Hospice of the Cherokee is a hospice care provider in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, operating as a department of Cherokee Nation Home Health Services. Licensed by the state of Oklahoma since May 8, 2000, it is the only non-profit hospice locally owned and operated in the Tahlequah area and serves a 50- to 60-mile radius including seven Oklahoma counties.
The organization provides comprehensive end-of-life care addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families. Services include nursing care delivered by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Home health aides assist with personal care and activities of daily living, while licensed social workers provide counseling and help with insurance and financial matters.
Hospice of the Cherokee offers specialized support services including spiritual counseling from a chaplain, bereavement support for grieving family members, and trained volunteer visitors. The organization provides 24-hour continuous care for crisis situations, in-patient hospital care when acute setbacks occur, and respite care allowing families relief for up to five consecutive days in a skilled nursing facility.
Care is typically delivered in the patient's home, though the organization also provides services to patients residing in long-term care facilities at the time of diagnosis, coordinating closely with nursing facility staff. The hospice team works to ensure patients receive compassionate care in a familiar, comfortable setting with their loved ones present.
