01
At home
Most patients stay in their own bed. We bring the equipment, medicines and team, and come back at night when needed.
- Night visits
- Emergency kit at home
- 24/7 phone line
Hospice · Pittsburg & Southeast Kansas
The evening hours are when we matter most.
Hospice nurses, aides, chaplains and social workers across five counties of the old coal country, with a nurse who answers at midnight and drives out when a phone call isn't enough.
Photo tour
Lamplight and long talks
Why we're here
Nobody should face the long night alone.
Most hard moments in hospice happen after dark: breath that gets short at 2 a.m., a fever on a Saturday night, a husband who suddenly can't settle. Families tell us those are the hours they were most afraid of. They're the hours we plan for.
Our on-call nurses live in these five counties. They know the roads from Frontenac to Girard and Columbus to Fort Scott, and they'd rather drive out at midnight than have you wait until morning.
— Theresa Kovacich, RN, MSN, Executive Director
Where we care
Wherever home is tonight
The same hospice team and the same Medicare benefit, wherever someone lives.
02
With family
Many patients move in with a son or daughter. We care for them there and teach the whole household.
- Family training
- Night sitters
- Same benefit
03
In assisted living
We add hospice nursing, aides, chaplain and social work to the care already in place.
- Works with staff
- Family meetings
- Same team
04
In a nursing home
Our team works alongside nursing home staff on comfort. Room and board is billed separately.
- Comfort plan
- Vigil volunteers
- Family support
- 1992serving Southeast Kansas
- 5counties of the Little Balkans
- 24/7a hospice nurse answers
- 13 mo.of grief support afterward
Sample family reviews
In families' own words
Dad's breathing changed at 1 a.m. on a Sunday. Brenda answered on the second ring and was in our driveway thirty minutes later. I will never forget her headlights.
Joe came every night at eight to get Mom ready for bed. She called him 'my young man' and waited up for him.
A volunteer sat with us the whole last night so we could take turns sleeping. We were never alone.
Father Benedetti gave Grandpa last rites and then stayed for coffee and talked about the old Slovenian hall. Grandpa laughed. It was his last good afternoon.
Angela had Dad's VA paperwork, the will and the funeral plans done in a week. I didn't have to make a single phone call.
Dr. Ruiz came to the house and sat with us for an hour, explaining everything. He never once looked at his watch.
The violinist played Mom's favorite waltz the evening before she died. Her fingers moved on the blanket like she was dancing.
The Wednesday grief supper got me through my first winter alone. I still go, and now I bring the pie.
For families
For the family
Here's what we do for the people doing the caregiving.
- 01
A nurse all night
Call any hour and a nurse answers. If needed, she comes out.
- 02
An emergency kit at home
Comfort medicines kept at the house, with written instructions, for the nights that change quickly.
- 03
Someone to sit up
Night sitters and vigil volunteers so you can sleep.
- 04
Ready for the end
Our nurses explain the changes near the end, gently and ahead of time.
Insurance & payment
Paying for hospice
Most families owe nothing. Our business office verifies every plan before care begins.
Medicare
The Medicare hospice benefit covers the care team, medicines, supplies and equipment for the hospice diagnosis, usually at no cost.
KanCare
Kansas Medicaid covers hospice. If your loved one lives in a nursing home on KanCare, room and board stays covered.
VA benefits
Veterans enrolled in VA health care are eligible. We coordinate with the VA.
Private insurance
Most plans include hospice. We'll check yours.
Our team
The people at your door
Theresa Kovacich, RN, MSN
Executive Director
Dr. Samuel Ruiz
Hospice Medical Director
Brenda Nash, RN
Night Nurse Supervisor
Fr. Michael Benedetti
Chaplain
Where we put our effort
Three promises, kept after dark
01
Overnight nurse visits
A nurse answers every call and drives out at night when needed.
24/7
02
Continuous care in a crisis
Hours of nursing at the bedside, often through the night.
Medicare
03
Bereavement support
Calls, letters, home visits and a grief supper on Wednesday evenings.
13 monthsRatings & recognition · sample
- Readers’ Choice · Best Senior Care
- Community Choice Awards · Winner
- Regional Business Journal · Top Workplaces
- County Chamber · Small Business of the Year
- Family Caregiver Alliance · Partner
- Local Hospital System · Preferred Partner
Activities & dining
This month at the house on Broadway
Free gatherings for families, caregivers and anyone carrying grief.
Wed
- Grief supper, 6 p.m., family room
Tue
- Caregiver coffee: what to expect at night
Thu
- Night sitter volunteer training
Sat
- Grief walk at Lincoln Park, 9 a.m.
1st Mon
- Veterans' coffee
2nd Sun
- Children's grief afternoon
3rd Thu
- Advance-directive help night with Angela
Last Fri
- Evening music in the chapel corner
Contact
On North Broadway
- 411 N Broadway
Pittsburg, KS
Park on Broadway or in the lot behind our building off Fourth Street. The back entrance is level and lit after dark. - (620) 555-0152
- Text us
- care@littlebalkanshospice.example
- Little Balkans Hospice
Reaching us
- Office, Mon – Fri8a – 5p
- Hospice nurse on callAll night, every night
- Admissions7 days a week
One number, day or night. After 5 p.m. it rings straight to the nurse on call, not a machine.
Call tonight. Someone's awake.
A hospice nurse answers every hour. Ask anything; nothing is decided until you're ready.