Welcome to Genesis Hospice

Our goal is to assist you in understanding the Hospice philosophy of care and deciding if  Hospice Care is appropriate for your needs. 

What Is Hospice?

Genesis Hospice is committed to providing quality, compassionate care to those who find themselves with a life-threatening illness and are seeking care as opposed to cure.  Once the decision has been made to stop curative treatment, the focus becomes enabling comfort and quality of life. Our dedicated staff are experts in providing care at end of life. 

When a patient is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, everyone involved experiences periods of stress, uncertainty, doubt, worry and confusion.   We not only provide care for the patient, but also for the family.  “Family” is defined as those who are involved with the ongoing needs of the one at end of life, not necessarily a blood relative.  

Genesis Hospice is composed of a multi-disciplinary team that includes the patient’s physician, the hospice medical director, nurses, homehealth aides, chaplains,bereavement coordinators, volunteers, medical social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists.  We employ complementary therapies such as Reiki and essential oils to assist in managing symptoms as well as enhancing quality of life.  The common goal of all services is to provide the patient and family with comfort. 

The end of life brings many opportunities and challenges and the Genesis Hospice team is able to assist you with whatever challenge you might have and to make the journey with you...to ensure that you are not alone and without resources to provide you with comfort and to recognize and celebrate the opportunities.  

Philosophy

Hospice affirms life. Hospice exists to provide support and comfort to dying patients and their families in the terminal phase of any illness.

Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice exists in the hope and belief that, through appropriate care and the promotion of a caring community, patients and their families attain a satisfactory degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death.

In each of our care settings, Genesis Hospice offers specialized care for people at the end of life, and their families that:

• Treats the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the central family (holistic)
• Concentrates on making patients comfortable and free of pain
• Considers helping family members an essential part of its mission
• Believes the quality of life to be as important as the length of life

Who Is Eligible for Hospice Care?

Any individual with an advanced illness, a limited time to live and physician's consent to provide medical direction on behalf of the ill individual.

Individuals and families who clearly understand that the goal of hospice care is not to cure but to provide care, comfort, and support.

Services

Genesis Hospice creates an individual care plan for each patient that can include:

• Nursing Care to assist with physical care, comfort management, and emotional support needs
• Home Health Aides / Homemakers to assist with personal care
• Spiritual Care and support to provide spiritual well-being
• Trained Volunteers to provide companionship or respite care
• Dietitian, Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapy to meet individual needs
• Medical Social Workers to provide emotional support and assist with community resources
• Coverage of medications, equipment, and supplies related to the terminal illness
• Bereavement Services to help the family in coping with grief and loss
• On Call Services available 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Forty Years of Hospice in the US

The modern hospice movement began in England in the 1960’s by Dr. Cicely Saunders.  Initially, the primary hospice care setting was in an inpatient setting.  In the United States, the philosophy of care developed by Dr. Saunders was unchanged, but the care setting was concentrated in the home.  Hospice Care has evolved and now it has been recognized that both care settings may be needed to assist patients and their families reach their goals.  Genesis Hospice offers Hospice Care in a variety of settings.  We care for patients in their own home, assisted living facilities,  nursing homes, hospitals and our own inpatient facility, the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. 

For More Information

Genesis Hospice serves 11 counties in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.  Please contact the Genesis At Home Intake department at 563-421-4663 with any questions you might have about hospice or services offered. 

Gifts to the VNA & Hospice Foundation