More FAQs

Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. provides care to eligible patients in their homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, as well as in hospitals as needed. We come to you where you are.

Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. is responsible for meeting all of its patient’s needs related to the terminal or life limiting diagnosis under which they are admitted. We offer an individualized plan of care based on each person’s needs and utilize our comprehensive services to manage any symptoms or complications that may arise. This includes clinical areas such as nursing services, medications, medical supplies, durable medical equipment, as well as social, emotional and spiritual support necessary to promote and maintain the highest quality of life. Services not related to the terminal or life limiting diagnosis will continue to be provided as they were previously.

Members of Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. interdisciplinary team will visit the patient and family as often as needed. The frequency and focus of the visits is based on the identifiable needs of the patient and caregiver in the plan of care. Visits can be as often as daily, with a minimum of one visit every week.

Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. is dedicated to meeting the needs of its patients. We offer an individualized plan of care based on each person’s needs and utilize our comprehensive services to manage any symptoms or complications that may arise. If continuous care is indicated or necessary, such as in a medical crisis, care will be provided to meet these needs.

We always have nurses available by phone to answer your questions or address any concerns and make emergency visits when needed.

You may reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 912-588-0080.
Our After-Hours Care nurses have access to your medical records and are trained to assess situations and make recommendations.

Hospice patients can have sudden changes in condition such as increased pain, changes in mental status (confusion), decrease in level of consciousness, increased anxiety, restlessness, and breathing changes. A member of Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. should always be called first if there is a concern with a change in condition. A nurse is always available to help with the situation and with treatment as needed upon assessment of the change.

A patient or caregiver may choose to discontinue hospice services at any time. If you choose to discontinue hospice services, you will still be able to use hospice at a later date if so desired. Also, there are times when a terminally ill patient’s terminal disease process improves or enters the remission stage. If this were to occur, your doctor may feel that you are no longer medically eligible for hospice. If your condition improves, you will be discharged from the program; however, you can always qualify for hospice again at a later date.

One of the most common concerns for patients and families is uncontrolled pain. It is our experience that almost all pain can be controlled with the appropriately administered medication. Sometimes pain is also decreased by relieving the anxiety and emotional fears of the patient.

Mild pain may be relieved with use of Tylenol or Aspirin, however moderate to extremely severe pain is treated with opioid narcotics. These medications can be taken several different ways, by mouth (liquid or pill form), injection, patch, rectally, intravenously (I.V.), or sublingual.

It is important to note that initially a patient may experience some drowsiness when medications are introduced, however, this drowsiness normally decreases after a few days and the patient is soon able to function at their normal level again when the body has had time to adjust to the change in medication and decrease of pain.

Narcotics are used specifically to treat severe pain. They come in different strengths and are given in dosages appropriate to control each individual patient’s pain. Medications are introduced in the lowest dose possible and increased as needed to achieve maximum pain and symptom management while maintaining quality of life.

Persons who have no physical pain and take these drugs for the “high” can become addicted. In some instances, hospice patients may build up a tolerance to the drug over time which may lead to the need for an increase in the dosage, but this should not be interpreted as addiction. It is also important to note that initially a patient may experience some drowsiness when medications are introduced. This drowsiness normally decreases after a few days and the patient is soon able to function at their normal again when the body has had time to adjust to the change in medication and decrease of pain.

All patients do not require the same dose. Dosage is determined by the degree of pain that the patient is experiencing. Each medication comes in different strengths and is given in dosages appropriate to control each individual patient’s pain. Medications are introduced in the lowest dose possible to achieve maximum pain and symptom management and increased as needed to maintain maximum pain and symptom management while maintaining quality of life.

The frequency of medication will be determined based on each individual patient’s pain and symptom management needs. Each medication has a time span for effectiveness. Some medications are given as often as every three to four hours, some may be given every six to eight hours, and some are time released and given every twelve hours.

Medications should always be taken as directed by the physician in order to achieve maximum pain and symptom management. By taking medications on a regularly scheduled basis, the pain is prevented from becoming severe or from coming back. If medication is only taken once the pain has returned or is severe it may take more medication and a longer time for the medication to properly work and manage the patient’s pain and symptoms.

Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. accepts patients regardless of their ability to pay. We will seek reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance Companies, and VA. Normally a patient and family will pay nothing beyond the coverage of their payer source.

Hospice of South Georgia will never turn away a medically eligible patient who requests care, regardless of their ability to pay. The continued support and generosity of those in our community help to keep this possible and we extend our deepest gratitude to them.

An advance directive is basically an extra layer of protection to ensure that your end-of-life wishes are met. If there ever comes a time that you are no longer able to speak for yourself, your loved ones will be able to carry out your wishes according to what you have stated in your advance directive. There are two (2) types of advance directives — the Living Will and the Healthcare Power of Attorney. Although neither is required in order to receive hospice care, we highly recommended them for patients who are facing an end-of-life illness.

According to  AllLaw.com:

“A living will is a legal document that a person uses to make known his or her wishes regarding life prolonging medical treatments… It informs your health care providers and your family about your desires for medical treatment in the event you are not able to speak for yourself… Generally, a living will describes certain life prolonging treatments. You, the declarant, indicate which treatments you do or do not want applied to you in the event you either suffer from a terminal illness or are in a permanent vegetative state. A living will does not become effective unless you are incapacitated; until then you’ll be able to say what treatments you do or don’t want. ”

“For situations where you are incapacitated and therefore not able to speak for yourself, but your health is not so dire that your living will becomes effective, you should have a health care power of attorney or health care proxy. A health care power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make health care decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated. The person you designate to make health care decisions on your behalf is supposed to consider what you would want, so be sure to talk with them about it. It may be a difficult conversation, but you’re asking someone to take on a great burden for you – letting him or her know what you want lessens that burden.”

“None of these documents will do you any good if no one knows about them. You have to talk with your doctor and the person you designate as your health care proxy. Discuss with your doctor what kinds of end of life medical treatments you want. He or she can help you by answering any questions you have about certain treatments. Once you’ve decided what it is you do or don’t want, make your wishes known to your doctor and your family.”

You may access and download a copy of the “Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care” here. (File is in PDF format)

Any person, who has been given a life limiting diagnosis, has an expected prognosis of six (6) months or less if the disease progresses at a typical rate of progression, and who has chosen not to continue aggressive curative treatment. Please note this does not mean the patient can only receive hospice services for six months. A physician can recertify hospice services beyond six months in sixty day increments. Patients who have used hospice in the past can use hospice again, and patients who are discharged from hospice services through stabilization of the disease may resume hospice at a later date as well. Hospice care can be provided to people facing a variety of life limiting illnesses including cancer, end stage heart disease, dementia, renal failure, liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, lung disease, and other terminal diagnoses. Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. does not discriminate based on age, ethnicity or religious preference and we provide services to persons of all ages from infant to elder. We accept all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

No. Patients who are facing a serious, progressive illness should feel free to discuss all care options, including hospice, with their doctor, family, friends, clergy, social worker or other health professional. Anyone can make the initial referral and, in most cases, the patient’s family or friends are the first to contact us. However, before admission to our program, Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. will need to contact the patient’s physician to verify medical eligibility for hospice care.

(For more information, see “Who is eligible for Hospice Services?” above)

If you or someone you know may be in need of hospice services, you may contact our office at 912-588-0080 and speak with the Director of Patient Services. We can contact the physician or you may contact the physician directly with your request. We are always willing to talk with patients, families, or caregivers to discuss services which may be available to you or someone you know. Our consultation is free of charge and we accept patients regardless of their ability to pay.

(For more information, see “Who Is Eligible for Hospice Services?” above)