End-of-life care brings comfort to patients and families

Hospice care is a compassionate way of helping people with terminal illnesses live as fully and comfortably as possible in their last days. Mount Carmel’s hospice care, grief and bereavement services brought help to more than 14,000 individuals dealing with life-limiting illness and loss in 2023, regardless of their ability to pay.

The Foundation helps support services and amenities that allow patients to be cared for at home, when possible, and at care sites, when necessary. Through expert treatment and counseling, and with careful attention to relieving pain and discomfort, compassionate end-of-life care is provided uniquely to each patient and family.

The Mount Carmel Hospice team includes physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, aides, trained volunteers, and chaplains who work with the attending physician to develop a care plan that’s based on patient choice, careful implementation, and daily communication.

Mount Carmel’s grief and bereavement services include support groups, short-term individual counseling, educational seminars and other resources. It also provides children and their families the opportunity to work through loss together in a safe, supportive setting to help normalize the grieving process and help families heal. And they’re available to everyone who needs them, all grief and bereavement programs are open to the community and free of charge.

“Mount Carmel hospice care focuses on how the patient wants to manage his care, and brings everyone into alignment with that. When my dad’s blood disorder was no longer responding to medication, he decided not to go further with treatment. My 94-year-old mother was having her own health challenges at the time, and, as you might imagine, it was a lot to manage. They cared for my dad like family

“While my sisters and I were all involved in their care, Mount Carmel hospice was invaluable. They always went above and beyond and cared for mind, body and spirit of the whole family. They live their mission. It’s obvious that this is more than just a job for them. They embrace the entire family and helped make us feel competent and confident during a very difficult time.”

—Joyce Brand