When patients and families face the challenges of a life-limiting illness, Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care provides a source of comfort, expert care, and guidance through every stage of the journey.
Hospice Family Care operates Madison County’s only inpatient hospice facility, offering a peaceful, home-like setting for patients and families.
Director of Hospice and Palliative Services Carisa Proctor said the inpatient facility, located at Redstone Village in south Huntsville, was built for comfort not only in medical care but also in emotional and spiritual support.
“Most of our patients are elderly,” said Proctor. “That often means a spouse is navigating parking garages, large hospitals, and long hallways. It’s so much easier to come in and out of this facility. It feels more like home. And here, it’s hospice nurses who specialize in caring for terminally ill patients. Their needs aren’t just physical, they’re emotional and spiritual, too.”
At its core, hospice is a patient-centered approach designed to support individuals who have decided, alongside their loved ones and doctors, to shift from curative treatments to comfort-based care. Hospice Family Care provides a full spectrum of services, including pain and symptom management, emotional counseling, and spiritual care. Personalized plans are developed for every patient, recognizing that no two experiences are alike.
Patients are cared for by a multidisciplinary team that includes hospice physicians, registered nurses, nursing aides, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers. Services range from routine home visits to general inpatient care, respite care for caregivers, and continuous care for complex needs. The team also provides medical equipment, medications, and supplies directly to patients, helping reduce hospital visits and promote comfort in familiar settings.
For patients whose symptoms cannot be managed at home, the Hospice Family Care Inpatient Facility offers a peaceful, home-like environment with round-the-clock care. Often used for short-term stays, the facility helps patients stabilize and return to their preferred setting.
Unique features of the program include specialized pediatric hospice care and support for infants and children, as well as grief resources like adult support groups and The Caring House for children who have experienced loss. Even Huntsville Hospital’s facility dog, Vivian, plays a role, offering therapeutic visits to patients and families.
“Vivian comes to our facility about once a week and then she works in the hospital the rest of the time with the palliative care team,” said Proctor. “So we actually have patients that have been visited by Vivian in the hospital setting and we’ll coordinate when they come to our inpatient facility for Vivian to come back and visit them.,”
And it’s not just for patients; Proctor said having an emotional support animal there for loved ones is impactful as well.
Hospice care is covered by Medicare Part A for individuals with a terminal diagnosis and a life expectancy of six months or less, as well as Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans. In most cases, patients face little or no out-of-pocket costs.
Whether care is provided in a private home, a senior care facility, or the inpatient facility at Redstone Village, Hospice Family Care’s mission remains the same: to help patients make the most of every moment with expert, compassionate support.
