Hospice program to be launched in July

Becky Davied, director of Mercy Home Health, (sitting) and social worker LaShawn Miller pose for a photo in Davied's office at Mercy Home Health on Horton Street. Mercy will be starting a hospice program July 1. Training sessions for volunteers will start June 11.(Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

Having started Mercy Home Health in 1978, the hospital will expand its continuum of care to include hospice starting July 1.

Becky Davied, director of Mercy Home Health, will add hospice to her duties and LaShawn Miller, social worker, will join her. The idea came from talking to patients, staff and community members. "Mercy recognized a need and wanted to be able to provide care at all stages of life," Davied said.

Home health could only care for patients so far, but families and patients wished Mercy could continue. Through a team approach meant to care for patients in a holistic way, Hospice can provide care for people diagnosed with end-stage diseases, such as cancer, Parkinson's or stroke, as determined by a physician.

Those working in hospice will be able to care for residents in nursing homes, assisted living and homes of families or caregivers.

Currently patients who would move on to hospice care are transferred to an outside agency. "Our staff gets attached to the patients and the patients get attached to them," Davied said.

With hospice added to Mercy's offerings, Miller said it eases the transition from one type of care to another, "but it still meets their needs through the Mercy system."

Hospice can also provide bereavement counseling following a loved one's passing. "From physical, emotional and social needs, hospice will be able to do that. We can also offer support to help the family through the loss. We will have bereavement and support services to help the family and caregivers for up to a year" after a loved one has died, Davied said.

Grief support groups will also be available.

The medical director for Hospice Care will be Dr. P.K. Gugnani, who has hospice experience in addition to his family medicine credentials, and the chaplain, Dean McNamara. Primary care physicians will still care for the patients, but if they feel it best, Gugnani can get involved.

"In addition, we'll have nursing and home health staff, as well as volunteers to help work with patients and families," Miller said.

Volunteers are an important aspect of the hospice program, offering respite to caregivers, help in preparing meals and shopping. They could also work in the office. Another of Miller's roles will be as volunteer coordinator -- she'll recruit, retain and train those who wish to give of their time for the program.

"That's how the community can get involved," Davied said.

Miller said hospice will be searching for volunteers interested in helping and understanding patients. Prospective volunteers must be at least 18 years old and undergo background checks and take an initial nine hours of training. The first session is scheduled for 5:30-8:30 p.m. June 11. Deadline to sign up is coming up. Call Miller at 223-8532 for more information.

Other training sessions will be June 18 and 25.

Miller, who previously worked for a hospice for five years, and has been in the social work field and done a variety of things.