Quad County Home Services: Home Health, Hospice and Medical Equipment

11/09/2025

Although hospice week ended yesterday, we have one myth left: hospice makes death come sooner.
The goal of hospice is to make the quality of the patient’s life the best it can be in their final months, weeks and days. There are no studies that indicate that hospice can accelerate death, but there have been studies showing that some patients live longer when receiving hospice services. Morphine is often accused of hastening death. However, morphine prescribed to a hospice patient does not cause premature death. Hospice physicians are specially trained in the use of morphine and administer only the dose necessary to alleviate a patient’s pain or help them breathe. When administered correctly, morphine helps terminally ill patients enjoy a better quality of life at the end of life. Not all patients even use morphine. It is never forced, but it is always ordered, so it is available if needed. People have also heard that hospice will withhold nutrition and/or hydration at some point in the dying process. There are many things to consider when it comes to nutrition and hydration for patients near the end of life. Since the natural progression of a patient’s disease interferes with the body’s ability to process foods and fluids, it is expected that terminally ill patients will begin to eat and drink less and less. This is expected. Patients will get dehydrated due to the natural dying process. If you force food or drink on a dying person, you could cause them discomfort or even agitation.

We hope you have gained some insight into hospice care over the last week. Some resources that we give to our hospice families about these, and other end-of-life topics can be found at:

https://bkbooks.com

11/08/2025

Hospice is only for the patient:
This is false.

Hospice includes the entire family. Family has access to nurses 24/7 to answer questions or make extra visits as needed. The social worker is there for the patient and the family for the whole journey. Emotional and bereavement support continue for 13 months after the patient has passed away. We also offer volunteers to assist the family with light housekeeping or to just visit the patient. Each hospice should also have a chaplain. Our chaplain can visit with a family at their request or social work can contact the patient’s chaplain to visit the family.
Hospice care is about the needs of the patient and the family. We are here to support everyone involved.

11/07/2025

Today, we are exploring a myth that we hear often; when you go on hospice, you are giving up.

Fact: When a patient has an incurable disease, hospice is there to help the patient live until death. Research indicates that people in hospice care tend to live slightly longer than those who aren’t. The hospice team can treat any symptoms that could be limiting the patient daily. Hospice can treat pain, anxiety, breathing issues, and other symptoms with medication. Hospice also provides spiritual and emotional care for the patient and the family. Going on hospice is not giving up hope, hospice is choosing to live more comfortably until you die. Hospice is the best care you can give your loved one when treatment of their disease is no longer an option or a choice. Hospice is truly about the quality of the life you have left over the quantity of time you have left.

If you have any questions about whether you or someone you love would qualify for hospice care, you can call our office at 217-562-6380.

11/06/2025

Today, we are going to bust 2 myths at one time.

Myth:
While on hospice care, my loved one cannot see his/her primary care physician.
Fact:
The patient can choose to have his/her primary care physician be the hospice attending physician. This is a decision made by the patient, the family, and their physician. If the patient's primary care physician does not want to follow the patient on hospice or the patient/family chooses otherwise, every hospice has its own attending physician. Quad County's attending physician is Dr. Walter Cunnington. If Dr. Cunnington is unavailable, Dr. Marlon Muneses is the attending physician.

Myth:
Once you are in hospice care, you can’t change your mind or seek a cure.

Fact:
Patients can choose to revoke hospice care at any time. If a patient decides he/she would like to pursue treatment or change to a new company, the patient can stop hospice at any time. Patients have the right to revoke or change at any time.
Patients can also “graduate” from hospice care. Some patients improve and no longer meet the Medicare guidelines for hospice care. However, if their health declines in the future, they can admit to hospice care again.

11/05/2025

Many of us have heard that hospice care is expensive. This is another myth for us to bust today. Most insurances cover hospice including Medicare, Medicaid, private and commercial insurance.

Many patients do not start hospice care until the last few days of their lives. However, studies have shown that hospice can be less expensive than traditional medical treatments when started earlier. Here is an interesting article regarding this:

https://sph.unc.edu/sph-news/earlier-use-of-hospice-can-lower-costs-improve-care-of-medicare-patients/

11/04/2025

Let's bust another hospice myth.

Myth: My loved one must have a specific diagnosis (usually cancer) to be on hospice.
Fact: Over 50% of hospice patients do not have a cancer diagnosis. Many patients have chronic conditions such as dementia, COPD, emphysema, and neuromuscular diseases like ALS. Additionally, hospice patients do not have to be elderly. Hospice is available to anyone, regardless of age.

If you or someone you love is facing a terminal illness or end of life situation, you can call our office to discuss whether or not hospice is appropriate for your situation. You do not need to be referred to get more information.

To get a consultation with one of our staff members, call us at (217) 562-6380.

11/04/2025

Join us for our caregiver support group!

Please note, we have changed locations to
Pana Health and Rehab's Game Room. We meet again tomorrow at 10 am! We hope to see you there!

11/04/2025

11/04/2025

We were busy this past weekend. On Friday, we participated in the annual Halloween parade at Pana Community Hospital.
On Sunday, we held our annual Hospice Memorial Service. It is our way to honor our hospice patients that have passed away in the last year. Special thanks to everyone that helped including our volunteers: Marilyn, Carol, Rosemary, Jackie, and Lou. Our special friends, Ruthanna and Alethea, for greeting everyone. Pastor Kevin Alvarez, Doug, and our friends at Celebration Community Church for hosting. Pastor Jessica Baldyga from Pana First United Methodist Church for giving the message. Ellen Gibson for the music. Rose City Printing for the invitations and programs. Scoop'd for the refreshments, sorry we forgot to take a before picture. Thank you as well to our staff for all their help. Most importantly, thank you to the families of our patients. For the ones who attended and the ones who couldn't make it, we thank you for trusting us to care for your loved ones in their final days, weeks, and months. We are honored you chose us to walk the end-of-life journey with you. ❤️

11/03/2025

Today, we explore another myth about hospice care regarding length of stay.

Myth: Hospice patients cannot live longer than 6 months.
A patient will not be kicked off hospice after 6 months if they haven’t passed away. To qualify for hospice, the patient’s doctor certifies that the patient has 6 months or less to live. However, many patients live longer than 6 months while on hospice care. The patient must meet specific guidelines to continue. These guidelines are determined by Medicare. The attending physician must follow them to recertify the patient for care every 90 days.

11/02/2025

While celebrating National Home Care and Hospice Month, we have decided to tackle some common myths about hospice care.

November 2nd to 8th is National Hospice and Palliative Care Week. Each day, we will highlight a common myth or possibly 2 about hospice care.

Today's myth: Hospice is a place.
Fact: Hospice is a form of end-of-life care, not a specific place. Although hospice houses exist, most hospice patients pass away in the place they call home: their home, the home of a loved one or friend, a skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, or even in a hospital. Hospice care in the patient’s home comprises 80% of all hospice care.

11/01/2025

November is National Home Care & Hospice Month!

This month is dedicated to recognizing and honoring the dedicated professionals, caregivers, and volunteers who provide essential health care and emotional support to patients and families in their homes and communities.

It is also a great time to raise awareness about the importance of home-based health services.

We also want to use this month to educate the public about the options for receiving care at home, especially for aging adults and those with chronic or terminal illnesses.

Quad County will be running a series of posts that dispel common myths about hospice care. We will also highlight some facts and differences about hospice, home health, and in-home care. Stay tuned!