HISTORY . . .

• In 1978, "We are Concerned" volunteers began helping folks in their homes who were living with life threatening illnesses.

• Bay Area Hospital managed a hospice program for a short time in 1982.

• In 1985 South Coast Hospice received accreditation from the Oregon Hospice Association.

• Light House Center for grieving Children, Teens and Families was developed in 1992.

• In 1994 South Coast Hospice became Medicare accredited and moved to their present offices on Thompson Road in Coos Bay.

• South Coast Hospice operated out of the offices above the Lemon Tree Bakery in downtown Coos Bay until 1996.

• Also in 1996 the South Coast Hospice Thrift Store opened its doors in downtown Coos Bay  to raise funds in support of indigent patient care.

• In September of 2000 South Coast Hospice completed the first Bereavement and Education Center in the State of Oregon and for doing so received the "Governors Community Partnership Award".

• June of 2006 marked new beginnings with the grand opening of our new and larger thrift   store located at 1955 Meade Street in North Bend.

     Who May Receive Hospice Services?

        Any Coos County resident whose doctor ascertains a prognosis of months versus years

        if the disease process were to run its normal course and patient and family have elected  

        comfort rather than curative care.

     Who Pays for Hospice Services?

        Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies have a hospice benefit which

        pays 100% of the cost of care.

     What is Provided when I receive Hospice Services?

• A Care Team comprised of you primary physician, hospice medical director, nurses, social workers, chaplain, home health aides, trained volunteers, dietician, and therapists  work in tandem to provide comfort and supportive hospice care.

• Medical supplies, medical equipment, medications related to the hospice diagnosis, hospice-authorized ambulance transport, and 4 levels of care.

     Where is Hospice Care Provided?

         Hospice patients can reside at home, in facilities such as; foster homes, assisted living,

         skilled nursing homes, alzheimer's residences . . .any place they call home.

         In some instances care may be given in a hospital as one of the 4 levels of care, as

         explained below:

       What are the 4 Levels of Care?

• Routine Care is provided at the patient's residence (wherever the person resides).

• Respite Care is provided for a period of 5 days in a skilled nursing facility and is a periodic level designed to offer care givers time out from the rigors of patient care.

• Continuous Care is utilized during a time of crisis when the patient's care needs cannot be  met without the assistance of a licensed hospice nurse.

• General Inpatient Care is implemented when a pain crisis or medical emergency arises and the patient cannot  be managed in their current residence.

         If I Choose Hospice Comfort Care today,

may I change my mind?

•   Patients/Families may choose to leave the hospice benefit at any time, for any reason.

•   Patients/Families/Physicians may elect to re-enter  a curative care treatment modality,                 at which time it may be appropriate to revoke.

•   Patients may re-enter the hospice program at any time as long as they meet the                             eligibility requirements.

Who should I talk to about Hospice?

  It is never easy to talk about death. 

But, our reluctance to discuss end-of-life care may rob us

of the quality care hospice could provide.

Discuss your options with your doctor and family,

then call the professionals at

  South Coast Hospice at 269-2986

or email us at: sch@schospice.org

to answer the really hard questions. 

We realize . . .

"Hospice isn't everyone's Choice,

but it is a Choice everyone should have"