Providing a Safe Haven is Hearts In Action
As North Dakota’s first freestanding hospice house, HIA Heather’s House offers a peaceful, home-like setting with expert care from HIA Hospice’s medical team. Providing 24/7 support, it’s a compassionate alternative to home hospice for patients and loved ones along with respite for caregivers. At HIA Heather’s House, ‘Hearts In Action’ means offering a safe haven where compassionate care is provided during life’s most challenging moments.
A Home Away From Home
HIA Heather’s House ensures patients can enter their end-of-life stage in comfort and home-like surroundings when being in their own home is not an option.
Expert care with a reduced financial burden: A short stay at HIA Heather’s House is 100% covered by Medicare and most major private insurance for respite and general inpatient care.
Features designed to support a patient’s physical health and wellbeing: Each patient room is fully equipped with medical-grade equipment and call systems. These and other medical features are creatively hidden to mask their institutional look and maintain a home-like feeling.
Peace and comfort for the caregiver and the patient: HIA Heather’s House isn’t just for a patient – primary caregivers can benefit from respite care which allows them the opportunity to take a short break and rest easy knowing their loved one is receiving best-in-class care in a peaceful setting.
A heart for terminally ill children: HIA Heather’s House provides a comfortable space for children and teens to receive concurrent care (both curative and hospice services). HIA Heather’s House features spaces for children and teens that includes equipment and technology, art supplies and activities, music and toys. It will be a place where kids can just be kids while also having their pain and symptoms managed with around-the-clock care.
All the Comforts of Home
HIA Heather’s House provides supportive programming that maximizes the quality of life for terminally ill patients, their families and caregivers.
Comprehensive education and grief support: Trained social workers, chaplains and other care professionals are on hand for patients and/or their family members. These services are needed to help families prepare for the end of life, which can involve mending relationships, establishing an advance directive or learning how to cope with the symptoms and signs that precede death.
Opportunities for solitude and building supportive relationships: HIA Heather’s House provides spaces where adults and children can be alone, take a stroll, read a book or watch a movie if they need distraction. It also provides spaces that can spark conversation and friendships between families.
Increased community engagement, volunteer-driven resources and therapies: A large space in HIA Heather’s House allows for many volunteer/community provided resources. From ice cream socials manned by volunteers to hair care, massage or pet therapy, HIA Heather’s House can inspire the entire community to provide love and support to their neighbors in need.
Easy access to the outdoors: The grounds of the HIA Heather’s House includes walking paths, serene gardens and other interactive features. It offers a beautiful and scenic place for patients and families to reflect, find peace and enjoy nature. Hospice supporters and community members will also have a designated area to honor and memorialize their loved ones.
FAQs
What Is HIA Heather’s House?
HIA Heather’s House is a peaceful, home-like setting featuring 18 patient rooms for HIA Hospice patients to receive expert care to manage symptoms and improve comfort. The goal is to control pain and help patients return home if possible. Families can stay together and make memories while hospice staff provide support.
Who is it for?
- HIA Heather’s House serves HIA Hospice patients who need more intensive care than can be provided at home, including those with intensive pain or complex needs.
- Because HIA Heather’s House also specializes in care for those living with dementia, when symptoms escalate related to the dementia illness, HIA Heather’s House offers the care and environment needed with 6 patient rooms specifically designed for dementia patients.
- For those who need an alternative to home at the end of life, HIA Heather’s House serves this need.
- It also offers respite for caregivers and support for families during end-of-life care.
How will it be paid for?
Medicare and most private insurance covers short-term stays at HIA Heather’s House for respite and general inpatient care. Residential care is available for those who choose to privately pay.
How long do people stay?
On average, patients stay at HIA Heather’s House for five days. Care at HIA Heather’s House is focused on addressing needs so patients and their loved ones may return home.
When would people use Heather’s House?
- For HIA Hospice patients continuing to experience uncontrolled pain and discomfort despite home hospice interventions.
- When someone is discharging from the hospital with a limited life expectancy and continues interventions for symptom management or requires a short-term alternative to home.
- The patient or family prefers that death occur in a setting other than their home.
- The caregiver needs a break or needs a short-term alternative to providing the care at home.
