My parent spent her last days here. This wonderful place helped my mother and our family in every way possible. Our hearts are full with appreciation and love for the doctors, nurses, and staff who helped us through it all. They went above and beyond in providing the best end of life care for my mom. read more

Lutheran Hospice - A gift of gratitude. - Hospice Near Me - Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Hospice review We are so pleased that we chose the Collier hospice for my mother's end of life care. She had a wonderful nurse, Ann, while she was at home. She visited weekly and helped my mother adjust to the end of life. As her care became more involved Ann was there each step of the way supporting my mother and our family. I have never med someone who was so kind and understanding and competent. Finally My mother had to spend her final days in-patient at their facility. She raved over how quiet and beautiful it was. Again the staff was so very kind and supportive of both my mother and our family. The Chaplin was very helpful with family dynamics. Even the chief was wonderful, providing her with warm chocolate chip cookies which gave her much enjoyment in her final days. What a gift it was to have this organization available to care for my mother and our family at this hard time. As a retired nurse I am picky and could not fina any fault, just very competent care! I can not recommend this hospice more. 100/100. read more

I had a family friend there and the service was amazing they were so nice and had a very nice and respectful social worker.

My mother was sent to Lutheran Hospice/Collier after a fall that resulted in a broken elbow, wrist, and pelvis; she had surgery for the pelvic fracture (Denver Health) but refused the arm surgery and said she "just wanted to go." It seemed a nice facility, well-kept, but my interactions with the staff were less than desirable, and a follow-up letter to Shelley Miller, LCSW, head of the Social Worker department, has been ignored. Long story short, my relationship with my mother was always rocky (she was physically and emotionally abusive to my sister and me as children, and "neglectful" towards me in particular as an adult). However, knowing she was in her last days, I did everything I could to make my mother's end-of-life as pleasant as possible, including visiting her 7 times between her stay at Denver Health (3.5 weeks) and Collier Hospice (another 3.5 weeks). At the end, my mother told lies about not only me but also the family, including her sister and her other daughter (my sister), telling her social worker that her "family does not love" her and that she wanted them to notify a friend instead of the family when she died. That notification did not come from anyone at Collier: it came via TEXT MESSAGE from this "friend", in very cold terms: "Your mother passed last night. X Crematorium was called to pick her up. Should be hearing from them today." THAT'S IT. As it turns out, my mother died shortly after 8 p.m. the previous night; this cold text was sent at 4:30 a.m. the next morning, which I saw upon waking at 6. My sister and aunt also received texts, though theirs were slightly less cold than mine. I contacted Collier to find out why no one had notified me personally. One of their social workers, Judy, looked into it, and when she called me back, she told me of the lies my mother had told, complete with crocodile tears (it was then I realized my mother had been a covert narcissist, which NO ONE at the hospice recognized, despite their formal psychological "training"). She said they had not called because they "only have time for one call, and some families have 20 people or more, so we can't call them all." Um, I am ONE person. Would it have killed them to have called this "friend" and then my mother's eldest daughter, who lives here in Denver as well? (My aunt is in another state, my sister lives overseas.) How long would that have taken -- 3 minutes? Each time I visited there, the staff were never busy. Going about doing tasks, but not busy. They certainly could have found the time to make such an important phone call. My aunt, sister, and I are now left with a lifelong scar from this incident. We all waited for the phone call that never came, and now will never come. I reached out to Shelley Miller via letter, which I mailed on September 5. To date I have had neither a phone call nor any response via mail or any other response at all. The above is only PART of the story. There isn't room here to go into all the shenanigans the staff at Collier put me through, including refusing to sign a legal paper required by the DMV for my mother's vehicle, which Shelley Miller specifically ordered the nurse not to sign (long story). In my letter to Shelley Miller, I indicated that the letter was in lieu of an office visit, as part of their "bereavement counseling": "We also offer bereavement services to family members for 13 months after a loved one has passed." (from their website) SO MUCH FOR "SUPPORT"! It's hard enough losing a loved one, but when that "loved one" turns on you and your entire family right at the end, it's an especially hard blow. All of us need support, but clearly that support is not coming from Collier Hospice. Clearly they know nothing about covert narcissists, nor indeed about narcissists at all, judging from how easily the wool was pulled over their eyes. From my own recent studies of the subject, I am now seeing what I did not see before: all the signs and behaviors of the covert narcissist, which I never would have believed before about my mother. I tried for years to make that relationship work; now I now why it never did. Collier Hospice may be all smiles, but I and others here have had unpleasant dealings with them, to put it very mildly. I don't know how long it will take for my family and me to heal from this -- not only the damage from my mother, but also from those callous individuals at Collier Hospice who made everything so much worse. read more

