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PRINTABLE VERSION
Given the choice, when the final months of life approach, most people agree that they want to be at home, and they also desire the following:
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To remain amongst their familiar routines, environment, and personal belongings. |
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To be treated with respect and dignity. |
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To be free of pain and suffering. |
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To have personal wishes upheld, and their opinions solicited and considered. |
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To have companionship, care, and love. |
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To be remembered. |
Casa strives to accomplish this for every patient...
...because every day counts.
Our goal at Casa de la Luz Hospice is to allow those
suffering from a terminal illness to remain in their own
homes. While most patients prefer to stay in their own
homes, we also care for many terminal patients in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, as well as at
our free-standing inpatient unit or at our residential
hospice home, Kanmar Place. Because we have the flexibility
of providing care in any setting, adjustments in
arrangements can be made throughout the course of each
patient's illness, if needed.
People are often surprised at the level of in-home care they receive from Casa de la Luz Hospice:
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Physician and nursing care; |
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Unmatched expertise in pain and symptom management; |
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24-hour availability; |
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All medications, equipment, and disposable supplies pertaining to the illness; |
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Extensive counseling services |
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Crisis care and respite care on an around-the-clock basis,
when necessary and if preferred over an inpatient admission; |
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Volunteer services including companionship, friendly
visiting, and running of errands |
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Bereavement care, which includes counseling for family
members for at least one year following the patient's death. |
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Casa's Kanmar Place |
Thank you for your conscious and conscientious care of Mom over
the last five months of her life. For creating such a perfect place for her final days, hours, minutes, and seconds.
We will always be grateful you were there when Mom was ready to go Home.
Susan, beloved daughter of a former Kanmar place resident
Kanmar Place, Tucson's first residential hospice home, provides specialized
care to individuals who are facing a life-limiting illness. An environment of compassion and caring is created,
where a resident may live with dignity and self-worth. Kanmar's team offers physical, emotional, and
spiritual support to the resident and their family. Superior care is provided to residents by trained hospice
caregivers, nurses, physicians, and volunteers to make daily life as comfortable as possible.
An inviting and unique environment has been created
in this hospice home. Residents may make their private living
space their own by adding some of their favorite belongings. The
gardens and private patios provide a place to gather with visitors or
for quiet reflection. The serenity of the natural desert landscape
and beautiful views of Tucson create an atmosphere of comfort and peace.
The emphasis at Kanmar Place is on the quality of life...
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About Kanmar Place: |
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The first residential hospice home in Tucson, Arizona. Kanmar Place is owned and operated by Casa de la Luz Hospice.
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The home is licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services as an assisted living home.
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All caregivers have specialized training in end of life and hospice care.
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Residents have been diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of two to six months.
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Features Include: |
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4,000 square feet of spacious living;
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One acre of natural landscape with gardens, fountains, walking paths and lawn;
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Large, beautifully decorated private rooms;
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Personalized meals served in the dining room, resident's room or outside;
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Approved pets allowed;
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Clean, smoke free environment;
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Complimentary therapies, including meditation and guided imagery, energy therapies, massage, therapeutic music, and therapeutic pet visits.
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If you would like to receive more information about Kanmar Place, or wish to schedule a tour of this residential hospice home, please call 544-9890.
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"We can stay at home and have Pete's care brought to us. Our nurses
visit regularly, they bring medications, equipment, and
supplies.
People ask, 'When is the best time to call hospice?' I say, 'sooner rather than later'"
- Kaye Andrews
"We provide hope that people can be relieved of any suffering and to go to a
completion of their life's purpose, in the months that they have on hospice."
-Evan Kligman, M.D.
Associate Medical Director
for the Inpatient Unit
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Casa's Inpatient Unit |
There is no such thing as uncontrollable pain.
Only pain that has yet to be controlled.
Ira R.Byock, M.D., author of Dying Well
Casa de la Luz takes another stride toward excellence with the opening of its free standing Inpatient Unit. On the campus of The Fountains at La Cholla, adjacent to Northwest Medical Center, the free standing facility offers short-term comfort care for hospice patients in need of intensive symptom management. Here, 24 hour, on-site specialized medical and nursing expertise joins with compassionate emotional and spiritual care to preserve the comfort and dignity of those approaching the end-of-life.
The Inpatient facility is designed to complement the care offered through Casa de la Luz's home hospice care program and Kanmar Place, Tucson's only residential hospice home. The spacious 9 private room facility, surrounded by inviting and serene gardens, provides a welcoming, homelike, and supportive environment for hospice patients, their families and friends. For more information on the Casa de la Luz Inpatient Unit, please call 520-544-9890.
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Therapeutic Music |
When basic good care is provided, the complementary therapies have a wonderful contribution to make to people's comfort and quality of life.
Dr. Ira Byock, author of Dying Well
People approaching the end of life have taught us that pain is rarely purely physical, nor is it best treated by medications alone. For many persons, suffering is caused by a combination of physical pain and discomfort, and spiritual and emotional distress.
A holistic approach to care recognizes that pain and suffering are best relieved when the whole person - body, mind, and spirit - is considered. Therefore, Casa de la Luz Hospice is pleased to offer an array of gentle, non-invasive complementary therapies of benefit to the whole person.
Complementary therapies are provided by trained Casa volunteers and some professional Casa staff. They are available to both patients and their caregivers.
Meditation and Guided Imagery promote peace and relaxation by quieting the mind and calling upon our deepest inner resources. At your request, the hospice spiritual counselor or social worker can assist you with meditation instruction and guided imagery.
Energy Therapies follow the ancient spiritual tradition of the "laying on of hands" to cleanse, balance, and restore harmony to the human energy field. Casa offers the energy therapies of Reiki and Healing Touch. In receiving either modality, a person may be fully clothed, and seated or lying down. These techniques often bring a sense of deep relaxation and peace.
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The Casa Team |
Massage Therapy can provide great comfort to the physical body, relieving backaches, headaches, general muscle strain, and fatigue. Other therapeutic effects are increased relaxation, sleep promotion, and decreased stress and anxiety. Massage meets the universal human need for touch, offering a powerful means of communicating presence, comfort, and love. If it is not appropriate for the whole body to be massaged the hands, feet, back, head, neck, and shoulders may still be treated to this gift of touch.
Therapeutic Music transcends the world of form, uplifting our spirits to a place of peace. Music can evoke pleasant memories and associations, decrease stress, and promote rest and sleep. Several musicians, including a Native American Flute player, offer therapeutic music to patients and loved ones. Our spiritual counselors also enjoy offering spiritually uplifting music.
Therapeutic Animal Visitation is a regular activity at Kanmar Place and private pet visits can be arranged at your home on request. The unconditional love, delightful characters and antics of pets bring joy to those whose lives they touch. Pets elicit love, laughter, and compassion, as well as conversation and play. They are a cure for loneliness and isolation. Research shows that simply petting a dog can induce calm, reducing blood pressure and heart rate.
One afternoon I came across a grieving visitor sitting outside alone.
My dog, Scout eased her way towards the woman and faced her directly.
The visitor looked at Scout, put her arms
around her neck and began to sob.
As her ride arrived, the woman thanked Scout for her kindness:
'You wonderful, wonderful dog! Thank you!'
Kelly, a Casa nurse offering Therapeutic Animal Visitation
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"As I enter a
room and begin playing my harp, my intention is to create a
healing environment of sound. The patient's agenda is never my
own. They dictate the music."
- Carolyn Ancell,
MAPM, CMP at Casa's Inpatient Unit |
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