Hospice Care: Serving Portland and Salem, Oregon
What sets us apart is our local ownership and commitment to personalized care. Expect more visits, enriching music therapy, and dedicated volunteers who bring added comfort and support during this critical time.
Hear from others on their experience with VistaRiver
We know that the decision to choose hospice care for a loved one is not an easy decision.
We are here to support and guide you every step of the way. At VistaRiver, we believe in providing the right care at the right time to the whole person.
What to expect with VistaRiver?
We guarantee a superior level of care and support for our patients and their families. Our compassionate caregivers will extend a warm welcome and attend to your every need, concern, and question. We pledge to provide education and support at all times and to maintain clear and consistent communication throughout the care process. You can trust that we will provide a dignified and peaceful experience for all those in our care.
Available Programs & Services
At VistaRiver, we start with you. How can we help you and your family?
When you choose VistaRiver you have access to programs and services that are personalized based on your physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
Nursing
Hospice nurses are skilled in assessing and managing a patient’s pain and symptoms. They are trained caregivers who provide hands-on patient care. Skilled listeners, hospice nurses comfort the family while also teaching them how to take the best care of their loved one.
Hospice Aides
Aides perform a combination of light housekeeping and personal hygiene duties, including bathing, dressing, feeding, and oral care. They ensure patients are comfortable, and spend time talking and listening during bedside visits. Most importantly, they make a difference in patients’ lives.
Social Work& Bereavement
Hospice social workers provide emotional and psychosocial support to the patient and family. They coordinate the logistics of the patient’s care, working with insurance companies or the Veterans Administration and helping with finances, funeral planning or other tasks. Social workers are always available to lend a friendly and listening ear.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy for hospice patients induces a relaxation response in the body, which triggers the release of serotonin in the brain. This chemical impacts thoughts and emotion, creating a sense of peace and a greater ability to cope with the uncertainty that lies ahead.
Spiritual Care
Chaplains provide spiritual services to patients and their families, including counseling, spiritual assessments, and guidance. They can work with people of all cultures, belief systems, traditions, and religious orientations. If a family requests spiritual help from a chaplain of a different faith, the chaplain will make that available.
Volunteer Matchmaking
Every day, our Volunteer Manager puts on their matchmaker hats and link up interested volunteers with opportunities that meet their interests, talents, availability and location. Here are a few examples: Companion Visits, Pet Companion Visits, and Sharing Talents.
Hospice Care Designed Around You
Speak with
a Hospice Nurse
We provide education on what pursuing comfort care looks like and what range of programs and services are available to you and your family.
Schedule an
In-Person Visit
The Perfect Visit ensures thoughtful interactions which help us build trust while we learn your preferences.
Meet Your Care Team
Finally, meet the people who will help you. You can expect scheduled regular visits with a team that consists of nurses, hospice aides, social work, chaplain plus access to a range of other services and programs that best meet your physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions are just a click away. We are available by phone or email
See All AnswersWhere does hospice care take place?
The majority of hospice patients are cared for in their own homes or the homes of a loved one. “Home” may also be broadly construed to include services provided in nursing homes, assisted living centers, hospitals…wherever the patient considers to be home.
How is hospice care paid for?
Most people receiving hospice care are covered by the Medicare hospice benefit. This benefit covers virtually all aspects of hospice care with little out-of-pocket expense to the patient or family. As a result, the financial burdens usually associated with caring for a terminally ill patient are virtually nonexistent. In addition, most private health plans and Medicaid in most states and the District of Columbia cover hospice services.
Who qualifies for hospice care?
Hospice care is for any person who has a life-threatening or terminal illness. Most reimbursement sources require a prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. All hospices consider the patient and family together as the unit of care.
What role do volunteers play in hospice care?
Hospice provides trained volunteers to aid the family and patients. Most hospice volunteers are trained to relieve the primary caregivers, do household chores, and help bathe the patients. Perhaps the most important task, however, is their ability to be “good listeners.” Volunteers also support the work of the hospice program that might not involve patient or family interaction.
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