Don't leave your loved ones alone in that place. I never saw any nurses go into any patients' rooms. All the patients' doors were closed. Some lady came into St Joseph hosp and gave a salesman type speech how great Collier Hospice was. How they try to make the patients as comfortable as possible how they have a whole team. Then, some man claiming to be the head of pallative care with two depressed looking aids. He gave a great speech on how wonderful Collier Hospice is and they have a whole team that works on making the patients comfortable. My brother was coherent and said he would go there. Those M fkrs didn't waste anytime after he got there My brother was in a comatose type state. They pumped him full of morphine and waited for him to die. When I went out in the hall all the patients' doors were closed, and I never saw one nurse go into any patients' rooms. If you are going to put a loved one it that place make sure you have friend or relative in the room with them all the time. Make sure they do get their pain medication. My brother was sort of comatose but his eyes were open. I had to go down to the front desk where one nurse or help was sitting up on the front desk counter and they were yacking away. I told them I think my brother needs more pain meds because its been awhile they went down and gave him some if I wasn't there who knows if he would have gotten any or not. He died a day later. read more

My father was placed in the Lutheran Hospice in November of 2020, after he was no longer able to receive treatment to his illness. He had reached a level of acuity and he was placed in-house at the Lutheran Collier Hospice, from the hospital.... and of course, Covid-19 rules were in place. There were strict rules in place for 2 visitors at a time in the room with my Dad, and that was so wonderful for us to be able to visit him (as the hospital was not able to allow visitors-only one per 24 hours due to restrictions)- The Lutheran hospice team was so kind to my family and my father, they met our requests and understood that this was a very difficult time for everyone. Since children weren't allowed inside, due to Covid, the staff arranged for an afternoon visit with several family members - outside and the staff rolled my father's bed outside. This was so meaningful and appreciated. The staff was tremendous and caring. We also hired Homewatch CareGivers to provide companion caregivers to be with my father on a 24-hour basis while he was there. Our experience, though sad, was also very meaningful. We feel like we did the very best things possible and are comforted by this. read more

My grandmother was one of my closest friends and as she was nearing her transition, we tried to get her into a hospice near her home. They had a long wait, so we chose Collier Hospice instead. We are so glad we did. I was blessed to be with my grandmother when she passed, but to be honest, I was an emotional wreck. One of the nurses, Jennifer, was there with us the whole time. She explained to me what to expect, what signs to look for, what happens when people pass on. Her presence offered such comfort during a tough time for me. The staff, the volunteers, the location, the facility, and the peaceful and loving atmosphere are fantastic. The family and my grandmother were completely impressed by, and grateful for, the care we ALL received from the Collier Hospice. They even let the family members know they offer bereavement counseling and groups at no charge. When Grandma died, I got on my mobile to call the family. Jennifer went to the nurse's station and struck a Tibetan Singing Bowl, which resonated throughout the facility, marking Grandma's transition. Jennifer knew I was on the phone, so she mouthed, "that was for your grandmother." Such respect and caring, from start to finish. I can't recommend Collier Hospice enough. read more

It's really hard to accept the knowledge that someone you love is going to die soon, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. However, you can get peace of mind that your loved one is well cared for and treated with dignity by taking them to Collier Hospice. That's what I did, and I don't regret that decision. My dad was transferred to Collier Hospice from Lutheran Hospital. The nurses got him set up in his huge, private room. While we were waiting, a doctor came over to talk to us about him, and answered the questions we had. We visited him and left. He went downhill pretty quickly, which was to be expected when you stop treatment and go to comfort care. I doubt my dad was in any pain, and they made him as comfortable as possibly by looking at the subtle signs that he might have been in pain. I spent just about the whole day before he passed with him. I came in a little after 4am. The nurses gave me a pillow, so I was able to doze a bit while holding his hand and listening to him breathe. I went home for a proper nap for a few hours and came back in the afternoon. I had nurses, volunteers, a social worker and other people come in and check on me and made sure I was okay and comfortable, too. The nurses gave me a lot of alone time with him, and it was not awkward to cry in front of them. They were so caring and compassionate during this difficult time, and I appreciated their support. When my kids visited, they came to see my dad, then they went to hang out in the family lounge. There are a ton of books, movies, coloring sheets, and puzzles to entertain them. There are drinks available (I'm not sure what in particular, since I didn't have any), and there is a sign that the staff would take care of the dishes. The social worker talked to my kids at my request, and gave me tips on how to talk to them about the situation. The night he died, I had gone home to spend time with my family and to get some rest. They called me in the middle of the night to let me know that he had passed. It was peaceful and he was not alone. I was very thankful. I did not get to hear the Tibetan Singing Bowl and I did not receive a shawl. It's okay though, because my dad received the best care possible, and that's what really matters. If I had to do it over again, I would make the same decision without a doubt. read more

