Stepping Stones: a Pre-Hospice Program

Stepping Stones: a Pre-Hospice Program

Stepping Stones is a Pre-Hospice Program of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. This program is free to anyone in the community.

Stepping stones is a program offered to patients with an advanced, life-limiting illness. This program is community based and offers guidance, support, and education to the participants and their family members. 

There is no cost to the patient for this service. All medical care continues to be directed by the patient's physician. 

Making life-changing choices is often a challenge for people with advanced or chronic illnesses. This program gives you the right information at the right time. Our goal is to help you fulfill your life in a dignified way. 

Stepping Stones sessions can be provided in the comfort of your home, hospital, skilled nursing center, assisted living facility, or another agreed upon location. The number of sessions varies depending on your needs and direction. 

Services Provided

Stepping Stones fills a gap in the medical world through education and planning. We offer support to alleviate stress and anxiety. The stepping Stones facilitator provides life-enhancing education and support on a variety of topics. After your introductory meeting, we will tailor a program that best fits your needs.

Communication: Develop or enhance communication skills between family members and healthcare providers

Defining Quality-of-Life: Address the challenges of living with an advanced or chronic illness. Identify goals and/or wishes of the patient, and develop a plan to achieve them.

Coping Strategies: Identify stressors associated with diagnosis and explore strategies to help the patient and family effectively manage such stressors. Address anticipatory grief issues, as well as interpersonal struggles. 

Practical Issues: Assist the patient and family in identifying the many practical issues they face and explore tangible solutions. You will gain strategies for handling changes in your daily routine that may occur due to advancing illness. 

Emotional Issues: Assist the patient and family in identifying feelings of anger, loss of control, sadness, fear, and anxiety related to the advancing illness, impact on patient/family life, pain and/or symptom management. 

Spiritual Issues: Provide an avenue to reconnect or strengthen spiritual beliefs. We assist the patient and family in addressing issues related to: cause and meaning of disease, purpose in life, and connection with others. 

Advanced Directives: Offer education and guidance regarding various types of advanced directives, including: Directive to the Physician (living will), Medical Power of Attorney, and Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders. 

Program Partners

Stepping stones is sponsored by West Texas Rehabilitation Center. The teams of professionals at West Texas Rehab's Hospice of San Angelo, and Hospice of the Big Country are specially trained to guide you through the life enhancing issues addressed in the program, making Stepping Stones a natural extension of its mission. Stepping Stones is a pre-hospice program and does not provide medical services or advice to patients. 

To learn more please contact our Hospice team:

Hospice of San Angelo: 325.658.6524

Hospice of the Big Country: 325.793.5450