Good Shepherd Hospice

Good Shepherd Hospice is about hope — the hope that every chapter of life, even its final stages, can be lived well. It’s also about empowerment — empowering patients and their loved ones with choices and a sense of control with each day and every decision. Chapters Health provides a continuum of hospice care through our well-respected, non-profit hospice organizations: Good Shepherd Hospice (licensed since 1984 to serve in Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties) Making you comfortable, in the comfort of home. Hospice care focuses on pain control and symptom management, allowing individuals facing life-limiting illnesses to die as they lived their lives — in comfort, at peace and in control of their care and surroundings. Hospice care is primarily provided in the home — whether “home” is a person’s house or a long-term care facility, a nursing home or an assisted living facility. Because, at home, patients are surrounded by the loving support of their family and friends. Basic hospice services are provided at the patient’s home and are available around the clock, delivered by our experts in pain management and symptom control. Our comprehensive team of physicians, nurses, social services specialists, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapists, durable medical equipment technicians, hospice aides, chaplains and trained volunteers coordinate efforts to treat the entire person, not just the disease. Hospice-related medications, medical equipment and supplies are delivered right to your door. Continuous care is provided when a patient needs more constant care. With a goal to provide symptom management at the patient’s residence rather than transferring him/her to a hospital, we provide short-term, periodic and supplemental support in the home, nursing home or assisted living facility. Continuous care is available in short periods of variable lengths up to 24 hours a day. Respite care helps caregivers deal with the many demands they shoulder during this trying time. Respite care is available for up to five days and is usually provided in the nursing care setting. Inpatient care is provided during a medical crisis, to control or manage symptoms that cannot be managed as effectively at home. The patient may be admitted to a Chapters Health hospice house or contracted hospital or nursing home. Although inpatient care takes place outside the patient’s primary residence, our team continues to coordinate care. Chapters Health hospice services are based on medical need and are provided regardless of ability to pay, age, race, creed, sex, lifestyle or illness.