West Hills Health and Rehab adds hospice wing

Diana FisherOur Town Neighbors

West Hills Health and Rehab has renovated a 13-room wing for hospice patients with accommodations for families to stay with their loved one as needed. The Gardens on Lake Brook is available now for patients and will hold its official opening in September.

Adam Davis

“When we are born and come into this world, nurses have the honor to assist in this time. Just like birth, death is also a celebration of a life and I’m honored that I’m able, as a nurse, to be a part of the journey of their life,” said Adam Davis, director of nursing for Hillcrest Healthcare.

Although hospice services often take place within the home, in some cases a patient needs the advanced care available at a medical facility. The Gardens on Lake Brook seeks to bridge that gap in hospice care, while also providing private space for family members.

Hospice patients have unique needs. In addition to upgraded rooms, amenities include the “Reflection Room,” a quiet space for visitors of any spiritual belief to reflect, pray or relax, and the “Garden Café,” a meeting area for patients and their families to share a meal or just visit.

“The goal of this type of care is to treat the person instead of the disease and focus on the family caregivers, not just the individual. The quality of life is emphasized, not its duration,” according to Jon Radulovic of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

West Hills Health and Rehab is part of Hillcrest Healthcare Communities. With 560 beds and more than 500 employees, Hillcrest Healthcare is the largest provider of skilled nursing care in Knoxville, with locations in the north, south and west communities.

West Hills contracts with all local hospice providers, and services are covered under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans. For more information, contact Monica Colley at 865-246-4112.

Diana Fisher, BSW, LNHA, is director of business development at Hillcrest Healthcare.

The Garden Café at The Gardens on Lake Brook

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