Solari Hospice Care: Grand opening of new inpatient hospice home in Houston, TX

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Solari Hospice Care will hold the grand opening of its new Houston inpatient hospice home on May 18 from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. will be officiated by Solari Hospice Care’s President and CEO Gary W. Polsky. This event is free and open to the public.

Attendees are welcome to tour the state-of-the-art facility before and after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The free-standing, 12-bed facility, located at 9714 South Gessner Road in Houston, is specifically designed to address the requirements of patients facing complex end-of-life issues, such as pain management, symptom control and medical procedures. The hospice home features private rooms equipped with comfortable beds, sofa sleepers for family members, a soothing family gathering room, flat-screen TVs with cable access, a spacious common living room and a serene chapel for spiritual meditation.

“We are proud that Houston Solari Hospice Care’s new inpatient home will offer patients in Houston the ability to receive compassionate and comprehensive end-of-life care in a warm and friendly home-like atmosphere,” said Doris Brown, executive director and director of patient care at Houston Solari Hospice Care. “We know how important it is for hospice patients to have their loved ones nearby. Patients now have the opportunity to receive professional, comprehensive and compassionate care specific to their unique needs in a tranquil atmosphere.”

The 8,000-square-foot building, designed by Houston-based Wilson Architectural Group, has a “Texas/Tuscan feel” with Austin limestone, a rich terra cotta tile roof and numerous high-arched windows to let in warm natural light. Other amenities for patients and families include a commercial kitchen, a family laundry facility and Internet access. In addition, the sprawling and well-manicured grounds feature a meditation garden, pergola and conversation areas.

“Many doctors and nurses in Houston’s renowned medical community recognize the tremendous benefit of a local inpatient hospice home that’s in close proximity to the area’s numerous hospitals, clinics and medical facilities,” said Gary W. Polsky, president and chief executive officer, Solari Hospice Care. “Their advocacy for Solari Hospice Care’s new inpatient hospice home in Houston will help educate area residents, patients and their families to its importance as a valuable community resource.”

Already Medicare certified, Houston Solari Hospice Care will begin accepting new patients after its grand opening on May 18 and expects to be accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in July 2011. Considered the world leader in evaluating quality and safety of care delivered in all types of healthcare settings, this highly respected certification is only offered to hospitals that meet rigorous national quality standards for care and safety.

Added Polsky, “Hospice is more of a philosophy of care than a place. Hospice takes a holistic approach to the care of each patient, encompassing all aspects of the patient’s needs. It’s the best way to help dying patients and their families to spend more quality time together, preserving one of our country’s most important social values—keeping families together.”

The Benefits of Inpatient Hospice Care

Below, Solari Hospice Care provides valuable insight into a few of the benefits of inpatient hospice care:

• Quality care delivered by a dedicated, interdisciplinary staff. In addition to receiving exemplary care from a highly trained staff of doctors, registered nurses, therapists and certified nursing aides, social workers provide counseling to the patient and the family, assist with end-of-life planning and identify community resources that may be helpful to meet additional needs. Spiritual counselors provide spiritual support to those requesting it, honoring each patient’s personal beliefs. Bereavement counselors assist the family in the grieving process prior to and up to one year following the patient’s death.

• No out-of-pocket expenses for the patient or the family.The Medicare hospice benefit, enacted by Congress in 1982, is the predominant source of payment for hospice care. Hospice care is completely covered by Medicare and Medicaid for care and services related to the patient’s primary hospice diagnosis. For care unrelated to the primary hospice diagnosis, Medicare A/B and Medicaid will continue to provide patients their routine benefits including physician visits. Most private insurance plans, military/VA plans, HMOs and other managed care organizations also have hospice benefits that will pay for most, if not all, care and services related to the hospice diagnosis.

• Comfortable, warm and friendly environment. Inpatient hospice care is quite different from the cold, stale, rigid environment that has given hospitals and nursing homes a bad reputation. The inpatient hospice atmosphere is geared towards warm, cozy palliative care, providing 24-hour nursing services furnished in accordance with each patient’s plan of care. In addition, caring and compassionate volunteers provide an array of services to patients including friendly visits, companionship, short-term respite for the caregiver, massage therapy, music therapy, as well as free notary service for patients.

• Dignity and privacy while maximizing quality of life. Hospice care helps terminally ill people to live life to the fullest in the time they have remaining. By focusing on relieving pain and managing symptoms, hospice helps patients to retain as much control as possible and maximize quality of life. In stark contrast to the restrictive visiting hours of hospitals, patients of inpatient hospice homes can receive visitors at any hour, including infants, small children and even pets. In addition, patient rooms are designed and equipped for nursing care, as well as the dignity, comfort and privacy of patients. Family members can even stay overnight to be with their loved one, if they choose.

It’s never a quick and easy decision when trying to choose end-of-life care for either yourself or your loved ones, but it’s likely to be a reality for many people as medical advancements enable the population to continue to push past the average life expectancy. However, with an increased knowledge of the valuable benefits of hospice, patients and their families can choose the best end-of-life care option or inpatient hospice program that is right for them in their community.

About Solari Hospice Care

Solari Hospice Care is devoted to helping people live with dignity and comfort by providing trusted and professional hospice care in the Houston and Las Vegas communities. Focused on enhancing the quality of life for patients and their loved ones, Solari’s exemplary team of physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, certified nursing aides, social workers, administrative staff and counselors are specially trained to offer the most compassionate and comforting care designed for each patient’s unique needs. To learn more about Solari Hospice Care, please visit www.solarihospice.com, e-mail info@solarihospice.net or follow @SolariHospice on Twitter or Facebook.