WTRC's Hospice of the Big Country

Living with a terminal illness or injury can be downright miserable for both patient and their families. Where does one turn for support and understanding? How does one manage the stress and heartache? It’s not something anyone should face alone.

At West Texas Rehab, our renowned Hospice of the Big County care unit offers consistent, compassionate care for those facing grave, end-of-life issues. Hospice is a special way of caring for the terminally ill by striving toward realization and acceptance of the terminal issue, rather than trying to cure it.  Patients receive the very best care to reduce their physical discomfort and suffering; families receive counseling and encouragement.

Our hospice team is comprised of licensed caregivers and therapists, expert in anticipating needs and delivering in areas when words fall short. We focus on care, not the cure; today, not tomorrow. And we like giving hugs – a lot of hugs. Just so you know. Hospice of the Big Country also emphasizes:

• Living life to the fullest

• Providing care in any location the hospice patient calls “home,” i.e., nursing home, residence, assisted living, hospital, etc.

• Treating patients, families and loved ones as a single unit.

In addition to care, our hospice providers offer education, training and counseling to those serving as hospice patient care-givers through:

• Teaching Care Techniques
  Family members or others who provide patient care are given training in administering medications;  helping the patient stay as active and mobile as possible;  listening and responding to the patient’s needs; and in assessing/reacting to unique circumstances that may arise.

• Trained Personnel Always Available
  Members of our hospice team make regular visits to assist both patient and care giver and are available on-call 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies and special needs.

• Bereavement Counseling
  Hospice of the Big Country helps prepare family and friends for the loss of a loved one. After the loss occurs, we provide additional support through
  individual and family counseling, volunteer visits, and support groups which focus on grief.

Our dedicated hospice staff is composed of well-trained professionals and volunteers who supplement their skills with a passionate commitment to the words of the hospice movement’s founder, Dame Cicely Saunders: “You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die.”

Additionally, Hospice of the Big Country accepts patients based on their health needs –not their ability to pay. Reimbursements come from Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and from donor support through general donations and memorial gifts.

Our hospice staff is adept at keeping hospice patient’s comfortable and active while at the same time listening and responding to their needs. We know the stresses that terminal illnesses can cause, and we’re here to keep families smiling through their most challenging times – exciting them about today; preparing them for tomorrow.

At West Texas Rehab, the end is always a new beginning.