Dignity. Comfort. Support.
Hospice Services Provided
Amity Hospice strives to meet the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of our patients and their families. Serving Dallas – Fort Worth, TX, and surrounding areas, our team of experienced professionals provides an array of compassionate hospice services for those confronting terminal illness and the end of life.
Hospice Services
We are dedicated to helping our patients achieve physical and emotional comfort so that they can concentrate on living.
Routine Care
Routine care includes regularly scheduled visits to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of hospice patients at their private home, assisted living facility, or nursing facility. The type, amount, and frequency of this treatment varies based on the patient’s unique plan of care.
- Routine care services can include:
- Skilled nursing services
- Home health aide services
- Physical & occupational therapy
- Speech-language pathology services
- Medical supplies for home use
- Durable medical equipment
- Medical social services
Respite Care
Respite care is short-term in-patient care provided to a patient only when necessary to relieve the family members or other persons caring for the individual at home. Respite care may not be reimbursed for more than five consecutive days at a time, including the date of admission, but not including the date of discharge.
In-patient respite care can only be provided at the following facilities:
- A Medicare-certified in-patient hospice facility
- A contracted Medicare-certified hospital or a skilled nursing facility that has the capability to provide 24-hour nursing
General Inpatient Care
General inpatient care is a higher level of care needed when pain or other symptoms cannot be managed at the patient’s home. This allows for round-the-clock care to administer medications, treatments, and emotional support to make the patient more comfortable. Patients return to their homes and routine home care when symptoms stabilize.
General inpatient care can be offered at:
- A hospice facility
- An inpatient hospice unit within a hospital
- A hospice unit within a nursing home
Continuous Care
Continuous home care consists predominantly of hospice and nursing care on a continuous basis at a patient’s home or long-term care facility. This type of care may only be provided during a period of crisis, in which a patient requires continuous nursing care to achieve palliation or management of acute medical symptoms.
Symptoms that require continuous care include:
- Unrelieved pain
- Severe shortness of breath
- Severe nausea or vomiting
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- A breakdown in the primary caregiver support system
Palliative Care
At Amity Hospice, we recognize that palliative care is a crucial component of our comprehensive hospice services. Palliative care focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness, with the goal of improving the quality of life for both patients and their families. Our specialized palliative care team works alongside our hospice professionals to address pain, manage symptoms, and offer emotional and spiritual support throughout the patient’s journey.
Benefits
Benefits are determined under the directions of a doctor board-certified in hospice care.
Amity Hospice is committed to providing expert pain management services aimed at supporting comfort without sacrificing alertness. Our specialized care ensures patients achieve the highest quality of life by effectively managing symptoms related to terminal illnesses. We focus on minimizing discomfort, allowing our patients to concentrate on living fully with dignity.
Amity Hospice ensures patients receive all necessary medications and medical equipment related to their hospice care. Whether prescription or over-the-counter, all medications are provided as determined by the Medical Director. Additionally, we deliver and maintain essential medical equipment tailored to each patient’s needs—ensuring they can focus on comfort and healing without logistical concerns.
We understand that grief and spiritual needs are central to the hospice experience. Our bereavement program offers comprehensive support for individuals and families, including counseling services, grief support groups, regular phone check-ins, and quarterly newsletters. Our caring team provides continued assistance for up to a year after the loss of a loved one, helping families navigate mourning with grace and compassion.
Every patient receives individualized nursing care tailored to their needs, overseen by a dedicated case manager nurse. Our goal is to treat distressing symptoms and improve comfort so patients can focus on finding peace during hospice care. From administering treatments to emotional support, our nursing staff delivers the highest standard of care.
Our medical social workers offer compassionate support that addresses the emotional and practical needs of our patients and their families. We help connect patients with essential community resources, such as financial and legal assistance, meal delivery services, and, if necessary, placement in long-term care facilities. From navigating challenges to offering guidance, we offer steadfast support every step of the journey.
Proper care requires the right tools, and we ensure that every patient has access to vital medical supplies. From wound care supplies and gloves to oxygen tubing, continence care items, and more, we prioritize delivering everything necessary to meet our patients’ needs and support their well-being.
Personal care is at the heart of hospice services. Our Certified Nursing Assistants offer compassionate, hands-on assistance with daily living activities, including hygiene, mobility, and other healthcare needs. Working under the supervision of Registered Nurses, they ensure every patient’s care plan is executed with warmth and professionalism.
Our social workers provide emotional support to patients and their loved ones, linking them to necessary resources and even assisting in completing funeral arrangements, if needed.
We believe that spiritual care is essential to elevating one’s quality of life. Our chaplains speak with patients to unfold their life story, understand their unique perspective, and help them develop a healthy spiritual outlook.
Each patient has a designated Registered Nurse who develops a patient-specific plan of care, which will help the patient recover and become confident in managing their own health while reducing trips to the hospital or doctor’s office.
With the help of our compassionate and experienced Certified Nursing Assistants, we ensure that our patients have a less stressful and more comfortable experience during their hospice care.
Our team of volunteers provide a variety of services, including:
- Support for patients and families
- Light housekeeping assistance
- Assisting primary caregivers
- Running errands and making deliveries
Interdisciplinary Team
End of Life Care
Amity Hospice works to provide trusted end of life care to patients and families across Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, and surrounding areas. Hospice includes a variety of services to help achieve an improved quality of life. At every stage of care, we are dedicated to keeping you educated about our services so that you can make informed decisions.
Paying for Hospice Care
Hospice care may be paid for in a variety of ways. We accept multiple payer sources:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Aetna Medicare
- Humana Medicare
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Workers Comp
- Cigna
- Security Health
- United Health
- Some private insurance plans
Advanced Directives
Advanced directives convey an individual’s right to accept or refuse medical care. They can protect this right if you ever become mentally or physically unable to communicate your wishes due to an injury or illness, such as brain damage, permanent coma, and/or terminal illness.
Advanced directives can help:
- You protect your right to make medical choices that can affect your life
- Your family avoid the responsibility and stress of making difficult decisions
- Your physician by providing guidelines for your care
Types of Advanced Directives
These are written instructions that explain your wishes regarding health care if you are terminally ill or in a permanent coma, and are unable to communicate. They’re called living wills, because they take effect while a patient is still alive.
In a written document, you can name a person (called a proxy or agent) to make decisions for you regarding health care if you become unable to do so.
Patient’s Rights
All of our patients have the following rights in accordance with HIPAA:
Your personal and medical information is confidential. Medical records and communications with your physicians must be kept private.
Your physician must clearly explain the advantages and risks of any procedures, tests, or treatments. You must give your permission for such care and have the right to refuse any treatment.
You must be kept up to date about your medical condition, treatments, and chances for recovery.
In most cases, advance directives and your rights as a patient must be explained to you.
