Hospice workers provide quality life for terminally ill

Published: January 21, 2002

Hospice workers provide care for terminally ill people and their family. They make sure your loved one's last days are as nice as they can be.

91-year-old Fay Garten's has met with hospice nurse Ginger Hines two to three times a week since October. She's been diagnosed with failure to thrive.

For family member Kathy Reneau, the hospice care is reassuring. Reneau didn't want her aunt in a nursing home, but couldn't take care of Fay by herself, especially with an 18-month old to care for as well.

Because of hospice, Fay's remaining days will be spent near family, listening to Parker sing and enjoying cards from the students she taught decades ago.

Hospice is covered by medicare and some insurance plans.

Heartland Hospice and some others accept patients whatever their insurance status. The patients don't pay for it.

The only requirement is that a doctor has determined if your disease were allowed to progress you'd die in six months.

Often hospice care is so good that patients live longer than that.