Angela Willis – Hospice Hero

Angela Willis – Hospice Hero

(Angela and her family)

Part of living the hospice promise is to recognize those everyday moments that may have a lasting impact on someone’s life. Angela Willis, CNA/office assistant at UT Home-Based Palliative Care in Knoxville, Tenn., totally understands this approach.

Recently, the program had a patient who needed help. The patient was contracted, bedbound and only able to communicate using a whiteboard. Angela volunteered to leave the office and make a home visit to help her. When Angela arrived, she communicated to the patient each step of what they were attempting to do. She asked the patient to give her a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” – to indicate if they were doing good or needed to stop.

Angela was extremely patient and as gentle as possible with her care. The patient was so relaxed and comfortable that Angela was able to wash, brush and blow dry her hair, probably for the first time in a long time. She was signaling “thumbs up” the whole time!

When Angela was thanked for taking such great care of this patient, she replied, “Just to see the patient so happy to get her hair washed made my day!”

Thanks, Angela, for making a “moment” for this patient. Your gentleness and patience meant so much to this patient and her family. You are our Hospice Hero!

Lois Moyers – Hospice Hero

Grant Memorial Hospice – Petersburg, W.Va.

Grant Memorial Hospice in Petersburg, W.Va., was caring for a patient with lung cancer who was always extremely short of breath. Lois Moyers, CNA, was assigned to help him with a shower three days a week. Sometimes, due to his shortness of breath, she would question his ability to comfortably complete his shower, but he always wanted one and would tell her how good it made him feel.

Lois took extra time with him so he could move slower to save his breath – even though her schedule didn’t always allow for extra time. After he passed away, Lois received a card from his daughter which read:

“Dear Lois,

Thank you for the kindness and care you showed my father in the last three months of his life. He enjoyed his showers and his chats with you so much.

It takes a very loving and kind person to do your job with grace and keep a big strong man happy and allow him dignity when he probably feels like he has nothing left.

Thank you for using your gifts to help families during times of eminent tragedy. Your time in our home brought us all joy (especially Daddy).”

Thank you, Lois, for taking the time to understand what your patient wanted and making it happen. You definitely made his last days more comfortable and enjoyable and also provided support to his family. Lois, you are our Hospice Hero!

Lea Ann Mason – Hospice Hero

Housecalls Hospice – Parkersburg, W.Va.

(Lean Ann and husband, Brett)

Housecalls Hospice in Parkersburg, W.Va., received a referral from one of their local hospitals for a 49-year-old male who did not have any financial or family support. He was going to be sent to a long-term care nursing facility and had no clothes or undergarments.

Lea Ann Mason, PCR for Housecalls Hospice, went out on her own and bought the gentleman shirts, pants, socks and underwear so he would have something to wear besides a hospital gown.

Our hospices strive to meet the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of each patient. Sometimes that means medication adjustments, sometimes it can be facilitating end-of-life decisions, and sometimes it is just about preserving their dignity.

Lee Ann saw a need and acted on it – so this gentleman could go comfortably to his new home fully dressed (and with a few outfits to spare!). Just think of the impact we could have if each person reading this email helped at least one person a week in 2017! Sounds like a great New Year’s resolution.

Thanks, Lee Ann, for going above and beyond to support this patient during his transition. You are our Hospice Hero!

Robyn Jennings – Hospice Hero

Robyn Jennings – Hospice Hero

Robyn Jennings, RN, is the palliative care nurse for our University of Tennessee Palliative Program in Knoxville. Recently, one of her palliative patients was ready to move over to hospice, but did not want Robyn coming into his home because he was ashamed.

Robyn explained that we are not there for his home, but to take care of him – that we would not judge or treat him differently, no matter where he lived. The patient was still bothered, but finally agreed to let Robyn assess and admit him in her car in his driveway. He requested that visits be conducted in a car or on the front porch.

Of course, when the time inevitably comes the staff will have to enter the patient’s home, but right now they are building a relationship and caring for him in the setting where he is most comfortable.

Robyn said this was her first “car” admission. The patient shed many tears that day in the car as they discussed his options. Robyn had to get out of the car and go around to the passenger’s side to complete the assessment. She said it was an honor and privilege to serve the patient on his own terms.

Hospice is about meeting people who need our services where they are and allowing them to make choices about their care. Thank you, Robyn, for reminding us all of that fact. You are our Hospice Hero!

Miracle Bell – Hospice Hero

Halcyon Hospice – Tucker, Ga.

Hospice care is our mission and vision – and our employees give of themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually as they care for patients and families. Sometimes things can approach overload. This is especially true during the holiday season as so many of the families we serve face such devastating loss – and our teams suffer that loss with them.

A few weeks ago, the Halcyon Hospice team in Tucker, Ga., had a rough week. They admitted a patient who had very limited resources, family that lived far away and was struggling with the inability to eat, pain and acceptance of the real possibility that she might die before Christmas. The entire team rallied to that patient’s aid, but by Thursday of that week they felt drained.

When the team arrived at the office that Thursday morning, Miracle Bell, CNA, had put up the Christmas tree with all of its decorations and even hung garland on the mantle – all on her own in an effort to cheer up her team. Miracle knew that her team had been through a difficult time and needed a little Christmas cheer.

Hospice Heroes not only focus on our patients, they also understand that hospice staff need the same type of support and encouragement.  Thanks, Miracle, for not only taking care of your patients, but for also supporting your team. You are our Hospice Hero!

Clarke McBee – Hospice Hero

Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care – Hammond, La.

Recently, a family member of a new patient wrote about her experience with one of our PCRs, Clarke McBee, who represents Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care in Hammond. She wrote:

“I am writing to thank you for sending such a smart, knowledgeable and personable representative to us. Clarke made us feel comfortable and helped us, without being intrusive, to figure out the best course for our 95- year-old mother. She made the whole process easy and continued to follow up with solutions once we started with hospice. We are enormously relieved of a long-time burden because of Clarke’s expertise!”

Clarke was able to not only provide the information they needed to make a choice about hospice, she was also able to communicate with this family so that they fully understood their choices and options. Thank you, Clarke, for taking time with this family to make sure they were comfortable with the choices they needed to make. You are our “Hospice Hero!”

Arkansas Home Hospice Providers (Truman, Ark.) – Hospice Heroes

Arkansas Home Hospice Providers – Truman, Ark.

A patient at Arkansas Home Hospice Providers in Truman shared with Tosha Crews, RN, that she really wanted to attend her 60-year class reunion at Crawfordsville High School. Tosha shared this information with the agency’s social worker, Christy Smith, and the two got to work planning for the event.

Christy contacted a local hair dresser who agreed to donate her time and supplies to do the patient’s hair. Christy also offered to get a new outfit for the patient – but she refused, saying “you guys are getting me there and that’s enough!”

The patient was a little worried about going by herself, so Tosha attended the event with her to ensure she would have the support needed to enjoy the event. 

Thanks to Tosha and Christy for making this wish come true for your patient. You truly lived up to our mission to meet all of our patient’s needs, not just the physical needs. You guys are our Hospice Heroes!