Hospice Services

Mayo Clinic Hospice is committed to providing hospice care in a homelike setting. The following services are provided:

• Physician services
• Nursing care
• Social work
• Spiritual care and counseling services
• Registered nurses available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Volunteer support
• Dietary counseling
• General inpatient care
• Inpatient respite care
• Medications, supplies and equipment
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy — provided for a limited time, on a case-by-case basis

Nursing home hospice care

Mayo Clinic Hospice can provide hospice services in nursing homes where there is an established contract. See PDF of participating nursing homes.

General inpatient care

Occasionally, signs and symptoms arise (such as uncontrolled pain, uncontrolled nausea or vomiting, severe agitation) that cannot be effectively and efficiently managed at home. Hospice, in cooperation with the primary doctor, can arrange for short-term hospitalization for more aggressive measures to control the symptoms. Mayo Clinic Hospice will also make any necessary transportation arrangements.

Hospitalization will take place at one of the following contracted hospital settings:

• Lake City Medical Center (hospice room available)
• Olmsted Medical Center
• Rochester Methodist Hospital (hospice room available)
• Saint Marys Hospital (hospice room available)
• St. Elizabeth's Hospital (hospice room available)

Respite inpatient care

Respite inpatient care is available for family members in need of a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Respite care can be provided, on an occasional basis, for up to five consecutive days at any given time.

Respite inpatient care can be provided at one of the contracted hospitals or nursing homes.

Bereavement

Mayo Clinic Hospice offers bereavement support to families for up to one year after your loved one's death. Bereavement follow-up may include some or all of the following services:

• Individual and family visits (within our service area)
• Grief counseling and grief education
• Telephone contact
• Invitations to grief support groups
• Periodic mailings
• Information about community resources

Referrals are made for those in need of more extensive counseling.

Adult grief support groups

Mayo Clinic Hospice offers adult grief support groups two to three times a year. The groups are free and open to any adult who has experienced the death of a significant person in his or her life.

Grief support for children and teens

Healing Adventures Camp is offered by Mayo Clinic Hospice. This is a free, one-day camp for children and teens (ages 5 to 18) who have experienced the death of someone special in their lives. The camp is offered in the spring and fall of each year.

The purpose of Healing Adventures Camp is to:

• Provide a safe environment for campers to share their grief experience with peers
• Help campers recognize they are not alone in their grief
• Provide age-appropriate activities that are fun, while teaching campers healthy ways to express their emotions as they continue on their grief journeys