It feels strange to write a review for a hospice center, but I really think I should. Before my mother passed we knew she'd have to be transferred from the hospital to a hospice. We looked into the ones in our area and were quite frankly worried. We wanted her in a special place, somewhere serene, clean, pleasant. And then we found Collier's. My mother wasn't there very long so my experience is based on a few days only. I can say definitively that the nurses are absolutely caring, compassionate and true professionals. The doctors take their time with you, explaining everything from illness to progression to timelines. And when it comes to this type of thing, you need to know. The staff will also do almost anything to accommodate a dying person's wishes. There's the story of a dying man who missed his two horses. If you walk through Collier's you'll see a newspaper article detailing how the staff rolled this man's bed outside so his two horses could come say goodbye to him. While we were there a very large family had rolled their family member into a courtyard where they played music for her and gathered one last time. The facility and grounds are absolutely lovely. Tended gardens outside, courtyards, flowers, trees. Inside the rooms are spacious, clean, comfortable, upscale. Impeccable, all of it. They have volunteers that make shawls for the patients at the hospice. My mother got a really soft, pretty pink one which I was able to keep. I thought that was really special. I just can't say enough about Collier's, except thank you. read more

My aunt Ginny had the privilege of being cared for by the extraordinary staff at Collier house. We tried to care for her at home but her pain was so immense that we were able to take advantage of the pain control option at the center. Everybody we've talkEd to you on the phone and all of the nursing staff were extraordinarily kind compassionate and personable. The facility is also cheerful and welcoming, especially to families. We spent a lot of time in the family kitchen sipping on hot cocoa to comfort us. I would recommend this hospice center to anybody! read more

My aunt was transferred to Collier from a hospital where previously she was being cared for at Life Care in Evergreen. My aunt had no family in Colorado and I reside in Hawaii. I made daily calls to the hospital and the nurse's that were taking care of her were wonderful. I also worked with a social worker who was less then helpful as she was advised of our financial situation and our need to have her returned to Life Care where they would have been able to care for her which I confirmed. When I finally arrived at the hospital after flying all night, I was directed to her room by a caring nurse. I asked to speak to the social worker and "Ann" came into the room and asked that I step out of the room to see her. Assuming that this was Judy who I had numerous conversations with regarding my Aunt's situation, I was advised that Ann was from their accounting department and she presented me with a bill demanding payment. To say that I was shocked is an understatement. Her conduct in light of the situation was shocking and I won't go into what she told me to do. My mistake was not being forceful in having her moved back to her "home" where she could have spent her final days among people she knew and loved. read more

I cannot express how wonderful the staff dealt with the passing of my brother! Not only were they attentive and caring but also highly proficient and professional! My brother was there for 8 long days and their care never wavered, everything was explained to us so that we knew what was happening to eliminate surprises. And after his passing their care and concern for the family was incredible! I can't say enough good things about the staff and the facility! Thank you! read more

