March 29, 2024

EveryStep helps patients and families focus on quality of life

November is Home Care and Hospice Month, a time to raise awareness on the options available to help people find care and support in the comfort of their homes during times of recovery or serious illness.

Hospice is care intended to harness everything modern medicine has to offer to achieve better quality of life, dignity and comfort. At EveryStep Hospice, formerly HCI Hospice Care Services, the goal is the amplification of living, not resignation to dying. To achieve this, skilled and compassionate doctors, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care counselors, bereavement counselors and volunteers all work together to redefine hope and to help people live better and to live life to the very fullest.

“Each day, EveryStep Hospice caregivers strives to provide the most comprehensive, compassionate care for both patients and their families,” said Debra Rodgers. “Our care isn’t just about supporting patients in their last days, but about helping them make the most of those days, weeks or even years while in our care.”

EveryStep’s hospice program provides pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support and spiritual care to patients facing a serious illness or the end of life. For their families, EveryStep offers emotional support as they navigate their loved one’s remaining time and assistance through the grief process after they die.

EveryStep Home Care, formerly VNS Home Care, also promotes expert help in the home, assisting patients as they recover from illness or injury. EveryStep Home Care is based in Creston and its staff serve patients in eight counties.

The hospice and home care programs are both part of the EveryStep family of care and support services.

Throughout the month of November, EveryStep wants to remind the community it’s here to help; from navigating the maze of care needs, working with doctors and hospitals and providing understanding about illnesses and available options.

Join the Creston EveryStep teams as they mark Home Care and Hospice Month and celebrate their new name at a ribbon cutting and open house 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Greater Regional Hospice Home, 1111 Country Club Drive, in Creston.

About EveryStep

Compassion is at the core of the more than 30 programs offered by EveryStep, a nonprofit organization formerly known as HCI Care Services and Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa. Its family of services includes familiar names like HCI Hospice Care Services, VNS Home Care, Greater Regional Hospice Home, Amanda the Panda, Stork’s Nest, Storybook Project, Healthy Start and many more. Annually, EveryStep provides care and support to more than 63,000 people across 47 Iowa counties. Learn more at everystep.org or on Facebook at everystepiowa.