Compassionate, personalized end of life care that honors your loved one’s dignity — in the comfort of their own home. Our dedicated staff is here to walk with your family every step of the way.
Choosing hospice for a loved one is one of the most difficult decisions — a difficult decision that no family should face alone. At St. Margaret’s Hospice in Home Services, we understand the weight of that decision, and we are here to help you carry it. Our mission is to serve with integrity — to earn your trust so that, when the time comes, you can feel certain your family member is receiving the compassionate, expert care they deserve.
We proudly serve patients across New Orleans, providing end of life care for individuals who have received a terminal diagnosis and whose physician has determined a six months or less life expectancy. Rather than pursuing aggressive treatments aimed at curing an illness, palliative care and hospice care focus on comfort, quality of life, and supporting the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — through the final chapter of life, including the natural moment of death.
Our clinical staff includes physicians, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, and grief counselors who serve families and caregivers across New Orleans. We coordinate closely with your loved one’s physician to build a care plan that reflects their wishes, addresses their pain and health needs, and supports the entire family. Our palliative care philosophy addresses discomfort, emotional distress, spiritual needs, and quality of life — supporting each individual throughout the course of their illness.
Palliative care principles guide every aspect of our work. Wherever your loved one calls home — whether a private residence, nursing home, assisted living facility, or even a hospital room — our care travels with them. Your family caregiver can focus on what matters most: being present with your loved ones.
What Is Covered by Hospice and Palliative Care?
- Physician and nursing visits
- Hospice aide and homemaker support
- Medical equipment, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies
- Medications and related prescriptions for the terminal illness
- Social workers and counseling
- Spiritual care and chaplaincy
- Respite care for family caregivers
- Bereavement and grief support
- BRIDGE Program
- Private sitter support
- Volunteer support programs
A Comprehensive Approach to End of Life and Palliative Care
Comfort and Symptom Management
Counseling and Emotional Care
Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care
Hospice Aide Assistance
Physician and Nursing Care
Social Workers
Respite Care
Inpatient Hospice Care
Bereavement and Grief Programs
Levels of Hospice Care
Routine and Continuous Hospice Care
The level of care your loved one requires depends on the nature of their illness and how well their symptoms are managed. Our interdisciplinary team continuously assesses each patient’s condition to ensure they receive the most appropriate level of hospice care at every stage of their serious illness.
Routine Hospice in Home Services
When a patient is in the final stage of their illness and chooses to remain at home, routine home care is often the most appropriate level of hospice service. Patients at this level typically experience pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms that can be managed through regular visits from our registered nurses, hospice nurses, hospice aides, and other members of the clinical staff.
Our doctors, attending doctors, skilled nurses, hospice nurses, and licensed staff coordinate with the patient’s physician to develop an individualized plan of care tailored to that person’s specific needs. Because the disease process is rarely linear, our clinical staff adjusts scheduled visits as needed — ensuring every patient receives the right level of attention as their condition evolves over the normal course of their illness.
Continuous Hospice in Home Services
When a patient’s symptoms become unpredictable or acute — particularly during a period of medical crisis — we may recommend continuous care. This level of service provides round-the-clock medical supervision in the home, with at least one registered nurse and additional trained nurses on call, present at all times to provide care, administer treatments, and manage acute symptoms as they arise.
The goal of continuous care is to reduce pain and bring stability to the most severe medical conditions so that the patient can transition back to routine care at home. When this is not possible, our clinicians will focus every available resource on keeping your loved one as comfortable as possible. Throughout this process, our social workers remain available to provide emotional support and practical guidance to families navigating this profound transition.
Choosing Hospice: How to Know When It's Time
The decision to choose hospice for a loved one is one of the most difficult decisions a family faces — a decision that no family should make without the right support. Many families wait longer than necessary, not because their loved one wouldn’t benefit, but because the decision feels like giving up. It isn’t. Choosing hospice means choosing comfort, dignity, and quality of life for terminally ill patients and their families. It often leads to a meaningful improvement in the daily experience of both the patient and the people who love them.
Step 1: Understand Your Situation
Hospice care is appropriate when a physician has certified that a patient’s life expectancy is six months or less if the illness follows its normal course. A terminal diagnosis does not mean all hope is lost — it means the focus of care shifts toward comfort and quality of life.
Step 2: Request a Consultation
Contact us and we will arrange a free consultation with a member of our staff. We will review your loved one’s diagnosis, goals, and needs, and help you understand how hospice care improves quality of life — along with all available programs and benefits, including the Medicare benefit — with no pressure and no obligation.
Step 3: Review Your Options
Our team will work alongside your loved one’s physician to assess their condition and determine the appropriate level of care. We’ll walk you through the hospice experience before making any commitments, so your family can make a fully informed decision.
Step 4: Begin Care with a Seamless Transition
End of life care requires careful coordination. Our care team works closely with referring physicians and hospitals to maintain appropriate medical records throughout your treatment, ensuring seamless coordination and continuity of care. From day one, your family will have a dedicated hospice team by your side.
Hospice Benefits and Insurance
Palliative care and hospice care are both covered for eligible patients through federal programs. Our team will walk you through your options and help determine whether your loved one is eligible — at no obligation.
Many families wonder how to pay for hospice. The good news is that most eligible patients receive hospice care at little to no out-of-pocket cost. Call us to learn more about your options.
Under the federal hospice benefit, coverage includes doctor visits, nursing care, medications and related prescriptions for the terminal illness, medical equipment, social workers, spiritual support, and bereavement support — at little to no out-of-pocket cost for eligible patients. We work directly with your insurer to handle the paperwork on your behalf.
Coverage options include:
- Medicare Hospice Benefit
- Medicaid
- Most Private Insurance Plans
- Veterans Benefits
Who Is Eligible for Hospice Care?
- Patient has received a serious diagnosis with a life expectancy of six months or less
- The illness — whether cancer, heart failure, COPD, ALS, dementia, or another serious illness requiring palliative care — is following its normal course
- Patient or family has chosen comfort care over curative treatments
- Patient is eligible for Medicare or covered under most private insurance plans
- Patient resides in the New Orleans area or surrounding Louisiana communities
Not sure if your loved one qualifies? Call us today at (504) 279-6414 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our hospice provider team is here to help you find the right path forward for your loved ones.
Our Caring Team is Ready to Answer Your Questions
If you or a loved one in the New Orleans area — whether at home or recently discharged from a hospital — is facing a serious illness and you’d like to learn more about our available services, please reach out. Our team is available to answer your questions by phone or in person — and every consultation is completely confidential, with no charge for the initial call.
Contact St. Margaret’s Hospice in Home Services today. Our dedicated staff is ready to answer your questions and help you find the care and comfort your family deserves.
Address: 3525 Bienville Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: (504) 342-4844
Availability: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week