Atrium Health Hospice & Palliative Care Union and Atrium Health Hospice Anson
Hospice is special care for those living with a life-limiting illness. This care extends to the patient’s loved ones, family and caregivers. At Atrium Health Hospice & Palliative Care Union and Atrium Health Hospice Anson, our goal is to help people live their last days as comfortably as possible, surrounded by family and friends. The unmet needs of those who are dying, and those who care and grieve for them, motivates our work.
Our exceptional team provides care in the following North Carolina counties: Union, Anson, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Stanly. Our offices are in Monroe and Wadesboro. Although most of our patients are cared for in their homes by family members, with the support of hospice nurses and other staff, the Hospice House facilities also make it possible for us to provide quality end-of-life care for patients whose loved ones are unable to care for them at home.
With a history dating back to 1984, we continue to operate as a not-for-profit entity with support from the communities in which we operate and strong leadership from caring professionals committed to compassionate end-of-life care. Atrium Health Hospice & Palliative Care Union and Atrium Health Hospice Anson are fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).
Get more information about hospice and palliative care.
Hospice Care Services
The care we provide revolves around quality of life, as well as peace, comfort and dignity. Hospice care is available for those at home, in nursing homes and assisted living centers, and at the Carlton McWhorter Inpatient Unit.
- Skilled nursing services
- 24 hour-a-day on-call registered nurse
- Bathing and personal care assistance
- Coordination of care plan
- Caregiver support
- Psycho-social and counseling support
- Grief support
- Spiritual care services
- Volunteer visits to provide companionship and support
- Review and assistance with medication and equipment (related to diagnosis)
Palliative Care Services
We provide palliative care in the long-term care setting to give comfort and peace of mind to patients and their families in difficult stages of their advanced illness. Our skilled team of advanced illness clinicians helps improve quality of life – all while offering support and comfort to both patients and their family members.
- Expert treatment of symptoms associated with advance illness
- Assistance in identifying goals of care
- Counseling
- Coping strategies for caregivers
Bereavement Services
Bereavement clinicians offer individual or group counseling on grief and death. This includes adult grief support groups, bereavement camp for children and teens, and an annual Memorial Service and Tree of Love Lighting. We help loves ones understand the grief process and identify and express feelings associated with death. The goal of bereavement services is to provide tools to facilitate adjustment to life after experiencing loss. We counsel children and teens and give guidance to parents in talking with them about a serious illness, death and funeral.
The Wings to Soar camp was started by Atrium Health Hospice & Palliative Care Cabarrus. Since its inception, the camp has grown to include campers associated with Atrium Health Hospice & Palliative Care Union and Atrium Health Hospice Anson. Thanks to the generosity of the community, camp is provided at no cost.
Integrative Care
Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of integrative care to reduce stress, pain, anxiety and nausea. These techniques also promote relaxation and comfort.
Nurses, social workers, chaplains and bereavement clinicians who have completed specialized training or certification are able to offer integrative care, such as:
- Guided Imagery is a mind-body intervention which is led by a trained practitioner. Using all the senses of sight, hearing, smell, and touch, the participant imagines scenes to create a relaxed, meditative state. Research shows that these techniques are powerful in relieving stress, anxiety and elevating mood.
- Healing Energy is an umbrella term for any therapy that manipulates the energy in our bodies to regain balance and facilitate the body’s innate healing mechanisms. Some of the more well know therapies include Reiki, healing touch, healing touch and reflexology.
- Therapeutic Music utilizes sound science and live music to bring the intrinsic healing value of music to patients and caregivers to relieve pain, stress and anxiety and enhance the quality of life.
- Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being. It is sometimes combined with music, guided imagery and relaxation breathing to relieve pain, stress, anxiety and nausea.
- Therapeutic Art utilizes creative and expressive techniques to facilitate expression, reduce stress and enhance quality of life.
- Eco Therapy/Nature Therapy is the name given to a wide range of activities which aim to improve mental and physical wellbeing through connecting with nature in the outdoors or through photos, sound and viewing nature.
Giving Back
Atrium Health Hospice & Palliative Care Union and Atrium Health Hospice Anson are committed to the Atrium Health mission of providing care for ALL, regardless of one’s ability to pay. Learn more about fundraising, events and giving opportunities.
Donate nowVolunteering
Volunteering is truly the gift that rewards the giver as much as the recipient. Carefully trained, our volunteers bring an open heart and an extra pair of hands while they donate their time and talents to patients and their loved ones.
Volunteer now
Fundraising
As not-for-profit agencies that serve people without regard to their ability to pay, Atrium Health Hospice & Palliative Care Union and Atrium Health Hospice Anson gratefully accept financial gifts from individuals, corporations and organizations.
Learn moreNo. Hospice is designed for patients with any terminal illness.
While both care for sick people, only hospice provides specialized care for the terminally ill patient and the patient's family. Our nurses are trained in pain management and work with the patient's doctor to control symptoms.
Advance care planning is an important part of routine healthcare for all adults, no matter how old you are or what medical conditions you have (if any). It’s an ongoing process of thinking and talking about what type of treatment you would want if a sudden illness or injury left you unable to speak for yourself. Knowing your wishes ahead of time is a great gift for your loved ones and can relieve some of the stress they will feel if asked to make decisions for you. Get more information on Advance care planning.
An early referral is very important. The longer your relationship with hospice, the more effective we can be. Too often we are called in the very last days of life when the patient is near death and the family is exhausted and overwhelmed. When referral is this late, both the patient and the family have lost many opportunities for a better end-of-life experience. Patients and their families facing life limiting illnesses are encouraged to contact hospice for support.
Anyone can call and inquire about hospice services. A nurse or social worker will review our services and answer your questions. We will be more than happy to assist you with the process concerning future needs over the phone or even make a home visit.
Yes, and the reimbursement we receive from Medicare and Medicaid pays the costs for covered hospice services, including the cost of medications related to the patient's hospice diagnosis and durable medical equipment, such as walkers and wheelchairs.
If you do not have Medicare or Medicaid, hospice will check to see if your Private Insurance policy has hospice benefits and whether you will incur a deductible and/or co-insurance.
Room and board charges in the inpatient unit are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or most private insurance policies.
One of our nurses will visit at least once a week. These visits, approximately one hour long, will be used to check vital signs, review medications and discuss symptoms and any other patient and family concerns. More frequent visits are made, if needed. Other team members, including social workers, volunteers, nursing assistants, bereavement clinicians and chaplains will make regular or periodic visits, depending on the unique care plan developed for each patient. Many of these visits are on a regularly scheduled weekly basis. More frequent visits can always be arranged as patient and family needs dictate.
Yes. We are on-call seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Our nurses are available nights and weekends. We also have other staff members available, including chaplains and social workers, when emergency support is needed.
Hospice medical staff will coordinate the move to the hospital and maintain communication with the patient and the patient's physician during his or her stay at the hospital.
No. Hospice services also are provided in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences and retirement communities as well as our inpatient units.
Resources
We Honor Veterans
The We Honor Veterans program is a pioneering program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Our Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Program pairs recruited veteran volunteers with hospice patients who have been identified as veterans.
Speaker's Bureau
Education about hospice care and end-of-life issues is an important part of our service to the community.
Educational programs are available without charge to churches, schools, businesses and civic organizations.
To request a speaker, please call 704-935-9434 or visit us here.
Wings to Soar
Wings to Soar is a day camp held each summer that can help your child or teen deal with the death of a loved one.
We provide resources to help children and teens through the grieving process. By allowing them to interact with their peer group who have experienced a loss, they find strength in this shared experience.