Cardiac Hospice

A feeling of home is important at the end of life. The staff at NorthCare Hospice & Palliative Care, an in-home hospice provider, plans to construct the Northland's first hospice residence to be located on the North Kansas City Hospital campus. Currently, the only hospice house is in southern Kansas City, which poses challenges for families who must travel more than 25 miles on a regular basis to visit their loved ones. Kim Logan, executive director of NorthCare Hospice, explains as the population ages and the Northland grows, there is increasing demand for facilities like NorthCare Hospice Residence.

Since 1996 NorthCare Hospice has provided in-home hospice and palliative care services to an average of 165 patients and families each day in a nine-county area. But there are times when care must be provided elsewhere, such as at a facility like NorthCare Residence.

These services will be provided for patients and families when the construction is completed:

• Assessment of a patient's condition and type of care required
• Support and education for patients and families about end-of-life care
• Control of pain and symptoms
• Care for patients whose health is rapidly declining, with only hours or days of life remaining
• Respite care to provide caregivers relief from patient care
• Recovery after a medical procedure

The 16-bed homelike facility will be located on the 2nd floor of the Hospital and will consist of a spiritual center, family kitchen, seating areas and much more.

"When the doors open, the beds will fill because there is such a need for this level of hospice care," says Kim. "The Hospice Residency will fill a void in the community, and we hope the Northland and all of Kansas City will lend financial resources to this project."

Visit their website to make a donation, www.northcarehospice.org/