Hospice Care at St. Margaret Hall 

Several quality hospice care options are available for Greater Cincinnati area seniors who reside at St. Margaret Hall. We contract with a variety of hospice care providers to offer our residents choices to meet their individual needs. Our team will coordinate hospice care arrangements for our residents, who maintain residence in a private room during their care. 

St. Margaret Hall understands the sensitive needs surrounding hospice care, and is committed to providing holistic care, serving the mind, body, and spiritual needs of terminally ill residents. The philosophy behind hospice is to affirm life and approach death as a natural process. Hospice is not meant to assist someone in dying as much as it is to help residents to live the remainder of their lives as fully as possible. 

St. Margaret Hall is located in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park area. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your specific needs and how we may serve you! 

St. Margaret Hall Hospice Care 

• Private rooms 
• Contracts with local hospice providers 
• Pastoral care 
• Family gathering spaces 
• Social services 

About Hospice Care 

Who should make the decision about entering hospice care, and when is the right time?

While family and friends can be a source of support in discussing options for a terminally ill Resident, the decision to enter into hospice care must, by law, be made by the patient. Hospice care programs usually accept those referred by a personal physician, with a life expectancy is six months or less.

Do we ask about the possibility of hospice, or wait for our physician to bring it up? 

The patient and family should ask questions about hospice care at any time, and discuss all aspects of hospice care with their physician, other health care professionals, clergy or friends. 

Are all hospice care options the same?

Not all hospice care options are the same, though Medicare does require certified hospices to provide a basic level of care. Because the approaches to care can vary, St. Margaret Hall contracts with several different hospice care providers to help residents find the right hospice care program to meet their needs.

What happens if a hospice care patient shows signs of recovery? 

In the event that a patient’s condition improves, and the disease seems to be in remission, a patient may be released from hospice care and placed into an appropriate treatment program. If the Resident should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and most private insurance will resume coverage for this purpose. 

What is involved in the hospice admission process? 

After confirming with the appropriate physician that a Resident should be placed in hospice care, the Resident will be asked to sign consent and insurance forms. These forms are much like those signed by Resident when they enter a nursing home. An additional form for Medicare patients indicates how electing the Medicare hospice benefit will affect other Medicare coverage. 

Does hospice care require someone be with the patient at all times? 

During the initial weeks of care, it’s usually not necessary for someone to be with the Resident all the time. During the later stages hospice care recommends someone to be with the patient on an ongoing basis, since one of the most common Resident fears is dying alone. 

How does hospice care manage pain? 

Hospice nurses and doctors are up to date on the latest medications and methods for pain and symptom relief. Physical and occupational therapists also help patients to be as mobile and self-sufficient as they wish. 

How successful is the hospice care approach in battling pain? Do the medications provided during hospice care prevent the patient from being able to talk or know what’s going on? 

A combination of medications, counseling and therapies, allows most Residents to attain a level of comfort they consider acceptable. While a primary goal of hospice care is to keep the residents as pain-free as possible, the approach also strives to keep the patient functional and able to enjoy life to the greatest possible extent. 

Is palliative care the same as hospice care? 

Palliative care and hospice care do not refer to the same type of care. Hospice is a type of palliative care that can be provided in the last six months of life. Traditional palliative care can be offered any time in the course of an illness. Ideally palliative care begins at the time of diagnosis 

If you would like more information about St. Margaret Hall, please fill out the form on this page or call us at 513.487.3553.