Taylor Regional Hospital Opens Hospice Beds 

February 16, 2004-- Taylor Regional Hospital recently opened two beds for hospice patients.  While most hospice care is provided in patients’ homes, Hospice & Palliative Care of Central Kentucky (HCK) will care for these patients in the hospital where their symptoms can be more easily managed.  “Such symptoms may include chronic pain and other problems associated with terminal illnesses not responsive to home-care such as respiratory distress, end-stage cardiac symptoms, and nausea and vomiting,” says Annette Oller, LPN, Director of Professional Relations, HCK.

Hospice & Palliative Care of Central Kentucky, a United Way agency, annually provides
quality end-of-life care and bereavement services to more than 400 patients and their
families. A member of the Alliance of Community Hospices, Hospice & Palliative Care of
Central Kentucky is a private, not-for-profit healthcare organization dedicated to serving
Central Kentuckians regardless of their ability to pay for services.

Hospice services include:
• Pain and symptom control
• Medication management
• Personal care
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Counseling
• Speech, physical, occupational and other therapies related to terminal diagnosis
• Bereavement care

Hospice and palliative care refers to care aimed at relieving suffering when a cure is not
expected. It involves treatments that enhance a patient’s comfort and improve the quality
of the patient’s life. It also addresses the patient’s emotional and spiritual needs.