City: Tavernier, FL

Category: Health Care

Telephone: (305) 852-7887

Address: MM 92 Oceanside

Description: Hospice provides care for terminally ill patients with six months or less to live. Services are provided in private homes and nursing homes throughout the Keys by a staff of registered nurses, patient-­care managers, and social workers. Certified nursing assistants tend to personal needs such as bathing, grooming, and bedding. All home-­care patients must be referred to the agency by a physician. Comfort Care, which is private-­duty nursing care, is also available. Hospice’s purpose is to ensure patients’ comfort so that the last days of their lives are quality ones.Within this same nonprofit organization, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) provides more aggressive home care for patients still undergoing various treatments or who need blood tests or care for wounds. This service also is provided upon a physician’s request. Both Hospice and VNA are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Medicare and Medicaid are accepted. Additional Hospice locations are at MM 50.5 Oceanside in Marathon (305-743-9048) and 1319 William St. in Key West (305-294-8812).