with patients who are on the brink of death; however they can do much to relieve the stress that comes with coping with a terminal illness.

  • What Will Be Taught in the Trainings?

    The hospice history, concept and philosophy That Education lessons fears How Hospice helps a patient and their family Physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the terminally ill person Education about common medical equipment How to communicate with the dying person and their families The role of all the Hospice team members All about Oxygen Stress reduction Grief and loss issues How you Can help others That it’s ok to laugh and it’s ok to cry…and many other things.

  • Are You Interested in Becoming a Hospice Volunteer?

    If you are interested in becoming a Hospice Volunteer or have questions about volunteering, contact the Hospice Department through the form below, or call during business hours 660-438-2876 FREE.