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Casa de la Luz Hospice, based in Tucson, Arizona is an organization that focuses on end-of-life care for terminally ill patients which is provided in a private home, nursing home, or assisted living facility. The purpose is not to cure but rather to care for, offer support and comfort to patients along with their families during their final months or weeks of life. There are a few requirements and expenses that patients will have to ensure before becoming eligible for hospice services. Casa de la Luz Hospice provides different levels of care and bereavement care to terminally- ill patients regardless of gender, age, race, or religion. The Casa de la Luz team consists of expert physicians, home health aides, social workers, RN case manager, Chaplain, bereavement counselors, occupational therapists, dietitian, after hours staff, and trained volunteers. Staff members develop a specialized care plan with their patient and caregiver to focus on the well being of their patient, their individual pain management needs and symptom control. They visit with patients frequently to assess them and provide any additional care they may need. Hospice staff is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

History

Local Tucson women Lynette Jaramillo and Agnes C. Poore created Casa de la Luz Hospice in November 1998. Their goal was to form an organization consisting of committed employees and volunteers with shared values and strong work ethic that strive to provide high-quality care in medical care, pain management, and emotional guidance tailored to patients and families needs and desires. Casa de la Luz Hospice offers their services to individuals in the following communities: Tucson, Vail, Marana, Catalina, Oro Valley, Saddlebrooke, and Picture Rocks.

Eligibility and expenses

To be eligible for hospice care patients are required to have two physicians consent that their life expectancy may be six months or less. Physicians can authorize two 90-day periods and an unlimited amount of 60 day- periods of hospice care. The cost of Hospice care is mainly covered by Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurers, and a minimal fee to the patient or their family. If patients do not have coverage, hospice will work with them and their family and make sure services can be provided to them.

Levels of care

In-home care: This type of care is the most common and is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Patients receive care consisting of continuous nursing care, medication for symptom control and pain relief, home health aide, home services, dietary counseling, counseling services, bereavement care, medical equipment and supplies.

Inpatient unit: The inpatient unit is a facility for intensive level of a care utilized by patients who are in critical pain and are placed in an environment where they have access to 24 hour direct care.

Hospice home: Kanmar Place is a licensed assisted living home by the Arizona Department of Health services in Tucson, AZ for individuals who have a life- limiting illness. Kanmar’s staff includes certified caregivers, staff RN, receives frequent visits from hospice physicians and nurse practitioners, chaplains and volunteers to enhance their patients’ quality of life with compassion and dignity.

Bereavement Care

Casa de la Luz Hospice bereavement services are open to both hospice families and the Tucson community free of charge; six different grief counseling support programs are offered. Each program is intended to meet the needs of each individual.

Bereavement services include:
 * Friday support groups
 * Healing journeys
 * Continuing the journey
 * Men and grief
 * Survivors of suicide
 * Individual counseling