Compassionate Hospice Care When It Matters the Most
Comfort. Compassion. Support.
Making end-of-life decisions is among the most difficult and confusing challenges each of us will ever face. But with Bethesda Hospice Care in St. Louis, MO, you can make at least one decision with confidence.
Your Trusted Team for Hospice Care in St. Louis
The best hospice in St. Louis starts with our people. Our team of compassionate and experienced professionals helps your loved one feel more comfortable, more cared for, and more dignified. Our end-of-life care options will also allow you to do what you want most: express your love during this most precious time. Your team will be made up of each of these highly skilled professionals, providing various types of hospice care as needed:
- RN Case Manager
- Hospice Aides
- Social Workers
- Physicians
- Chaplains
- Therapists
- Dietitians
A Tailored Approach to Senior Care
When you choose to begin compassionate hospice care in St. Louis, Bethesda’s experienced team of professionals will coordinate with your family, physicians, hospitals, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. Together, we will provide specialized assessments for each individual and tailor plans to their unique needs.
With this approach, we are confident your loved one will receive the compassionate, specific support they require. And you can take comfort in knowing they’re in great hands with the best hospice in St. Louis.
No One Dies Alone Program
Bethesda is also proud to offer an end-of-life care option called No One Dies Alone (NODA). In this program, highly-motivated volunteers provide a caring, peaceful presence at your loved one’s bedside in the last days and hours of life. These compassionate individuals, all of whom serve as volunteers for Bethesda Hospice Care in St. Louis, MO, have been specially trained to sit vigil, providing a comforting presence for hospice patients and peace of mind for loved ones near and far.
NODA volunteers are trained to report signs of discomfort and help address emotional needs at the end of life. Many volunteers, like KMOX radio personality Dave Glover, were inspired to join from their own positive experiences with the program. Discover how Dave turned a personal loss into a mission of hope.
Compassionate Hospice Care in St. Louis, MO
Bethesda Hospice Care in St. Louis, MO, comes in many forms. If you and your loved one prefer care in the privacy of your home, we’ll arrange for the medication, equipment, supplies, and staff to come to you. We also provide our compassionate hospice care in specialized suites in two of our communities — Bethesda Dilworth in the Kirkwood/Webster area and Bethesda Southgate in Oakville.
As part of our mission to be the best hospice program in St. Louis, Bethesda offers spacious, comfortable — and private — suites. Seniors receive the room they need for their family and friends to comfortably visit or stay overnight.
Full-sized bed
Sleeper sofa
Kitchenette with Keurig coffee maker
Private bathroom
Large flat screen TV with DVD/CD player
WiFi
Don’t Travel Your Grief Journey Alone
Every one of us grieves in our own unique way. And each of us has our own timetable. Grief and mourning are so personal. Bethesda Hospice Care in St. Louis, MO, has a team of professionals who listen and adapt our bereavement program to fit your experience and traditions — just as we do with all our programs and services.
Depending on your needs, support from our St. Louis hospice team can begin even before your loved one dies. Likewise, we understand that grieving can take a year or more. That’s why we’re available to help you cope with your loss for as long as it takes, at no cost to you.
Our Bereavement Services Include:
- Individual and family grief counseling
- Phone contact and/or mail support
- Annual memorial event
- Community grief education presentations
- Virtual grief support groups via Zoom
- Pre-loss counseling
Grief Support Groups
Bethesda Hospice Care in St. Louis offers grief support groups facilitated by experienced grief counselors. These groups provide a safe space to share your story with others on a similar journey and help you experience peace and healing.
For more information about our bereavement program or to speak directly to a Bereavement Coordinator, please contact Dr. Julie Strassman, Manager of Support Services, at 314-373-7025 or jastrassman@bethesdahealth.org.
A Meaningful Way to Celebrate a Loved One's Life
The Kayman 5K – Bethesda Hospice Care’s Annual Memorial Walk provides a unique opportunity to honor loved ones who have died. Named in honor and memory of Brian Kayman, a long-time employee of Bethesda Hospice Care in St. Louis, MO, this event has become a symbolic activity in which families, friends, community members, volunteers, and others unite through their commonality of grief to honor and memorialize a friend or loved one who has died.
We hope that each year more people will take advantage of this wonderful way of commemorating the life of a loved one who has died. The death of a loved one changes us forever. That being said, love does not end in death. The Kayman 5K is a great example of a commemorative ritual. Participation helps you keep these continuous bonds with your loved ones.
"We Honor Veterans" Program
“We Honor Veterans” is a nationally recognized hospice initiative to honor and acknowledge all Veterans for their service. Bethesda is one of only a handful of programs providing hospice at home or otherwise in Missouri to achieve a Level Five rating from WHV, the highest rating possible. It reflects our St. Louis hospice team’s profound respect for the sacrifices and courage of our nation’s Veterans, as well as our commitment to honor their lives and deaths in the most honorable way possible.
A Proper Welcome
Bethesda proudly strives to be the best hospice in St. Louis for Veterans. In honor of their service, we believe it’s never too late to give a Veteran a warm welcome home. Here are just some of the many ways Veterans are honored in the WHV program, including:
- Framed Military Service Certificate
- Welcome Home Vietnam War Veterans Day Celebrations
- Veterans Day Pinning Ceremonies
- Memorial Day Candle-Lighting Ceremonies
- Veteran Escort Ceremony
RESPECTFUL INQUIRY
Our Licensed Social Workers ask the Veteran and his or her family about their military experiences, complete a military history checklist, screen for any possible related Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and aid with treatment or referral as needed. The social workers will also assist with any VA Veteran’s Benefits that the patient may need.
COMPASSIONATE LISTENING
We know that Veterans appreciate opportunities to share their military experience in a non-judgmental, safe environment. Team members of Bethesda Hospice Care in St. Louis, MO, have been trained to listen and offer this service.
A DIGNIFIED FAREWELL
And finally, Bethesda offers the unique Veteran Escort Ceremony to every Veteran who dies in one of our communities or under the care of our St. Louis hospice program. For the ceremony, our Veteran patients are draped with an American flag and escorted in a dignified procession as they exit one of Bethesda’s skilled nursing communities, other long-term care communities, or their own homes. A ceremonial flag folding bids our Veterans a final farewell.
Contact us for eligibility. In addition to being Medicare-certified, we accept most private insurance plans. However, with constantly changing insurance contracts, we suggest you contact us at 314-446-0623 or email us to review your benefits with one of our staff.
Hospice Volunteer Program
Additionally, Bethesda Hospice Care provides the option to have volunteers make visits to your location. Specially trained volunteers of hospice care in St. Louis, MO, offer companionship and a caring presence. Plus, individualized services such as comforting music, veteran-to-veteran support, and bedside vigils.
For more information about volunteering at one of the best hospice programs in St. Louis, please contact Melissa Helmkamp, Volunteer Coordinator at 314-800-1992 or MAHelmkamp@bethesdahealth.org.
Discover the Best Hospice Care in St. Louis, MO
If you or your loved one is ready to learn about end-of-life care options available through Bethesda Hospice Care, please reach out so we can start the conversation and help you however we can. Give us a call at 314-446-0623 to arrange an appointment, reach out to hospice@bethesdahealth.org, or fill out the form below.
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