What To Expect

Key Points to Expect When Starting Hospice Care

Hospice Care is a supportive, guided process that begins with a simple conversation and continues with personalized care, ongoing support, and 24/7 availability. From the first call through admission and beyond, our team walks beside you with clarity, compassion, and steady presence, adjusting care as needs change so your loved one remains comfortable and your family feels supported every step of the way.

1. The First Conversation. Your journey usually begins with a phone call or referral. During this conversation, we take time to listen. We ask about your loved one’s condition, answer your questions, and explain hospice care in clear, simple terms. There is no pressure to decide right away. If hospice care feels appropriate, we help coordinate the next steps quickly.
2. The Admission Visit. Once hospice care begins, a member of our team will meet with you and your loved one, often the same day or within 24 hours.
   
   During the admission visit, we:
   
   • Review medical history and current symptoms
   • Explain hospice services and what support looks like
   • Discuss medications, equipment, and comfort needs
   • Answer questions and address immediate concerns
     
     At Foundations Hospice, leadership is involved from the start, including the owner meeting with every family to ensure care begins with trust and understanding.
     
3. Creating a Personalized Plan of Care. Hospice care is never one-size-fits-all. After admission, our interdisciplinary team creates a personalized care plan based on your loved one’s needs, goals, and preferences. This plan may include nursing visits, aide support, social work, spiritual care, homemaker assistance, and volunteer support. As part of this process, a hospice physician and/or Nurse Practitioner is involved in overseeing care and may conduct face-to-face visits when appropriate, helping ensure comfort and alignment with the care plan. The plan is reviewed and adjusted regularly as needs change, with a continued focus on comfort, dignity, and support for both patients and families.
4. Ongoing Support for Patients and Families. Hospice care continues well beyond the first visit.
   
   Families receive ongoing support that may include:
   
   • Regular nursing visits to manage pain and symptoms
   • Assistance with medications, medical equipment, and supplies.
   • Emotional and spiritual support for patients and loved ones
   • Education about what to expect as illness progresses
   • Guidance for caregivers navigating day-to-day care
     
     You will have a consistent team who knows your family and your situation.

How Hospice Care Supports the Family

Hospice care is not only for the patient. It is also a support for you. We help you feel more confident, less alone, and better prepared by answering questions, explaining what to expect, and walking beside your family through each change with steady guidance.

• Caregiver education and reassurance so you know what to do and who to call
• Emotional support from social workers to help with stress, planning, and coping
• Spiritual care support from chaplains for comfort, prayer, and presence if desired
• Bereavement support for families that continues after a loss

What Hospice Visits Look Like in Southeast Louisiana

Many families worry that hospice visits will feel intrusive or overwhelming. In reality, hospice care is designed to fit gently into daily life, not disrupt it.

Hospice visits are planned around your loved one’s needs and may change over time. Some days involve brief check-ins, while others may include longer visits for symptom management or added support.

• Nursing visits focus on comfort, symptom control, medication management, and answering questions
• Home health aide visits assist with personal care, such as bathing and hygiene
• Social worker visits support emotional needs, caregiver stress, and practical planning
• Spiritual care visits are available for prayer, conversation, or quiet presence if desired
• Volunteer support may provide companionship or respite when appropriate

Visits are coordinated by a consistent care team that gets to know your family. You will always know who is coming, why they are there, and how to reach us between visits.

If something changes or feels urgent, you do not have to wait for the next scheduled visit. Our team is available 24/7 to provide guidance or come to you when needed.

If Needs or Goals Change

Hospice care is not a permanent contract. If your loved one’s condition improves or your goals of care shift, services can change too. Our role is to support your choices with clear guidance, never pressure.

• Adjust the plan of care as symptoms and needs change
• Pause hospice services if hospice is no longer the right fit
• Stop hospice care at any time if you choose to pursue a different approach
• Revisit hospice later if needs change again and hospice becomes appropriate