My experience with this hospice made me change my legal will to make sure that I never be sent to an inpatient hospice if I am ever incapacitated and dying. My experience was so horrible that I am considering a lawsuit against this facility if I can stomach it. Upon admission, I was told by a RN that my loved one would die within 3 days. Four weeks later, we were still there and I was watching her die slowly from dehydration as they said they would not give fluids as it was contraindicated, which may or may not be true. This was the most horrible thing to watch. I am a healthcare professional who was the advocate for my loved one. I asked a lot of questions about medications and what the staff were doing and why. Well, the physicians and several of the nurses do not like it if you ask questions about their medication plan or procedures. I was talked down to and treated like I was a pathetic idiot, especially by Erin (RN). Erin also lied in the medical record stating that I wanted my loved one physically restrained when agitated as a result of ketamine. I asked Erin if she was chemically restraining my loved one (rather than physically restraining them) with phenobarbital (which she administered in response to extreme agitation caused by increased dose of ketamine). She wouldn't let me talk to the prescribing physician first about doing so. Phenobarbital was added to a copious amounts of IV fentanyl, ativan, decadron, versed, and ketamine. Ketamine clearly caused the extreme agitation and hallucinations my loved one experienced as its dosage was just doubled before the symptoms ensued. I called my physician friends around the country who were absolutely horrified at the number and amounts of medications that were being prescribed. I consulted with a national palliative care expert physician who was also horrified at what the physicians prescribed and how the team didn't respect me. Eventually the medications were adjusted to something more reasonable that didn't cause horrible hallucinations and extreme agitation. My loved one was too ill to move to another facility but in retrospect, I wish I had revoked hospice and moved her to a hospital for pain management. The staff could not manage my loved one's pain management for the first 2 weeks, and I needed to go to palliative care physicians outside of the medical director to advocate for a reasonable medication plan. The medical director did start treating me much better after she learned that I was recording her conversations with me and sharing them with other physicians who assured me I was sane, clear, and reasonable in my requests. My loved one had no dignity in dying here. For example, one of the RNs left her sitting up naked on display by the nurse's station with the room door drape open while families with children were walking by during the 2 hours I stepped out to get a meal. If you are stuck with sending your loved ones here, make sure you watch the staff closely and also that you request the medical records afterwards. I found that the staff falsified the medical and medication records and actually lied in the medical notes about me the caregiver to cover themselves. Above are just a few of the things I dealt with. There were several more, including the use of procedures and medications that were done without my consent and when I was out of the facility for a few hours. Also, it is important for anyone reading this to know that the purpose of the patient advocate is there to prevent Lutheran from liability/malpractice. She sent me a form letter saying they addressed my concerns but couldn't tell me what they did. Falsifying medical records is a pretty serious offense. I am writing this after the patient advocate and hospice administration did not take me seriously. Luckily, I can take some comfort in knowing that there are many physicians who know me and believe me when I told them what happened. One of my physician friends is also an eyewitness to what I and my loved one experienced. That said, several oncologists in the area from major hospitals will not be sending their patients to Collier for hospice. The only positive thing I can say is that there are some good CNAs and nurses at Collier that actually care a lot - make sure you ask for Paige, or one of the Jennifers to be your loved one's RN as they were the best ones, especially Jennifer Carroll. Also make sure you have a physician or medical person who can help advocate for your loved one as the RNs and MDs will not take you seriously unless you have a medical degree. read more

This facility is AWFUL,my mother was there less than 24 hours and we had her moved immediately out of there. Nurses are rude to patients, rough with their patients did not care for her. Extremely rude to family members! My mother went to this facility because she had terminal cancer. Nurses did not come in to check on her every hour as they stated they do when we toured the facility. Our family was there for 6 hours visiting my mother, in that 6 hours the nurse only came in one time to see her, that was only because we went to find a nurse and request her to come in . Her pain wasn't controlled by the nurse or doctor. Their response "it takes time". Which we found hard to believe as she was in the Hosptial for 3 weeks prior to the transfer to this facility and her pain was being manage just fine there, and all her medical records were transferred with her. The nurses refused to give her anything to drink. When I questioned them about it and asked for a glass of water so I could give her a drink the nurse stated "she can't drink anything and hasn't for 3 days" (remind you she just arrived at this facility a few hours prior) I informed her she has been drinking and eating jello just fine at the hospital everyday and even that morning that before she was just transferred from the hospital to Lutheran. I went to the vending machine to purchase my mother something to drink, which she drank over half in 10 min. When another family member arrived later that evening, again no fluids had been given to my mother, she was in severe pain. Nurse button was on the desk no where close for her to reach it to even be able to call the nurse. The nurse was very confrontational with the family member and told him she is going to die in a couple of days anyways. I requested to speak with a case manager to have her removed from the facility, her response was it's Saturday you won't find any facility to admit her and good luck finding a better place then this. Needless to say we had her transferred out with in 2 hours after the conversation. I can't express enough don't send your loved ones to Lutheran Hospice the worst place I have ever been to. The building it's self and location is very nice but the care is AWFUL!! read more

