ASKING FOR HELP TAKES
Courage
Cedar Valley Hospice Care
When someone you love is facing a serious illness, it’s hard to know where to begin. Having a conversation about care can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. At Cedar Valley Hospice, we’re here to guide you and your family every step of the way. Our experienced team helps you understand your options, navigate the healthcare system and focus on what matters most. Let us help you Make Each Moment Matter.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is specialized support for people facing experienced illnesses focused on comfort, dignity and quality of life. Rather than treating the disease, hospice supports the whole person physically, emotionally and spiritually while also caring for their loved ones.
At Cedar Valley Hospice, we’re here to help you Make Each Moment Matter. You and your family are always at the center of every care decision, working closely with our compassionate team of professionals. When you choose Cedar Valley Hospice, you receive:
- Care wherever you call home – whether that’s your house, a nursing facility, hospital or our Cedar Valley Hospice Home
- Support available 24/7/365
- Hospice care for anyone who qualifies, regardless of age, diagnosis or ability to pay
- Grief support for your family and loved ones, available both during and after receiving care
We understand how difficult this time can be. That’s why we’re here – to walk alongside you with guidance, comfort and compassion. If you have questions or need support, please reach out today.
Admission, Referral & Payment for
Hospice Care
Anyone can make a referral or call to inquire about services at Cedar Valley Hospice. We provide in-home care for all who meet our admission criteria regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, diagnosis or ability to pay.
Cedar Valley Hospice Admission Criteria
Cedar Valley Hospice accepts patients who meet the following criteria:
- Those with an estimated life expectancy of six months or less
- Anyone in the later phases of an illness, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, AIDS, ALS, neurological and renal diseases, COPD or any other end-stage disease
- The patient and their doctor have agreed on a path toward comfort care, rather than curative care
Making a Referral to Cedar Valley Hospice
Referrals to Cedar Valley Hospice can be made by anyone – family members, friends, clergy, doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals – by contacting the nearest Cedar Valley Hospice office or by calling 800.626.2360. The patient and family then will be contacted to set up an admissions meeting.Hospice Care Payment
Hospice care is available to everyone in our 15-county service area in Northeast Iowa, regardless of their ability to pay. While Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans cover hospice care, there may be some that do not. Donations from the community help ensure that those who cannot pay or whose care is not covered by insurance can still receive the same hospice services.
Talking About
Hospice Care
We know it’s not easy to talk about hospice – especially when someone you love is facing a serious illness. But having the conversation early, before you’re in a crisis, can make all the difference.
At Cedar Valley Hospice, we’re here to support you whenever you’re ready. If you or a loved one has received a life-limiting diagnosis, we’re available to answer your questions and help you understand your options. Whether curative treatments are no longer working or you’re planning for the future, we can help you explore if hospice care is the right fit.
You don’t have to face these decisions alone. Contact Cedar Valley Hospice today for a no-obligation consultation – we’re here to walk this journey with you.
Plan a time to have the conversation that is without distractions, quiet and comfortable.
Ask questions such as, “How are you feeling about where you’re at with your illness?” or “It can be difficult for family to care for you alone at home. Have you thought about what kind of help you might need?”
Reflect on recent circumstances. “That last hospital stay seemed hard on you, and I think there is a way to avoid it in the future.”
Introduce hospice. “A wonderful program that gives you the help you need to stay at home is called hospice. Have you heard of hospice?” or “Hospice is able to provide you with more services and support at home than most other programs and is a Medicare/Medicaid/VA benefit, as well as covered by most private insurance providers.”
Schedule an educational meeting with the experts at Cedar Valley Hospice to see how they could help or what resources they would recommend.
Honoring Your Service with
Compassionate Care
At Cedar Valley Hospice, we are proud to serve those who have served our country. If you or a loved one is a veteran facing a serious or life-limiting illness, you deserve care that not only brings comfort but also honors your unique story.
As a partner of the national We Honor Veterans program, we’re here to support you with compassion, dignity and respect. Whether you’ve just received a diagnosis or are planning ahead for future care, our team is ready to meet with you and discuss your options – including when curative treatments are no longer working.
We understand that veterans have distinct experiences and needs. That’s why we provide:
Expert medical care at home, including pain and symptom management
- Veteran volunteers who offer meaningful connection and support
- Special recognition through the We Honor Veterans program, including a personal ceremony with a pin, certificate and patriotic quilt handcrafted just for you
- Guidance in accessing VA benefits and services, if eligible
Let us walk beside you, offering comfort, care and the honor you’ve earned.
Complementary Therapies
Cedar Valley Hospice will work with each patient individually to determine which therapies would benefit the patient’s needs and help make each day the best it can be for the patient and their family.
Music Therapy
Music therapy can be provided as part of the plan of care to reduce pain and anxiety, improve communication, and allow the patient and family to renew past memories. By listening to their choice of music, playing an instrument or by simply talking about their life’s music experience and meaning, music therapy offers an opportunity to bring up and seek closure on important end-of-life issues.
Massage Therapy
Hand and foot massages can be provided, if part of the plan of care, by hospice aides. Licensed, therapeutic massage therapists are available as needed to alleviate symptoms of pain and anxiety and to promote comfort for individuals.
Have a Referral?
Anyone can refer a friend or family member to Cedar Valley Hospice. Simply complete and submit the form below to get started. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 800.626.2360.
Your support allows us to provide expert care for all
Enriching lives in the Cedar Valley is at the forefront of our mission. We are experts in providing hospice and palliative care, grief support and providing additional services for those with life changing diagnoses. As a not-for-profit organization, your gifts make our mission possible!
Become a volunteer!
Our volunteers are the heart of our organization. From visiting patients to helping with events, they perform a number of different roles that are vital to helping us carry out our mission.