Village Hospice, A John Knox Village Service.
When facing a life-limiting illness, true compassion — strengthened by physical, emotional and spiritual support — can bring more moments of life to patients and their loved ones. This belief is at the core of hospice care at Village Hospice.
There are four levels of hospice care: Routine Home Care, Continuous Home Care, General Inpatient Care, Respite Care. The level of patient-centered care provided is based on unique and individual needs – in the setting that is most comfortable. As needs change, transitions keep patients at the most appropriate level of care, as defined by the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
To learn more about hospice care and grief support provided by Village Hospice in and around the Kansas City area, please continue reading, or complete the contact form or call 816-525-0986 to schedule a personal appointment.
Compassionate care in a comfortable environment.
At the heart of Village Hospice is our belief that each person deserves to experience more moments of life, and each family deserves to be fully supported and informed.
Village Hospice provides care in a private residence or within an independent, assisted living or skilled nursing community — wherever patients call home. We provide care and support to patients in eight counties in Missouri — Jackson, Bates, Cass, Clay, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte and Ray counties — as well as to residents at John Knox Village.
Village Hospice also provides inpatient care at some of the area hospitals.
Wherever you need hospice care, ask for Village Hospice.
“The Village Hospice staff took extra-special care of my husband. They were kind, and I felt confident and assured of his care, even when I wasn’t able to be with him.”
— Margaret S.
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is for those who are choosing to experience more moments of life when faced with a life-limiting illness. Village Hospice helps them with this by providing palliative care, including symptom and pain management, with a team of specially trained professionals that includes nursing care, social work, chaplain and bereavement support that is overseen by a Medical Doctor.
How do you know if it’s time for hospice care? Learn more.
Our levels of hospice care.
To provide each patient with the amount of care necessary to manage their symptoms effectively, Village Hospice offers four levels of hospice care. Each of these levels are designed to meet a patient’s unique and individual needs — in the setting that is most comfortable. As a patient’s needs change, Village Hospice can transition patients seamlessly to the most appropriate level of care.
Choosing hospice doesn’t mean giving up home – it means choosing to focus on living each day to the fullest. Learn more: 10 Myths of Hospice Care
Routine Home Care
In this basic level of hospice care, patients receive regular visits from care team members, based on specific needs. As needs change, team members adjust visits to accommodate changes and ensure optimal care.
Continuous Home Care
This level of care is intended for those in a medical crisis who require skilled nursing care on a continuous basis to maintain care at home and possibly avoid a hospital visit.
General Inpatient Care
This is a short term level of care, focused on pain control and symptom management with oversight from a medical expert. This level of care can be provided at some of our area hospitals.
Respite Care
When caregivers need some time away from the rigorous demands of providing daily care at home, Village Hospice can provide respite services at area nursing facilities.
Grief Support
Grief is different for everyone. We find solace and comfort in unique and changing ways. Through this time of loss, Village Hospice offers sustaining support. Our dedicated Bereavement Coordinator becomes involved with the patient and family immediately, building relationships that continue to support spouses, children and families for a full 13 months after they experience loss. Whether spending time one-on-one with personal counseling or sharing in a scheduled support group, our Coordinator offers assistance when it’s needed most. Village Hospice also is home to dedicated, caring and carefully trained bereavement volunteers who lend a listening ear and help you process your grief, through personal visits, mailings, and phone calls.
Learn about more services provided through Village Hospice.
Grief support is provided through:
- Personal visits, phone calls and letters of care
- One-on-one and group counseling
- Support groups
- Grief support workshops
- Valuable resources and written information on topics related to the grieving process
- Annual Memorial Service and Butterfly Release, a time to remember, reconnect and honor loved ones
- Seasonal and holiday programs focusing on issues that surround those special, sometimes difficult times of year, such as coping with the holidays
Honoring Veterans
John Knox Village is proud to serve those who have served our country. We understand the unique challenges many veterans face and provide specialized care for veterans in Village Hospice. With reverence and dignity, we honor veterans from the moment they enter our care by recognizing their branch-specific service with a veteran pin and special star cut from a retired American flag. Beyond delivering the highest quality of care possible, John Knox Village dedicates resources to veteran-specific programs, including:
“We Honor Veterans” Program
Village Hospice is a program partner of the We Honor Veterans program, which provides specialized end-of-life care to veterans. We have been trained in conflict-specific medical and mental health concerns and in assisting veterans and their families navigate VA (Veterans Affairs) benefits. We recently achieved Level 5 status, the highest possible rating as a program partner. We are the only hospice with this rating in the Kansas City area, and one of only four in the state. This rating demonstrates that we provide veterans and their families with compassionate care specific to their needs and goals, and that we are strongly committed to veteran-centric care in the community. Read more here.
Our internal We Honor Veterans program is dedicated to the ongoing education about how to better serve veterans in our care. Recognizing veterans who are enrolled with Village Hospice, our hospice team commemorates their service with an American flag in each veterans’ room and organizes special recognitions on service member holidays such as Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Flag Day. At the time of death, veterans in our service are respectfully draped with the American flag as they leave our campus. We also provide bereavement support to families of deceased veterans.
Learn the proper way to fold an American Flag when it’s not in use.
Veteran-to-Veteran Program
Veteran-to-Veteran is a volunteer program bringing men and women who have served, together with veterans in our hospice care, to create mutually beneficial and sometimes intergenerational connections. This program has helped form special bonds forged by a common language only fellow veterans can share with one another, an invaluable experience for our Village Hospice veterans.
Community Education
In our annual Veterans Breakfast, Resource Fair, and other special events throughout the year, John Knox Village provides education to our residents and team members, as well as to the Greater Kansas City community. Our goal is to shine a light on specific issues experienced by veterans today and be a resource for veterans and their families.
Interested in volunteering or working for Village Hospice?
If you have a heart for hospice, we’d love to talk to you.
Volunteering: Whatever your interests or talents, you can use them to bring comfort and support to patients and their families as a hospice volunteer. For more information about becoming a Village Hospice volunteer, complete the Volunteer Interest form or call our Volunteer Manager at (816) 525-0986.
Careers: To learn more about careers in Village Hospice in Kansas City, MO and the surrounding area, check the John Knox Village online job listings, or call Human Resources at (816) 347-2127.
Village Hospice FAQ
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is for those who are choosing to experience more moments of life when faced with life-limiting illnesses. It’s a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support tailored to the person and family’s needs and wishes. People who receive hospice care are no longer receiving curative treatment for their underlying disease.
How do we know when inpatient hospice care is appropriate?
The Village House offers a level of hospice care for patients who are in need of pain control and symptom management that cannot be provided in another setting.
How can I show my appreciation for Village Hospice?
Caring for your loved one is a joy and a privilege and we are delighted that we can offer our services of comfort and care at the end of life. If you’d like to express your gratitude, you can:
- Send a note to the team expressing your appreciation
- Write a positive review on your social media
- Sign up to volunteer
- Consider making a donation in honor of someone or in memory of someone through the John Knox Village Foundation, please click the button below to give online today.
Contact information:
VILLAGE HOSPICE
600 N.W. Pryor Road
Lee’s Summit, MO 64081
Phone: 816-525-0986
Fax: 816-251-8019
Toll Free: 877-340-4006