Toni and Trish House

Guest Arrangements

Guests at Toni and Trish House for the Care of the Terminally Ill need to be patients of a local hospice agency. We believe it is best for people to die in the comfort of their own home. But, for many reasons, some people cannot stay in their home. For individuals in those situations, the Toni and Trish House is here to provide family-like care.

If you or a loved one is looking to stay here, please call. We can arrange an appointment to see the house or we can come to you and explain our services. We will need to get information from the hospice agency about the potential guest's condition and prognosis before the patient can become a guest.

Our volunteers are trained to provide compassionate family-like care. We do not provide skilled medical care. The hospice agency provides that. Some people have complicated medical issues and need to be in a skilled care or long-term nursing facility. We cannot provide complicated medical care, such as feeding tubes, wound irrigations, or other medical issues. These issues are discussed with the hospice agency and care coordinators at the Toni and Trish House.

Our guests need to have a prognosis of three months or less. If the guest's conditions improve, we will work with the family and hospice social worker to find long-term care options. See our Guest Agreement below for more details.

Guest Agreement

1. Care provided by Toni & Trish House is palliative, emphasizing alleviation of physical symptoms including pain, and provision of spiritual support, for persons with a terminal illness.
2. Toni & Trish House provides short term care, about 3 months depending on ongoing assessment. If my condition improves or stabilizes, I will work with others to arrange for ongoing residence and care in another appropriate setting.
3. Toni & Trish House caregivers are trained volunteers providing assistance with activities of daily living: family-like personal care 24 hours a day.
4. Toni & Trish House staff does not provide skilled nursing or medical services. These will be provided by a Hospice medical agency and physician.
5. Daily meals are provided.
6. I understand that if I have any concerns about the plan of daily care, I will bring it to the Care Coordinator.
7. My medications will be dispensed by the Toni & Trish House Caregivers as needed, under the direction of my physician and hospice nurse.
8. I give consent and approval for the release of information to or from Trish House and any physician, nursing facility, hospital, hospice or others involved in my care.
9. Residents may smoke, but not inside the house.
10. Alcohol is not permitted. Any exceptions must be approved.
11. Toni & Trish House does not replace, but rather extends the ability of family to provide care. My family members are asked to coordinate with Toni & Trish House staff regarding shifts of service that family members will give. Family is especially asked to assist on holidays and weekends.
12. As Mother Teresa House does, there is no charge to the guest for cost of care.

Revised 11/21/2005