Mahaska Health Hospice provides hospice services to residents in Mahaska County and surrounding counties residents. Hospice includes providing end-of-life care through nursing visits, hospice aide care, palliative care, social worker, chaplain and volunteer services. Trained, qualified and professional staff are able to make these visits in private homes, assisted living facilities and nursing facilities as well as our Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House.

Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House is our six-bed facility where hospice staff care for the patient, allowing families to be family instead of the caregiver. There are three levels of care at Serenity House; routine, respite, and general inpatient. Routine is the lowest level of acuity. When on routine, there is a charge for Room and Board. Respite care is a five-day stay to give caregivers a break. General Inpatient care is to manage symptoms of pain, nausea, vomiting and others that cannot be managed in a home setting.

Hospice care can be provided for any life limiting illness with a life expectancy of less than six months. Anyone can call to refer a patient to hospice by calling 641.672.3260 and speaking with the patient care coordinator.

The Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House was built in 2010 after an outpouring of community support through a capital campaign for hospice patients in Mahaska County and surrounding communities who need special care. Any hospice patient is welcome, regardless of the hospice service he or she is currently using. No one will be turned away or denied hospice services, regardless of their ability to pay. That is our commitment to you.

Although hospice care has always been centered around the home, there are instances when a patient’s symptoms can no longer be managed and the patient is better off at an inpatient facility. This is a difficult decision to make, but we are committed to patient satisfaction and care through quality staff and top-notch amenities.

The Serenity House is staffed 24-hours per day, seven days per week by a Registered Nurse and Certified Nurses’ Aide who are specially trained in the unique needs of hospice patients. Hospice volunteers also play an important role in hosting families and assisting staff with daily activities in the Hospice Serenity House.

We created Serenity House on our Oskaloosa campus to be a home away from home for patients and their families when they are most in need of end-of-life care and comfort. The setting allows staff to respond quickly to sudden changes in a patient’s condition and to provide a meaningful experience during a patient’s last days.

What kind of care is provided?

General Inpatient Stay: Short-term for pain control, acute or chronic symptom management that cannot be provided in other settings.
Respite: Short-term (up to 5 days), temporary care of a patient to relieve a primary caregiver.
Residential: Patient lives at the Hospice Serenity House for an extended period of time when staying at home is no longer an option.