Hospice Services
Hospice services are carefully designed to provide compassionate, quality care to people nearing the
end of their lives due to a life-limiting illness. Hospice services are therefore focused on patient comfort,
and designed to help patients and families live each day to its fullest.
Each patient receives an initial assessment based on his or her health history, as provided by his or her
physician. Our care team then develops an individualized treatment plan, which takes into consideration the unique needs of the patient and the wishes of their family.
Click here to view our Hospice Services Informational Booklet.
Elements of Care
Typically, this care plan includes pain and symptom management, along with spiritual and emotional
support. The interdisciplinary hospice team, including registered nurses, medical social workers, and
certified nursing assistants, working in collaboration with our medical director, Dr. Donald Van Fossan,
M.D. crafts a personalized treatment plan that emphasizes quality of life, comfort and it is what makes
hospice care an invaluable component for patients nearing the end of their life, and their loved ones.
Hospice care can be provided either in the patient’s home or in skilled nursing facilities. Some of the
services our agency offers include:
- Regular visits from nurses, home health aides, and other agency staff
- Consultation visits and timely evaluations and admissions
- Pain relief
- Symptom management
- 24-hour, seven-day availability of a hospice nurse and physician
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Personal care
- Nutritional guidance
- Respite care (relief for the family caregivers)
- Grief support for surviving family members and significant others, including:
- Education and support materials
- Telephone contact at regular intervals
- Specialized support groups for children, adolescents and adults
- Visits by Hospice of Amador & Calaveras social workers and/or referral to appropriate
community resources as needed - Memorial services
How Hospice of Amador & Calaveras is Funded
- Hospice care is available to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. In 35 years, we have
never turned down a patient due to inability to pay. Funding comes from our Hospice thrift
stores in Jackson (Amador County) and Angels Camp (Calaveras County), as well as private
donations and ongoing fundraising efforts. - Medicare, Medi-Cal and most private health insurance policies have a hospice benefit. Call your
insurance provider to find out the details of what your policy covers, or ask us for help.