• Home Health Nurses ( RN’s & LPN’s)
• Maternal/Child Health Nursing
• Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse Specialist
• Telehealth Program
• Rehabilitative Therapists-Physical, Occupational & Speech
• Medical Social Services
• Home Health Aides

Medicare, Medicaid, Most HMO’s, Private Insurance or Private Pay.

Once an individual is referred for home health services, they must meet the following requirements:

• Individual must have a need for skilled nursing care or therapy services on a short-term basis.
• Individual must have difficulty leaving the home or require assistance to attend medical appointments.
• Individual must have a primary care physician.

If an individual is attending outpatient therapies, then they may not qualify for home health.

Yes, Care Central VNA & Hospice has a wide array of services to care for you long after you have been discharged from the Home Health Program. Care Central VNA & Hospice offers a private duty service that can assist any of our clients once they are no longer eligible to receive home health services. We also provide peace-of-mind programs such as Adult Day Health Services, Lifeline/Medication Management, and Telehealth that can assist individuals with daily living after discharge from home health, while remaining independent.

Yes, our locations are:

Gardner: 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA
Webster: P.O. Box 368, 534 School Street, Webster, MA

The benefits of this program from a medical point of view are numerous; Care Central VNA & Hospice will be able to deliver vital signs and other important information to physicians very quickly in order to prevent any medical crisis. The Telehealth program will facilitate coordination of care between physicians and Care Central VNA & Hospice staff. The unit not only collects and transmits data, but also has a Disease Management component whereby the participant is provided with personalized instruction related to their condition, reinforcement of information and encouragement; therefore, empowering the patient to improve their own care.

The program is offered at no cost to current patients of Care Central VNA & Hospice.

Currently, Care Central VNA & Hospice is utilizing the following five disease management programs through this system: Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Heart Failure; High Blood Pressure; and Coronary Heart Disease.

Care Central VNA & Hospice can also monitor basic vital signs and weight through the Telehealth Program for patients who do not require a full disease management program.

This common misconception that Hospice only cares for those patients with cancer, when the reality is that less than half of hospice patients have cancer. Other diagnoses that take advantage of this personal service include, but are not limited to: heart disease, dementia (this includes Alzheimer’s disease), lung disease and stroke.

An earlier referral to hospice will allow you and your loved one to reap the maximum benefit from hospice. The hospice nurses and medical director are experts in relieving pain and managing many other common symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and anxiety. They can also help guide you in making difficult decisions. The Pastoral Support Person helps both patient and family with their emotional and spiritual needs. The Social Worker will counsel and support related to emotional needs, and can also assist with non-medical needs such as financial planning and other end of life issues. The Home Health Aides are trained to provide personal care to hospice patients allowing the family members to “take a break,” from the role of caregiver and be the spouse, child, parent or friend of the patient. The sooner these relationships begin, the more comfortable everyone becomes. This tends to become particularly important to the family and caregivers after the death of the loved one as they look to share stories and experiences with others’ who can relate to the experience.

A primary objective of Hospice is to facilitate the patient’s ability to continue to enjoy their life. They are encouraged to go out and participate in all of the things that bring them comfort.

No, your doctor can be part of the Interdisciplinary Team that manages your care if you choose.

Absolutely, we are here to support you throughout your journey. Our goal is to keep you in the comfort of your home. Care Central VNA & Hospice has a nurse available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions or concerns.

Our goal is to make a visit as soon as possible to answer any questions and obtain some basic information. Once the decision has been made to have hospice, we often offer a same day admission at the discretion of the patient and family. We strive to make this process as easy as possible for you and your family, as we understand how stressful this decision can be for everyone involved. We want to reassure you that you are not alone! Our Hospice experts are there to guide you through every step.

Complimentary Care is a group of non-invasive, holistic practices that work with the traditional medical, social and spiritual care of Hospice to promote comfort and wholeness for both patients and their families. Some examples are massage therapy, music or pet therapy, special weighted blankets and Reiki. Complementary Care has taken its’ place as valuable resources that enhance the hospice experience, providing symptom control, support and emotional comfort at the end of life. Today it is widely recognized that complementary modalities ease the nervous system’s response to fear, nurture and provide expressive outlets for those we care for in all stages of the dying process.

Our Adult Day Health Center is located in Gardner.

Medicaid insurance programs cover all costs to attend a Center and payment may be covered through local Home Health Corporations. Our Gardner Center has a contract with the Veteran’s Administration. Participants may pay privately; however, services may be covered through local Home Health Corporations based on each individual and the level of care needed.

For the safety of our clients, a comprehensive background check is done on all employees. All employees of the program receive ongoing supervision by the program director and attend trainings annually. As employees of Care Central VNA & Hospice, workmen’s compensation and applicable taxes are paid by the agency for the employee, therefore relieving you of that responsibility.

Some long-term care insurance policies pay a daily stipend directly to the consumer for services after a screening process. Also, some PACE programs and Veteran’s Administration contracts pay the agency directly to provide needed services to their clients.

Lifeline: An emergency response system. The system responds to an emergency by sending the appropriate assistance immediately after help is summoned by a simple touch of a button. The equipment is easy to use and provides an affordable tool to keep your loved one safe. This services benefits the elderly living alone or with family, recuperating patients, individuals with long-term illness and physically challenged individuals.

Medication Management System: A locked medication-dispensing machine, a little larger than a coffeemaker. This machine holds up to 60 cups of medications. It has an auditory alert system at scheduled times throughout the day that reminds an individual to take their medication. It is easy to load and operate; however, a nurse is available to fill the machine for an additional fee. Should dosages be missed, a caregiver is notified automatically.