Compassionate
Comfort Care
AccentCare, a national leader and trusted guide in post-acute health care services, and Memorial Hermann Health System, a non-profit, community-focused, award-winning health system committed to creating healthier Houston communities, are pleased to announce the creation of a new joint venture that will greatly expand access to care in the home throughout the Greater Houston area.
Both organizations are combining their local operations for home health and hospice to create the new entity, which will become the largest provider of in-home health care services in South Texas.
This partnership will enhance care and service quality for all patients, families, and providers in the Greater Houston area by reimagining the home-based care system. Patients and families trust Memorial Hermann when they have a serious health episode that requires hospital care, and this joint venture will bring that same trusted health care source into their homes as their needs change over time.
Memorial Hermann Hospice supports patients and families with compassionate care during the end-of-life transition. Our goal is to provide physical, social and spiritual care so you can share time with loved ones and spend your days in ways that are meaningful to you.
With a focus on comfort and dignity, our care team is dedicated to helping patients and families capture meaningful moments while preparing for the end of life. Choosing hospice care gives you access to a range of services that will allow you to live your life to the fullest, as comfortably as possible.
What is Hospice?
Hospice is medical and comfort care for patients who are going through the end stage of a terminal illness. Generally, hospice care is introduced when your physician determines that your illness is not curable and that you may live for six months or less.
Our services are focused on quality of life, pain relief and other palliative care. Some people decide to continue certain medical treatments, while others choose only pain relief and comfort care. When you decide to transition your goals from active medical treatment to comfort and emotional support, hospice can help you and your family with this important stage of life.
Hospice is not a physical location. It is a group of services that can be provided at home or in a health care facility that gives you the control to choose how to spend your days.
At Memorial Hermann Hospice, we can develop a plan that addresses your individual wants and needs while providing support to you and your family. We help you manage the effects of your terminal illness and face end-of-life with dignity and comfort.
Services Available
We understand that transitioning to end-of-life care may be overwhelming. Our interdisciplinary care team works with you to help calm any anxiety or fear you may be experiencing. We offer many types of assistance.
Physical Care/Pain and Symptom Management
- Physical examinations
- Pain management that may include medication or other treatment options
- Personal-care assistance for bathing, grooming and dressing
Spiritual Care
- On-staff chaplains for spiritual support for you and your loved ones
- Coordination with your church or spiritual community
Bereavement Support
- Support with both anticipatory grief and loss after death through phone calls or in-person meetings
- Continued support for family and loved ones for 13 months after death, including consistent contact, support groups, grief education and in-person meetings
- For grief resources for adults, adolescents and children, please see our Grief and Bereavement Resources
Psychological/Social/Emotional Care
- Evaluation and treatment of any psychological needs
- Assistance locating outside services and resources near you in the community
- Group or individual counseling for your loved ones, for up to 13 months after death
Family Support
- Assistance for family members, including meeting with social workers and chaplains
- Resources for counseling, how to talk with children, and general next steps for the family
Levels of Care
Each patient’s end-of-life journey is unique and may require different types of support. Memorial Hermann Hospice provides families various levels of care, including services of support, reassurance, counseling, education and connection to outside resources.
Routine Home Care
Patients remain in their home, and our interdisciplinary team members make home visits. This can be done in a private home, skilled nursing facility, independent-living facility or assisted-living facility. The length and frequency of visits will depend on each patient’s specific goals and needs. Our care team will manage medication and any other treatment or equipment needed. Patients, family members and caregivers can reach an on-call hospice nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Continuous Care
Patients with acute medical needs or ongoing medication-plan revisions can benefit from continuous care. A hospice nurse will remain at the bedside to manage medication for pain and other symptoms. The patient is evaluated each day to determine if the continuous-care plan is still needed, or if pain and symptoms are comfortably managed. Most frequently done in the home setting, continuous care may be administered in a private home.
Respite Care
Respite is designed for patients who live at home with their family and provides up to five days of care at a contracted nursing facility. Taking a break to rest and practice self-care is essential for people taking care of a family member in hospice care. It allows them to recover from fatigue and to re-charge before returning to care for their loved one. The patient will be lovingly cared for in a hospice residence or other nursing facility. Patients receive the same level of care as they would with home visits from our care team.
