Hospice House Having Halo Effect on Hospice Program
Hospice House Volunteers Dan Goodearl, Angela Wills, and Barbara Goodearl meet to go over duties for the day.
Munson’s Hospice House has been doing everything it was designed to do — and more. People who are terminally ill are spending their final days in a comfortable home, surrounded by family and supported by expert care. Patients and families alike are being warmly nurtured, loved, and even pampered.
“The ongoing care and comfort provided by the staff and volunteers is beyond anything I have experienced in my many years in health care,” said Janet Wolf, President of Home Health and a weekend Hospice House volunteer.
Hospice House opened on April 5, 2004. By shedding light on the entire Hospice Program, Hospice House’s impact is reaching far beyond its own walls. The number of patients using Hospice’s home-based services has increased by 70 percent since June. “The Hospice House has increased the visibility of the entire Hospice program, enabling more members of the community to receive quality end-of-life care,” Wolf said.
The eight-bed Hospice House has been full for the past several months, with a waiting list. In its first eight months, 78 patients used the Hospice House. About one-third of those stayed less than three days. Patients have ranged in age from 20 to 98.
Wolf said the home is fully living up to expectations, and “we had very high expectations.” The Hospice House provides a place to go when care giving can no longer be done at home.
Family members and patients quickly form intimate relationships with the staff and volunteers at Hospice House, and frequently express a deep appreciation for the high quality of care and the beauty of the surroundings, Wolf said.
In the past year, the number of Hospice volunteers has also jumped — from 120 to 200. About 100 volunteers work at the Hospice House.
The Hospice House has two ongoing needs: Additional volunteers and continued financial support. New volunteers are always needed, Wolf said, and there are jobs to suit everyone, from direct patient care to all aspects of keeping a house running, such as doing dishes, laundry, and gardening. “We have an excellent training program and new volunteers get a lot of support,” she said.
Ongoing contributions are being sought to help keep rates affordable. While Medicare, Medicaid, and most third party insurers pay for the cost of hospice care, insurance rarely covers the room and board costs at Hospice House. “Approximately 20 percent of our residents depend on financial assistance to afford their stay at Hospice House,” Wolf said. “Each year we need nearly $250,000 to bridge the gap in funding. We also need to build up our reserve to maintain the building — it’s costing about $25,000 a year just to heat the house.”
The emotional warmth offered by staff and volunteers comes at no charge. Peace of mind is also free. “People no longer have to fear spending the last days of their lives alone, or without the support they need,” Wolf said.
For more information about volunteering, contributing, or to arrange a tour of Hospice House, call (231) 935-9126.
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