I was so disappointed in the staff who cared for my father-in-law on Thanksgiving day. He passed away on Thanksgiving day and was admitted the previous day. The RN on this day never changed his soiled sheet when I asked her she said she would do it later, the CNA never checked in to see if we needed anything or even help to remove his soiled sheet. My brother-in-law had to get on the RN's case, because she was never on top of my father-in-laws meds. The catheter was so tangled so badly that the urine was unable to flow properly. The family was at my father-in-laws bedside from early morning to later afternoon and we were all very disappointed in the RN and CNA who was my father-in-laws RN and CNA. read more

my family and I had the best experience in this place , they were caring and compassionate. very respectful with our space , took amazing care of my mother. They keep it very clean never seen it dirty. the workers were great , respectful , kind ! Overall i had an amazing experience in this place .! read more

I know that it's slightly awkward to write a review of a hospice, and I wouldn't if I didn't feel strongly about it. Collier Hospice made a terrible situation as good as it possibly could be, and I know that my whole family was relieved that my mother-in-law's final days were spent in a really great place. She spent 6 days in Collier, her days cut short due to stage 4 stomach and esophageal cancer. They kept her as comfortable as possible, and they bent over backwards to accommodate her and our family. After she passed, we were able to stay with her as long as we wanted, there was no rush and they were checking in with us often to see if there was anything we needed. When they took her out of her room and off to the funeral home, they all paid attention and stood by in respect, and chimed using one of those Tibetan singing bowls. It makes me emotional thinking about it right now. Thank you to everyone who works there, we will never forget you. read more

My father was admitted to Collier Hospice and I was blessed to share the 7-day journey by his side. Love and serenity prevailed, seeing us through the most difficult time a family will face. The nursing staff's support was amazing. They didn't dump too much information on us at once, but instead gave us exactly the information we needed as we needed it. This was so helpful, no "second guessing." The nursing staff also listened to my directives as to my father's care without question. You will be respected and cared for. My father died peacefully in his sleep. He had an opportunity to see his family and receive their love. He also received clarity of mind (extreme alzheimers) and was able to express his love to us. This was possible because of the staff's attentive pain management. Very private, family-friendly atmosphere. So sweet that pets are welcome. The visiting animals were as good for me as they were for the loved ones they came to see. Overall, this was a life-changing experience for me. My faith could never be stronger. I thank Collier Hospice at Lutheran from the bottom of my heart! read more

My father was admitted to Collier Hospice unexpectedly, he was there for 7 days before he passed away! The staff here is outstanding! The nurses are the most caring and loving people you will ever meet! They truly care for your loved one. They explained and answered all of our questions in a thoughtful and caring way. The facility is calm, peaceful and clean. Even though we were there for a sad time in our life they made the dying process for my dad with respect and dignity. read more

It is with great pride and respect that I tell you about the final journey of my sister Mary Ellen Thompson. Mary Ellen was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic cancer and embarked on her last adventure. The grace and courage she displayed throughout her diagnosis and treatment was amazing. Mary Ellen endured chemotherapy until she could no longer accept the nausea and pain associated with the treatments. She accepted this part of her journey with dignity and grace. Mary Ellen spent her final months thinking about all the people she has know during her life and the love she has shared with each of us. She found ways to acknowledge each of us and the unique bonds between us. Mary Ellen planned out each detail of her celebration of life to accommodate the many people with whom she shared such deep love and affection. Although it broke her heart to leave us all so early (especially her beloved daughters Nikki and Carly), she spent her time reaching out to her friends and family and seeking ways to ease the pain for everyone. When the pain and symptoms became too much to handle at home, she was relieved and grateful to accept the help of all the professionals at the Collier Hospice Center @ Lutheran Medical Center, Wheatridge Colorado. We cannot express the gratitude we all feel for the staff at Collier's. They worked to anticipate and handle each complication of this horrible disease while providing comfort and care to Mary Ellen as well as the many visitors arriving throughout the day and often the night. As soon as she was admitted, she said "I know I am safe now, they will handle my pain and nausea and I will be OK". And she was... Mary Ellen's journey ended at 4AM Thursday morning. Mary Ellen was very spiritual and looked forward to seeing so many loved ones waiting for her on the other side (especially our beloved Dad). I can only imagine the happy reunion she is experiencing right now. I am glad to know that you are free of pain and suffering and enjoying that long awaited hug from Dad. Fly free little sis and enjoy your reunions. You showed all of us that in the end, ONLY THE LOVE MATTERS. I promise that when we think of you, we will always smile and remember the love. read more

My mother is in home hospice care with Lutheran Hospice. Their nurse, nurses aid, and social worker never show up when they say they will and they don't call. read more

The absolute BEST human beings and medical professionals you could ever hope to come across in the absolute worst time of your life. Wonderful people you can trust your beloved with. Angels on Earth. read more