Recommendations for Choosing a Hospice Service
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – When it comes time to select a hospice organization for you or a loved one, there may be many options to choose from. Mahaska Health Partnership wants you to know that there are important questions to ask when going through this process.
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, there are many factors that may be important to you and your family when identifying a hospice service. All hospice organizations offer medical services and resources for people who are facing a life threatening illness. Additional aspects to be considered would be the organization’s standing with state or federal agencies, whether or not the organization has a facility to provide inpatient care, how long the hospice has been operating in the community or what additional services are provided.
“MHP Hospice Services is accredited by the Joint Commission and is also surveyed by Medicare,” said Hospice Patient Care Coordinator Kim Stek. “We hold ourselves to a very high standard and are committed to providing safe, high quality care to our patients.”
In addition to traditional in-home hospice care, MHP Hospice Services also operates the MHP Hospice Serenity House; an inpatient care facility intended to provide a home away from home for patients and their families when needed. “The Serenity House has six patient rooms and provides 24-hour, seven day a week care by Registered Nurses and Certified Nurses’ Aides who are specially trained in the unique needs of hospice patients,” said Stek.
Stek also shared that MHP Hospice Services was the first rural hospice in Iowa. “We have been in Mahaska County for over 30 years, serving the individuals and families who need our care the most.”
In addition to traditional hospice accommodations, MHP Hospice Services also partners with health professionals in specialties that benefit patients. Stek said that massage, music, physical and occupational therapies are available. “Our goal is always to make our patients and their families feel comfortable and at home,” said Stek. “Whether that means pain management, the help of a social worker or even playing their favorite music, we are dedicated to providing care specifically tailored to each patient’s needs.”
Choosing a hospice organization for yourself or a loved one can be a difficult decision with multiple factors to consider. Be sure you are asking the right questions and doing your research when selecting a service. For more information about MHP Home Health and Hospice Services, please call 641.672.3260.
Hospice services are offered by MHP in Mahaska, Keokuk and surrounding counties as well as the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Anyone can make a referral by calling 641.672.3260 or visiting www.mahaskahealth.org. Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Services is a non-profit organization, so regardless of financial situation or ability to pay, no one will ever be denied services.
