NHPCO NewsLine Fall 2017 - 40

Short Takes

Telling Their Stories: Advocacy with a
Personal Touch
As part of Hospice Action Network's summer advocacy efforts, they solicited patient stories from hospice providers
across the country that were then shared with Congressional offices. More than 65 moving stories were sent in
that helped legislators on Capitol Hill better understand the significant impact that hospice has on the patients and
families being cared for. Here are excerpts from just a few of those stories.

Sangre De Cristo
Hospice & Palliative Care
By Crystal Finley, CNA

worker to discuss any need or
concerns, and let's not forget her
twice weekly catholic chaplain that
she looks forward to.
Gomi and her family would like
members of congress to know that
hospice has eased Gomi's load by
responding to a volume of needs of a
terminally ill patient with courtesy,
respect, kindness and understanding
by all team members.

Gomicinda has congested heart
failure and pulmonary
hypertension which affects her
everyday life. She has had to move
out of her own home and into her
daughter's home for the extra
assistance as she started falling
more frequently. It was devastating
for her to leave her own home but
she is very thankful to not be in a
facility and to still have family and
friends and hospice care.
Hospice has benefited Gomi in more
ways than one. Not only has it
avoided family having to place the
patient in a facility which would be
a huge expense, but the patient also
benefits from having a cardiac nurse
home visit weekly, a CAN five days
a week, as well as a weekly social

Hospice of Kona
By Jenny Schroedel, Bereavement
Services Coordinator

A self-described "camper" and a
"recycler," Charles had been
independent for all of his adult life.
He lived in Hawaii for more than 20
years, most of that time living on
the streets. In his last few months
of life, he was found in the bushes
near a local university, starving,
thirsty and unable to walk. Some
local students found him and he
was transferred to the hospital,
from there he was referred to
Hospice of Kona's residential
facility, Nakamaru Hale.
Charles' life was radically changed
when he came to Nakamaru Hale.
For the first time in more than 20

NHPCO NewsLine | Fall 2017

years he felt secure. The "house
mom" learned that fried chicken &
biscuits was his favorite food and
would often cook those things for
him. His physical health
improved. Had he stayed in the
bushes he would have died within
days. At our hospice house he
lived for seven months. With all
basic needs met, he was able to
pursue his dream of becoming a
writer. It was his personal mission
to help get the word out about
hospice. He wanted to keep these
services open and available to all.

Center for Hospice Care
By Char Yoder, RN

At the prime of her life, Marilyn
had a cerebral hemorrhage. She
was 63 years old and she lived in a
nursing facility for most of the next
20 years, separated from her six
children by hundreds of miles.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NHPCO NewsLine Fall 2017