Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Each November, we raise awareness about hospice and recognize the dedicated caregivers who support patients and families during the end-of-life stage.

Sadly, the idea of hospice care often comes with confusion and stress. In fact, many people mistake hospice for giving up. By addressing these misconceptions directly, we clarify how compassionate, Christ-like services empower patients to live their final months with comfort and dignity.

Below is a Q&A with Lindsey Davis, RN, St. Bernards Director of Hospice Services, who explains hospice care at St. Bernards.

Q: What is the most important thing to understand about hospice?

A: Hospice does not abandon hope. Rather, it shifts focus from the pursuit of a cure to the pursuit of a meaningful quality of life in our remaining natural days. We believe every moment matters, and we want to ensure those moments are lived with peace and dignity.

Q: Who is eligible for hospice care?

A: Eligibility is generally confirmed when a doctor estimates a patient has a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of fewer than six months, and the patient chooses to forgo aggressive, curative treatments. This decision opens the door for our team to focus entirely on holistic comfort.

Q: What services are included in hospice care?

A: We provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary support that includes continuous and meticulous pain and symptom management, led by our medical directors and specialized hospice nurses. Beyond physical care, we provide emotional and spiritual counseling for patients and families, assistance with personal care and daily activities, nutrition support, and coverage for durable medical equipment needs.

Q: Who makes up a hospice care team?

A: At St. Bernards, our team is built to support the whole person. It includes hospice and palliative care trained medical directors, nurse case managers, 24/7 on-call nurses, certified nursing assistants providing personal care, social workers connecting families to community resources, pastoral care associates, and trained hospice volunteers who offer companionship and prayer.

Q: Where can hospice care take place?

A: The majority of our services are delivered as routine home care, which means we meet the patient where they are most comfortable: in their own home, an assisted living facility or a skilled nursing facility. Inpatient care at St. Bernards Medical Center is an option for short periods when pain or acute symptoms require intensive, round-the-clock management. Finally, we operate the region’s only dedicated hospice facility, the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House, complete with 20 private rooms in a welcoming, home-like setting.

Q: Does St. Bernards offer support for family caregivers?

A: Absolutely. Caregivers play an important role that requires immense effort. At our Hospice House and in the hospital, we offer respite care, allowing the primary family caregiver time to rest or tend to their own health or other duties. Finally, care continues after a patient passes. We provide grief support through remembrance events, support groups and counseling services that honor the memory of deceased loved ones.

Q: What is the financial burden of hospice care?

A: We work to ensure financial relief. Patients and families often have no financial burden for necessary medical equipment and comfort medications provided during home care, regardless of their ability to pay. Our goal is to lift this worry so families can focus on each other.

If you or your family are grieving a loss, we invite you to join our annual “Moments of Remembrance” event on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro. This free gathering, open to the public, honors and celebrates the loved ones we lost throughout the year, offering compassionate support to grieving families and friends. We have a memorial Christmas tree and invite attendees to bring an ornament to hang on it in memory of their loved ones. For more information, click here.