• Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • What is Hospice?
  • About Us

Hospice of Southern Illinois

Premiere Local Hospice Provider

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission & Core Values
    • Care Ambassador
    • Photo Gallery
    • Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Annual Report
  • Our Care
    • Nursing Care
    • Grief Support
    • Volunteer Programs
    • We Honor Veterans Program
    • Pet Therapy
    • Our Service Area
  • Resources
    • Educational Booklets
    • Grief Support
    • Educational Programs
    • Educational Resources
    • Before I Die Wall
    • Advance Directives
    • COVID-19
  • What is Hospice?
    • Hospice Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Are You a Caregiver?
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Memorial Gifts
    • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
Home | What is Hospice? | Are You a Caregiver?

Are You a Caregiver?

Are you a caregiver or a family member taking care of your loved one? Have they been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness? The interdisciplinary hospice team provides comfort care to patients most commonly diagnosed with the following: heart disease, CHF, COPD, cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, renal failure, ALS, Parkinson’s Disease, and liver disease. The position of being a caregiver comes with many challenges that we can help you with. Hospice of Southern Illinois provides assistance, guidance, and support to caregivers helping another individual with a terminal illness. You are not in this alone and there is help.

caregiver

Keeping Loved Ones Safe During the Pandemic

As an organization dedicated to providing exceptional care to the communities we serve, our uncompromising priority right now at Hospice of Southern Illinois is protecting those in our care, our team members, patients and families, and our community partners from exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19). Here’s what you can expect from us:

  • Follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health
  • Plenty of personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies
  • Increased education for families in their home or home-like setting
  • Addition of telehealth services when face-to-face visits are not effective

Knowing What To Expect With Hospice Care

Home is where the heart is.

  • Expert care in the home for your loved one’s comfort and dignity
  • Specialized pain and symptom management
  • Regularly scheduled nursing visits by the hospice team
  • On-call support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Hospice aide services to assist with personal care
  • Emotional and spiritual support from our social services team
  • Grief support
  • Necessary medical equipment for comfort
  • Collaboration with home care providers
  • Awareness of signs of a loved one’s changing condition (i.e. decreased interest in eating and drinking, withdraw from surroundings, increased sleep, less energy, increased shortness of breath)

Importance of Self Care for Caregivers

One of the most important rules for the caregiver is to take care of yourself too. 

  • Eat Right – the patient may not have an appetite or may not want to eat “good, well-balanced” meals, but you should. 
  • Get Some Rest – if you become worn down and exhausted, you won’t be in any condition to care for the patient. Have others take a night or two with your loved one. Sleep when your loved one sleeps. Try to nap when they nap.
  • Take a Break – sometimes you just need to get away. Even if it’s only for a couple of hours, do it. You are working very hard. You deserve a little “down-time” too!
  • Respite Care – a social worker is available to explain and coordinate options for respite care. This is helpful when needing a short break from caregiving, planning, medical emergencies, and day-to-day activities. If more caregiving assistance is needed overall, the social worker can educate you about your options. 

When To Ask For Help

At any time during a life-limiting illness, it is appropriate to discuss all of your loved one’s healthcare options, including hospice. Hospice of Southern Illinois is available to answer questions without obligation.

Call Hospice of Southern Illinois to learn more about end-of-life care and hospice services, 800-233-1708. Request a chat.

Get Help Now

Related Resources

It’s okay to ask for help. Call Hospice of Southern Illinois at 800-233-1708 and find out how we can help you as you care for your loved one’s needs. We want to support you.

  • Educational Booklets
  • Advance Directives
  • COVID19 Updates + Telehealth Services

Contact Us
Find Your
Nearest Location

Helpful Links

  • Request More Information
  • Why Choose Us?
  • Community Events
  • Our Mission
  • Photo Gallery

What Is Hospice Links

  • Hospice FAQ's
  • Testimonials
  • Are You a Caregiver?

Company Links

  • Make a Referral
  • Make a Donation
  • Become a Volunteer
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Photo Gallery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Non-Profit 501(c)(3)
  • Non-Discrimination in Health Programs and Activities

Service Area Resources

  • Hospitals
  • Contracted Long Term Care Facilities
  • Health Departments
  • Age Smart Community Resources
  • Egyptian Area Agency on Aging
  • Shawnee Alliance for Seniors
  • Bereavement Support Group List

Hospice Resources

  • National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
  • Hospice Facts & FAQs
  • Family Caregiver Alliance
  • American Hospice Foundation
  • Hospice Foundation of America
  • Illinois State Medical Society
  • We Honor Veterans
  • Making the Move to Assisted Living
  • Financial Resources for Seniors
  • Veterans Benefits for Seniors

Contact Us

Administrative Services

618-235-1703
Send Email

Belleville Location

618-222-5905
Send Email

Marion Location

618-997-3030
Send Email

Copyright © 2023 Hospice of Southern Illinois · All Rights Reserved.