An Indiana not-for-profit Organization

Hope Hospice was established in 1995 as an alternative program to traditional nursing care. We are a nonprofit, public benefit organization located in Rochester, Indiana and serving the people of North Central Indiana. We are an independent organization not affiliated with any hospital, clinic, or religious organization. Hope Hospice has a Christian philosophy of life and is strongly supported by the community churches of the Fulton County area.

A Community Based Organization

Hope Hospice is the only hospice program located in Fulton County. Hope Hospice is a not-for-profit, community-based organization whose goal is to provide comfort for the dying and to preserve dignity at the end of life. We care for our patients in their homes — this may be a residence, nursing facility or retirement community.

Through a wide range of services, Hope Hospice provides spiritual, physical and emotional care to our patients and their families. No one has ever been charged for our services. Costs are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and community donations. Also, we provide all medications related to the terminal illness and all needed durable medical equipment.

Manned Office Hours

Manned office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except holidays. The Hope Hospice staff may be contacted for appointments on other days and for other times by calling (574) 224–4673.

Hope Hospice is a full-time provider of hospice care services to North Central Indiana. Staff members are always available to their patients, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Helping Families Care For Terminally Ill Patients At Home

A majority of Hope Hospice services are made possible through Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance reimbursements. Hospice services for patients with limited or no insurance are made possible through donations from individuals, churches, businesses, and foundations. In addition, community volunteers assist in patient care, bereavement support, general transportation needs and office work.

Community Support

Although hospice services are often covered by insurance, such payments rarely cover the full cost of care and some patients do not have insurance coverage. Hope Hospice must, therefore, rely to a great extent on grants and community support through donations. To make a donation to Hope Hospice, call the hospice office at (574) 224–4673, (888) 737-4673, or e-mail us at hospice@hopehospicefc.com.

• Hope Hospice care is cost effective, and it is free to patients because the cost is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans. Hospice care is a part of Medicare coverage.
• Hope Hospice is located at 1476 West 18th Street in Rochester.
• Hope Hospice is quick to respond to a patient's needs because all of our staff lives in or close to our service areas.
• Hope Hospice provides hospice care in private homes, nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and has contracts with several area nursing facilities.
• Hope Hospice is a full service hospice with nursing care available twenty–four hours a day, seven day a week; a nurse is always available.
• Hope Hospice is an independent organization with a Christian philosophy of life; we are not affiliated with any hospital, clinic, or religious organization.
• Hope Hospice supplies free-of-charge all medical equipment and medications related to a terminal illness.
• Hope Hospice help is only a phone call away. Call (574) 224–HOPE or email us at hospice@hopehospicefc.com

If you know of a seriously ill person, please call the Hope Hospice office and give us the person's name and contact information. We will contact the family and the patient's doctor to see if the patient qualifies for hospice care.

At Hope Hospice, our patients and their families always come first. We know that comfort begins by staying in familiar surroundings, being cared for by caregivers who become like family. We provide no-cost quality care and compassion to those that need it, for as long as they need it.

Hope Hospice was founded by Ronald C. Purkey and Sarah Purkey in 1995 on the premise that a cold, sterile hospital room was not the best place for a seriously ill patient nearing the end of his or her life. With feedback from local physicians that Fulton County could support a hospice, we used donated office equipment and an all volunteer staff to begin meeting the special needs of seriously ill patients and their families.

We've come a long way from our humble beginnings. Today, Hope Hospice has an office at 1476 West 18th Street in Rochester. Although we have a paid staff, we still rely on a pool of trained volunteers and are fortunate that Dr. Michael J. Brubaker, DO, has been willing to donate his time to serve as our Medical Director since 1995. In 2008, Hope Hospice added local inpatient services, enabling us to provide compassionate care to more patients.

Hope Hospice serves the residents of North Central Indiana and patients in nearby counties 24/7. Our services are provided at no cost to the patients or their families. As a not-for-profit, public benefit organization, Hope Hospice funds come from Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, grants, and donations.

Hope Hospice and Woodlawn Hospital have formed a partnership to bring hospice care to Woodlawn Hospital. Hospice care is now available at Woodlawn Hospital for those patients who qualify for hospice in-patient benefits. This partnership will benefit the end-of-life care needs of our community. We are excited about this new service.

This partnership should be a great benefit to hospice patients and to Fulton County. Patients will be close to their families and be ready to go home under the care of Hope Hospice. For more information about our partnership with Woodlawn Hospital, call the Hope Hospice executive director, Daniel Purkey, at the hospice office at (574) 224-4673 or (888) 737-4673.

Sometimes, due to a need for pain control or chronic symptom management that cannot feasibly be provided in other settings, an inpatient environment may best serve an individual's needs. Together with Logansport Memorial Hospital, we are now able to offer the area's only dedicated in-patient hospice suites. This service has been much needed in Cass, Fulton and other surrounding communities and we are very proud to be able to fill that need.

This partnership allows for three private rooms with family accommodations in each including kitchenette, comfortable furnishings, and the use of private restroom facilities. This design helps to meet the goal of caring for the family as well as the patient. For more information about our partnership with Logansport Memorial Hospital, call the Hope Hospice executive director, Daniel Purkey, Jon Mitchell Vice-President of Hope Hospice or Steve Reese Vice-President of Marketing at (888) 737-4673.

Hospice services are available to people who can no longer benefit from curative treatment; the typical hospice patient has a life expectancy of six months or less. Most receive care at home. Services are provided by a team of trained professionals — a physician, nurses, counselors, a social worker, an aide and volunteers — who provide medical care and support services not only to the patient, but to the patient's family and loved ones. Hospice care is cost effective and is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies.

What Others Have Said

Here are some comments by families of former patients of Hope Hospice:

A wife:

"Hope Hospice immediately set us up with everything we needed, bed and equipment, nursing service, phone numbers, and information. (Hope) Hospice gave the family peace in knowing help was available and knowing what to expect at each stage. They were available at all times and just a phone call away."

A husband:

"We were extremely satisfied!"

A sister:

"Everything you…did for us and my brother was far beyond what we expected. Your gentle spirit helped me to hold it together for his children and others. God bless all of you…"

A wife:

"I should have had the service sooner…I would not have been so worn out…"

A wife:

"I can't think of one thing that wasn't done for my husband…It was always great to see one from (Hope) Hospice promptly come when they were called."

A husband:

"Hope Hospice was very accommodating and professional, plus happy and made everyone feel better. I would recommend them to anyone."

A daughter:

"Although mom was in a nursing home we are so thankful Hope Hospice was involved in her care — beneficial to her and to the family."

A wife:

"You all have made a deep impression on my…pastors, my and (my husband's) friends and my neighbors — and most of all our family members. They couldn't believe how caring and wonderful you all have been."

A daughter:

"I can't say enough positive things about our Hope Hospice. I have told many people how wonderful (you) are. I never would have been able to keep my father home and taken care of him without (Hope Hospice)…"

A wife:

"Hope Hospice is a wonderful organization. They do a great job. I thank God everyday for the help they gave to me and (my husband). I don't know what I would have done without their help. I don't know how they could do any better."