Compassionate Hospice Care
Focusing on life, comfort, and dignity when it matters most.
Specialized care for those facing a life-limiting illness, enabling patients to live their final months with purpose, dignity, and grace.
What is Hospice?
Hospice is a specialized type of care for those facing a life-limiting illness. It is a philosophy of care that shifts the focus from curative treatment (trying to fix the illness) to comfort care (managing symptoms and pain).
The Goal: The goal of hospice is to enable patients to live their remaining time to the fullest, with purpose, dignity, and grace, surrounded by the people they love. It is about prioritizing the quality of the life that remains. Hospice care can be provided wherever you call home—a private residence, an assisted living community or a nursing home.
When is Hospice the Right Choice?
Frequent Hospitalizations
Repeated ER Visits
Repeated trips to the ER for the same symptoms without lasting improvement.
Functional Decline
Increased Dependence
An increase in falls, spending most of the day in a chair or bed, or needing more help with daily tasks (eating, bathing).
Physical Changes
Body Changes
Significant, unintentional weight loss or a decrease in appetite.
Desire to Stop Treatment
Shifting Focus
The patient or family decides that the side effects of aggressive treatment (like chemotherapy or dialysis) outweigh the benefits.
Why choose Commonheart for Hospice?
- Timely Patient Admissions: We are equipped to admit patients within as little as two hours if needed.
- Consistent, Compassionate Teams: Patients and families receive care from a consistent, dedicated team, backed by the expertise of our broader network of in-house professionals.
- 24/7 Reliable, Live Support: We ensure immediate connection from the first point of contact. Every call is answered by a real person— never a machine.
- Meaningful Patient Programs: Our Illuminus Foundation helps support heartfelt initiatives, such as our Last Wishes and Because We Care programs, providing lasting memories, comfort and joy beyond medical care.
What to Expect Emotionally
Anticipatory Grief
Natural Process
Mourning the loss before it happens. This is a natural way your mind prepares for change.
Relief
Finding Peace
It is okay to feel relief that the cycle of hospital visits and painful treatments is ending.
The "Rally"
Sudden Energy
Occasionally, patients experience a sudden surge of energy or clarity shortly before the end. Knowing this is a common phenomenon can help you cherish the moment without false hope.
Peace
Meaningful Connection
Many families find that once the decision is made, the stress of "fighting" the disease lifts, allowing for peaceful, meaningful connection.
We Treat the Whole Person
Hospice treats the whole person, not just the body. Our interdisciplinary team includes:
Nurses
Comfort and Care
They are central to your care team and provide specialized, compassionate care, focusing on pain management, comfort, and quality of life.
Social Workers
Your Advocates
They are your advocates and guides. They assist with difficult conversations and help navigate complex family dynamics so you and your loved ones can find meaning and closure. They also provide resources for financial planning, and help complete Advance Directives (Living Wills).
Chaplains
Spiritual Comfort
They provide spiritual comfort, regardless of your specific religion or lack thereof. They are there to listen, help you find meaning or closure, facilitate rituals, and support the family in their grief.
Bereavement Coordinators
Ongoing Support
Our care doesn't stop when a loved one passes. We provide grief support and counseling to the family for up to 13 months following the loss.
Hear from families we've had the honor to serve
Your Commonheart staff is full of wonderful people with big hearts that I could sit and talk to for hours. I sincerely enjoyed our conversations, and more importantly, the team was always there to listen and provide support when needed. I always felt heard, and for that, I can’t thank you enough
Sarah J., Watertown, WI
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of hospice?
Hospice is a guide through the end-of-life experience. As advisors and advocates, we help patients and their families navigate the details of an unfamiliar and emotionally challenging process.
What kinds of care and services are provided by hospice?
Hospice care focuses on the comfort, quality of life, and dignity of people who are terminally ill. Hospice teams include doctors, nurses, social workers, and home health aides, all with specialized training for the following services:
- Physical care
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Social support
- Therapy services
- Advance care planning
Does hospice provide medical treatment?
Hospice works closely with the medical provider, advocating for the patient and their wishes.
Does hospice provide round-the-clock care?
Hospice does not provide 24-hour caregiving or custodial care services, such as eating, bathing and cleaning. Instead hospice care supports and compliments the work of caregivers in the home or at a senior living community. Hospice does provide access to a nurse 24/7 to respond to concerns related to pain or other symptoms, clinical advice, and provide nursing visits when necessary.
How can we help?
Call Commonheart at (844) 206-4930 or use this form to send us an email.