General Inpatient Care
Patients with short-term symptom management needs that cannot be provided for in a residential setting may benefit from general inpatient care. The inpatient time is usually five days or fewer and is used for advanced palliative treatment with the goal of returning to the previous level of care. General inpatient care may be appropriate for patients who need temporary pain management like intravenous (IV) medication or an acute medical need.
Memorial Hermann Hospice Care Team
Our compassionate, specially trained health care professionals devote their time to making sure the patient’s end-of-life transition is lived comfortably and with dignity. The interdisciplinary team includes a physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain, home-health aide, dietitian and volunteers.
The hospice care team constantly evaluates the patient’s needs and will adjust the care plan to provide the support that is needed.
Physician-Directed Services
The hospice medical director will work together with the patient’s primary physician and will direct the care team. When needed, a hospice physician or nurse practitioner will make home visits to care for the patient. The goal is to comfort the patient by monitoring and adjusting medication and overseeing the comprehensive plan that includes spiritual and emotional support. The patient, along with loved ones or caregivers, will work directly with the physician or nurse practitioner to adjust the care plan as needed.
Nurses
Our highly skilled registered nurses (RN) and licensed vocational nurses (LVN) are dedicated to each patient’s pain control and comfort, as well as coordinating any other care that may be needed. These nurses are available day and night to make sure the patient is comfortable. Hospice nurses are trained in hands-on care and treatment for the patient, and also trained to assist with advice and support for the family.
Social Workers
Non-medical care is an important part of the overall hospice plan. Social workers provide support services like counseling and connection with community resources for legal and financial issues, and they help patients and their families prepare for end-of-life decisions.
Chaplains
Regardless of a person’s religious affiliation or beliefs, our chaplains are available to provide non-denominational spiritual guidance for the patient and their family. If requested, the chaplain can work together with the family’s personal clergy. The chaplain is also available for 13 months of bereavement care for the family after the patient’s death.
Home Health Aides
Personal care, like bathing, dressing, eating and feeding are provided, as needed, by our home health aides. These care providers are available to help relieve the patient’s family or caregivers.
Dietitians
Our dietitians provide dietary consultations, as needed, to assist with the patient’s care and comfort.
Volunteers
Compassionate hospice volunteers are specially trained to assist patients and families with end-of-life needs. They can help in a variety of ways, including spending time with the patient to read a book, watch TV or to simply enjoy conversation.
We're Here For You
During the end-of-life transition, having the physical, emotional and spiritual support you need can make a big difference. The Memorial Hermann Hospice team is dedicated to working with patients and families to help ease burdens so they can enjoy quality time together. We’ll work with you and your loved ones to ensure the days are spent comfortably, with dignity and meaning.
A Caregiver's Testimonial
My aunt, who lives with my mother and my cousin, was recently diagnosed with stage IV cancer. She participated in immediate services to support her testing and diagnosis at Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital where she received incredibly responsive and compassionate care.
In less than 6 weeks, unfortunately, we saw her transition from a sassy and active 78-year-old to someone dependent for care, bed bound and receiving hospice services. There is nothing easy about going through that with a loved one. She passed away last month, overnight and peacefully in her sleep.
The last 3 weeks of her life, she spent in the care of our Memorial Hermann Hospice family – my MH hospice family. Her nurse looked over her plan of care and guided the needs for personal care, medication management to eliminate her pain and wonderfully supportive social work services as we made decisions for my cousin who has Down syndrome to be cared for after my aunt’s passing.
I am forever grateful to be part of a health system that serves with a vision and employs values that are palpable, that I and my family in Cypress could feel. My Aunt, Beverly Moore, is resting in peace now, and we celebrate her life daily with fond memories like the one shown here in the photo. Thank you, Memorial Hermann Hospice for all you do with grace.
Rhonda M Abbott, PT, FTPTA
Senior Vice President & CEO
TIRR Memorial Hermann
Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network
Lis’ Story: What I’ve Learned About Life From Facing Death
As a certified nurse assistant with Memorial Hermann Hospice, I take care of people who are dying. I’ve learned that although we know death is inevitable, many aren’t ready when the end comes.
Heather’s Story: Creating a Lasting Legacy Through Pediatric Hospice
Their heads may be buried in their devices, but children notice when parents are sad or talking quietly while a family member is ill.
I know this from personal experience.