WS Chronicle

By Judie Holcomb-Pack

When you walk on the beautifully landscaped grounds of the KBR Hospice Home, or see inside the “home away from home” with its charming, sunlit rooms, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 25 years since the Hospice Home opened its doors. As with most homes, after 25 years it needs upgrades and remodeling. But what will not change is the staff’s devotion to providing the utmost individualized care to each patient and support to their family. 

Trellis Supportive Care recently announced that they surpassed their careforward Campaign goal by over $1 million, exceeding $6 million to modernize their 25-year-old facility, the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. Trellis Supportive Care is a nonprofit and the oldest hospice care organization in the state. There are other hospice organizations, including for-profit organizations, but what sets Trellis Supportive Care apart is the dedication of the staff to get to know each patient personally and the caring spirit they show in designing a care plan that is individually created for each patient.

To say they go above and beyond providing skilled patient care is an understatement. In talking recently with Wendy Hicks, the director of the Hospice Home, and Rosalie Bland, director of donor relations, their passion about providing a place where patients are comfortable in a peaceful setting and their wishes are respected and fulfilled was obviously apparent. They were both excited that the careforward Campaign had surpassed its goal because it was going to allow changes to the Hospice Home that would improve the patients’ environment.

One big change is that all patients’ rooms have been equipped with “smart beds,” which can adjust much more effectively to each patient’s needs. They are also easier to adjust the head or foot, and to move so that patients can be rolled outside to enjoy the sunshine. 

The air filtration system is being upgraded so that each room has its own thermostat to adjust the temperature for the patient’s comfort. They also have isolation units with negative air pressure for patients with communicable diseases such as TB. They are remodeling several rooms as bariatric rooms with larger beds and wider doorways, and overhead lifts for paraplegic patients. Staff also have locators on their name tags so that at any time the location of all staff is shown on a computer. This helps especially in a situation where more staff is needed in an area or in an emergency.

The staff wants the Hospice Home to feel like home. There are sunrooms, family rooms, and a meditation room for family relaxation, toys and games for kids to play, kitchens for family use, and chef-prepared meals for patients and their loved ones to share meals together. 

Wendy and Rosalie also talked about how staff gets to know each patient personally and often finds out what’s on their “bucket list.” That’s when the creativity of the staff shines. They had so many wonderful stories to share there’s not room for them all in this article. Wendy told about a husband who mentioned that he regretted never having taken his wife to Paris, so the staff decorated his wife’s room with images and items that represented Paris. The chef even created a special French meal for them.

Another patient had spent his life repairing and remodeling old cars. The staff worked with his family to have a car parade in the parking lot. The patient was so surprised when they wheeled him out on the porch and he could see all the cars go by – and other visitors enjoyed it, too.

Another patient’s daughter had planned to get married, but her mother’s health declined quickly. In two short days, the staff organized an outdoor wedding, complete with cake and reception, and the patient was able to witness her daughter’s wedding just hours before she passed away.

Staff has created tips on ethnic hair care and keep a variety of hair care products on hand to make sure each patient feels like they look their best. Chaplains are aware of the various religious rites and rituals to show respect to each patient’s spiritual and cultural needs, including essential oils for postmortem cleansing.

Wendy stated that working at the Hospice Home is a “joy and each staff member feels this is a calling.”  It’s been said that “home is where the heart is.” There is a lot of heart at Trellis Supportive Care and their Hospice Home.

Want to learn more? Wendy is available to speak to your group or arrange a personal tour. For more information, visit www.trellissupport.org.