Who We Are
Hospice of Central Pennsylvania was founded in 1979. Our mission is one of providing the terminally ill of Central Pennsylvania and their families with compassion, dignity and care through the coordinated delivery of emotional, physical and spiritual support of the highest quality. We exist solely to care for individuals and families who are coping with a life-limiting illness and who prefer the comfort of their own home and the support of family and friends to the impersonal setting of a hospital or nursing facility.
Started by a small group of individuals concerned about care for the dying, our agency was one of the pioneers of the hospice concept nationwide and the first hospice in Central Pennsylvania. In the mid-1990s we saw a need for a care environment for patients who required more support than they could get at home, but who still wished to remain in a home-like setting. In response to this need, we opened the Carolyn Croxton Slane Hospice Residence in 1996. This six bed residence, located on a serene, wooded lot, is the first and only stand-alone hospice residential facility in Central Pennsylvania. |
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Our caring and supportive staff and volunteers serve the greater Harrisburg-Hershey and Carlisle areas, including all of Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties. We also serve northern York County and areas of Adams and Lebanon Counties. We care for patients and families in the most rural townships, as well as in the cities and surrounding suburbs and boroughs. Please click here for a map of our service area.
Hospice of Central Pennsylvania is a non-profit, community-based organization that operates independent of hospitals and health care companies. Our agency is a United Way Program Partner with United Way of the Capital Region (www.uwcr.org) and United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County (www.carlisleunitedway.org). We also receive funding from the Carlisle Area Health and Wellness Foundation (www.cahwf.org). In addition, we enjoy a broad range of support from individuals, corporations, churches, private foundations and other organizations.
Our Philosophy of Care
The emphasis of our hospice care is on caring rather than curing and the quality of life rather than the length of life. We believe that hospice care enables people to live each and every day to its fullest and to experience the end of life in a setting of their own choosing.
Our hospice team treats the symptoms of the patient’s incurable illness by focusing on reducing pain and distress and on increasing physical, emotional and spiritual comfort. Since terminal illness affects the entire family, we feel it is equally important for family members to take care of themselves. In an effort to provide the best care possible to the patient, we offer support and relief for caregivers if and when they may need to take a break from their care role.
Hospice of Central Pennsylvania helps to build confidence in the caregiver(s) regarding their role in patient care, and we help both patient and family members to prepare emotionally for death. We allow patients to die with dignity by coordinating emotional, physical and spiritual support for them and for their loved ones. We then provide ongoing care to family members and caregivers through bereavement programs that provide comfort and support after the death of a loved one.
As part of our community service program we offer trained speakers who welcome the opportunity to talk about a variety of topics related to hospice care. For more information on program topics and how to schedule a speaker, please click here.
When Hospice Care is Appropriate
Hospice care is appropriate for anyone with a life-limiting illness, who has decided not to pursue further curative therapies. The patient’s physician must feel that the patient is not likely to have more than six months live.
Payment
Medicare, Medical Assistance and most private insurers and HMOs have a hospice benefit that patients may utilize. These benefits typically cover the following services:
• Nursing
• Medical Care
• Dietary Counseling
• Social Workers
• Medical Equipment & Supplies
• Home Health Aides
• Medications related to the terminal illness
• Short term care in the hospital or respite care (3-5 days)
• Necessary Therapies
• Volunteer Assistance
• Bereavement Support
As a non-profit agency Hospice of Central Pennsylvania provides its services to anyone who needs hospice care regardless of insurance benefits or ability to pay. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disease, religion, race, sexual orientation or financial assets.
Hospice of Central Pennsylvania is certified by Medicare as a provider of hospice care. We are members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Pennsylvania Hospice Network.
Learn more about Hospice of Central Pennsylvania by selecting one of more of the options below.
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