Hospice care carries a lot of misunderstanding, and this episode sets out to change that. Host Mary Ann LeRay sits down with Ashley Vasquez Velasquez, a hospice care consultant with Gentiva Hospice and a lifelong resident of Trenton, to walk through what hospice actually is and how it supports patients and families right here in Jones County.
Ashley describes hospice as a "village," an interdisciplinary team of nurses, hospice aides, chaplains, and social workers who help manage pain and symptoms wherever a patient calls home, whether that's a house, an assisted living facility, an RV, or even a boathouse. The conversation moves through a series of common myths: that only doctors can make a referral, that hospice patients can't keep their own physician or go to the hospital, that all treatment stops, and that the Medicare benefit is capped at six months. Ashley clears up each one, along with the biggest misconception of all: hospice doesn't mean giving up hope. It means focusing on quality of life, comfort, and closure.
Cost is often the reason families hesitate to call, and Ashley addresses that directly. Hospice is typically covered at 100 percent through Medicare Part A, with no bills to the family, and equipment and related medications are included. The episode also covers Gentiva's free chaplain led bereavement support group, open to anyone in the community, and the growing partnership between Gentiva and The Filling Station, from volunteer training to future church seminars.
This is a conversation for anyone caring for a loved one with a serious illness, or simply wanting to understand the resources available in Jones County. Listen to the full episode, and reach out to Ashley at Gentiva's Glen Burnie Road office to learn more.