Understanding Hospice Care and How It Helps

Facing a serious illness brings difficult decisions for patients and families. Hospice care focuses on providing comfort, dignity, and compassionate support when curative treatment is no longer the goal.

At Stillwater Hospice, we believe hospice care is about honoring life and helping people make the most of the time they have. Our team supports patients and their loved ones with medical care, emotional guidance, and practical support so families can focus on what matters most.

What Is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is specialized care for individuals living with a life-limiting illness when treatments intended to cure the disease are no longer being pursued.

The focus shifts from curing illness to improving comfort, relieving symptoms, and supporting quality of life.

Each patient receives an individualized care plan designed around their personal goals, medical needs, and the level of support required. Hospice care also provides meaningful support for spouses, partners, caregivers, and families during a challenging time.

Who Hospice Care Helps

Hospice care is appropriate for individuals living with a serious illness when a physician believes life expectancy may be six months or less if the illness runs its natural course.

Hospice may support patients living with conditions such as:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Lung disease
• Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
• Neurological conditions
• Other life-limiting illnesses

Hospice care can be provided wherever the patient calls home, including private residences, assisted living communities, and nursing facilities.

Our Team-Based Approach to Care

Stillwater Hospice takes an integrated, team-based approach to care. Throughout the hospice journey, patients and families work with a group of professionals focused on comfort, support, and coordination of care.

Healthcare Providers
Physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses coordinate medical care and work closely with the patient’s primary or specialty providers.

Hospice Medical Director
Our Medical Director serves as a clinical resource for the hospice team and ensures the highest standard of care.

Nurses
Hospice nurses provide direct care, monitor symptoms, and guide families through the physical changes that may occur during serious illness.

Social Workers
Social workers connect families with community resources and provide counseling and emotional support.

Spiritual Care Providers
Spiritual care is available for patients and families who would like emotional or faith-based support during this time.

Additional team members may include hospice aides, volunteers, and other support professionals who help provide compassionate care.

Levels of Hospice Care

Hospice care is flexible and designed to meet the needs of each patient. Four levels of hospice care are available.

Routine Home Care
The most common level of care, provided wherever the patient lives.

General Inpatient Care
Short-term care provided when symptoms require a higher level of medical attention.

Continuous Home Care
Intensive nursing support provided during periods of medical crisis to help patients remain at home.

Respite Care
Short-term care that allows caregivers to rest while their loved one continues receiving hospice support.

How Hospice Supports Families

Hospice care supports not only the patient but also their loved ones. Families often face emotional, physical, and practical challenges when caring for someone with a serious illness.

Our team helps reduce stress by providing guidance, structure, and compassionate support throughout the process.

Hospice care can help families:

• Better understand the progression of illness
• Manage symptoms and medications
• Navigate difficult decisions
• Receive emotional and spiritual support
• Focus on meaningful time together

When Should Someone Start Hospice Care?

Many families wait too long to begin hospice services because they are unsure when it is appropriate.

Hospice care can begin when a physician determines that curative treatments are no longer effective or desired and life expectancy may be limited.

Starting hospice earlier allows patients and families to receive the full benefit of supportive care, symptom management, and guidance during an important stage of life.

Early hospice care often improves comfort and reduces unnecessary hospital visits.

Where Hospice Care Is Provided

Hospice care is most often provided wherever a patient calls home. This may include:

• Private residences
• Assisted living communities
• Nursing homes
• Residential care facilities

Many people prefer to remain in familiar surroundings near family and loved ones. Hospice care makes this possible by bringing medical support directly to the patient.

Signs It May Be Time to Consider Hospice Care

Many families aren’t sure when hospice care should begin. In reality, hospice is often most helpful when support begins earlier rather than later.

Hospice may be appropriate when someone living with serious illness begins experiencing increasing difficulty managing daily life or medical symptoms.

Common signs may include:

• Frequent hospital or emergency room visits
• Increased pain or symptoms that are difficult to manage
• Rapid decline in health or physical strength
• Difficulty with daily activities such as bathing, eating, or walking
• Significant weight loss or loss of appetite
• Increasing fatigue or sleeping most of the day
• A desire to focus on comfort rather than aggressive medical treatment

Hospice care helps patients remain comfortable and supported wherever they call home while also providing guidance and support for families navigating difficult decisions.

Hospice Care Services in Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming

Stillwater Hospice provides compassionate hospice care services across Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming, supporting patients and families during life’s most challenging moments.

Our interdisciplinary team works closely with physicians, caregivers, and community partners to ensure patients receive personalized care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

By bringing care directly to wherever a patient calls home, Stillwater Hospice helps individuals remain in familiar surroundings while receiving the support they need.

Learn More About Hospice Care

Hospice care extends beyond medical treatment. Stillwater Hospice offers a range of supportive services designed to help patients, families, and caregivers navigate the end-of-life stage with comfort, guidance, and compassion. These additional hospice services provide practical support, emotional care, and resources to ensure no one faces this journey alone.

Therapies
Some hospice patients benefit from therapy services that help maintain comfort and independence. When medically appropriate, Stillwater Hospice may provide occupational, physical, or speech therapy to help patients perform essential daily tasks and maintain their functional abilities.

Bereavement Support
Grief is a deeply personal journey, and support does not end when hospice care does. Stillwater Hospice offers bereavement counseling and support for families and caregivers for more than a year after the loss of a loved one, including guidance, resources, and connections to community support groups.

Family and Caregiver Support
Caring for a loved one with a serious illness can be emotionally and physically demanding. Stillwater Hospice provides guidance, education, and compassionate support to help families and caregivers understand what to expect and feel confident caring for their loved one.

Caring for Yourself
Caregivers often put their own needs aside while caring for others. Our hospice team encourages caregivers to accept help, ask questions, and prioritize their own well-being while we work together to ensure their loved one receives compassionate, supportive care.

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help

If you have questions about hospice care, support services, or whether hospice may be right for you or a loved one, our team is here to help. We are always available to provide guidance, answer questions, and help families understand the care and support available to them.

You are not alone.

Contact Stillwater Hospice to learn more about services in your community.