LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO
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Thank you for selecting Four Seasons to provide you with Trusted Care for you and your loved ones. Since 1979, we have provided trusted, compassionate care throughout Western North Carolina. We are honored to provide care, wherever you call home, throughout: Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, and Transylvania counties. Your well-being is very important to us, and we believe that our continuum of care services offer the most trusted care and compassionate support that you deserve. Four Seasons offers Care Navigation, Home Care, Palliative Care, Hospice Care, Pediatric Palliative & Hospice Care, and Grief Services. We want you as the patient, as well as your loved ones and caregivers, to have the support you need. Throughout your journey with Four Seasons, you will have your own personal care team made up of highly trained professionals who will put your goals of care first; keeping you comfortable, managing your symptoms and ensuring that your time with your loved ones is of the highest quality. A nurse will visit you regularly. You also have access to a certified hospice aide. In addition, a medical provider, chaplain, social worker, music therapist, and professionally trained volunteers are available to help with your care needs.
Understanding Hospice Care Hospice care is specialized care and support for people with serious, life-limiting illnesses, focusing on com- fort, quality of life, and dignity. Those eligible for hospice have stopped seeking a cure and have a life expec- tancy of six months or less. At Four Seasons, we care for the whole person, which means we not only pro- vide comfort care, but also emotional and spiritual support, as well as support for the caregiver and family.
What to Expect from Hospice Care
We are always available. You or your family can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Day or night, a nurse is always on call and available by phone – 866.466.9734.
Referral and Initial Contact • Referral: Anyone can make a referral, includ- ing a medical provider, family member, or the patient. Requests for Hospice Care can be made online or by calling 866.466.9734. • Initial Phone Call: A nurse typically contacts the family within 24–48 business hours for an initial screening call to discuss the patient’s con- dition and goals. The Evaluation & Admission Visit • Clinical Assessment: A hospice nurse conducts a thorough medical review, observing symp- toms, daily routines, and current health status. • Eligibility Determination: The nurse confirms if the patient meets criteria (e.g., life expectancy of 6 months or less, no longer seeking a cure). • Tailored Care Plan: During this visit, the team works with the family to co-create a care plan that aligns with personal preferences and qual- ity of life goals.
Hospice Team Visits Once admitted, the patient receives regular visits from a diverse team of professionals including a medical provider (physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner); an RN to manage pain, symp- toms, and medications; Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) to help with bathing, grooming, and light mobility; a Healthcare Social Worker and Chaplain to provide counseling, crisis support, and help with complex decision-making; Music Therapists and trained volunteers to provide emotional connection and practical assistance. Please see the next section for more details. Additional Support for Caregiver • 24/7 Availability: A triage nurse is available by phone day or night, and on-call staff can make house calls after hours for urgent needs. • Daily Care Training: Our team will provide resources and training to help you care for your loved one. • Respite Care: Patients may transition to Eliza- beth House for up to 5 days of respite care to give caregivers a break.
You will find this guide to be a useful resource, but it should not replace good communica- tion between you and your Four Seasons team. When you have questions or if you are concerned about anything, please talk to a member of your care team. If for any reason Four Seasons has not been able to meet your expectations, we want to know how we can improve. Please call 828.233.0372 and I will be notified immediately of your concern.
You are entrusting us with your care, and we will do whatever we can to help you meet your goals and live fully with respect and dignity in comfort and peace.
It is our honor to care for you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Millicent Burke-Sinclair, Ed.D, MBA, MLAS, SPHR®, SHRM-SCP President and CEO
866.466.9734 • FourSeasonsCare.org 866..466..9734 • FourSeasonsCare..org
866.466.9734 • FourSeasonsCare.org
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