Although most hospice services are provided in patients’ homes, there are times when home care just isn’t enough. When pain or other acute symptoms demand a higher level of medical and nursing attention, short-term inpatient care at the new Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center may be an option.

• The Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center provides all the services you would expect in a hospital —in a much more welcoming, home-like setting. Specifically designed, staffed and equipped for end-of-life care, the center offers round-the-clock skilled clinical staffing, state-of-the art equipment, and access to physicians, health aides, social workers, bereavement counselors, chaplains, and other specialists. Trained volunteers are also available to assist with care and companionship. The serene setting encourages visits from families and friends and honors a 24-hour visitation policy, which includes children, and often pets.
• Surrounded by trees and terraced landscaping, the 12,000 square foot, free-standing facility offers a beautiful environment with eight patient suites, a large gathering room with fireplace; commercial kitchen and dining room, family living room, chapel, children’s play area and more.
• All patient suites are designed for comfort, privacy, and ease of care. Each includes a private bath, patio, space for mementos and personal touches, sitting areas and accommodations for family and friends to spend the night if they choose. In most circumstances, pets are welcome too.

Thanks to a generous donation of four acres of land, the new Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Facility is conveniently located off of Highway 26, just north of Interstate 94 in Johnson Creek—a community ideally situated in the center of Rainbow Hospice Care’s service area. Accessible from all directions, the location will allow patients to remain closer to home—providing greater convenience and connection to family members and friends who won’t have to navigate time-consuming, long-distance commutes in order to visit their loved ones.

Inpatient care services:

General inpatient care (GIP) may be required for patients with more complex care needs. In this scenario, the patient is transferred to a hospital, nursing home, or if available—to a hospice inpatient facility for more intensive medical or nursing care. Reasons for general inpatient care include uncontrollable pain, unrelenting nausea and vomiting, severe shortness of breath, seizures, or other problems that cannot realistically be managed in the home.

Although general inpatient care is also available for patients who are imminently dying and a very limited life expectancy of only hours or a few days, the goal for most patients is to return home when their symptoms are stabilized or the care needs become less technical. As a result, inpatient stays are fairly short-term. In some cases, patients may be able to remain at the inpatient hospice facility on a residential basis while receiving care at the routine home care level; however, this usually means paying out-of-pocket for services like room and board which are not covered by the Medicare Hospice Benefit or private insurance for the routine level of care.

Respite care is provided when family members acting as the patient’s primary caregiver need a break. Here, the hospice team makes arrangements to have the patient transferred to a Medicare-approved facility for up to five days at a time while the family gets some much needed rest. When Rainbow Hospice’s Inpatient Facility is available, respite care can be provided there. If the respite stay is in a hospital or nursing home, the patient’s hospice team still oversees the care provided.