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"Life isn’t about the breaths we take, it’s about the moments that take our breath away." — Heidi Wills.
The above quote is the favorite of Robyn Armstrong, LCSW social worker at Regional Hospice in Gallatin.
"I have had the honor of encountering many of these moments as a hospice social worker," Robyn said. "The lessons that I have learned from assisting the dying and their families are gifts that they have given to me. They have truly blessed my life in so many ways."
Regional Hospice of Gallatin, located at 1210 S. Main Street, celebrated its first full year of business on April 6. Regional Hospice provides end of life care to patients who have received any terminal diagnosis.
"Some people think we only help those patients who have cancer," said Robyn. "But we offer services to patients who have received a terminal diagnosis for any illness."
Other common diagnoses that may qualify for hospice if the patient is no longer seeking curative treatment include stroke, heart disease, chronic lung disease, renal disease, liver disease, dementia or Alzheimer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson disease and multiple sclerosis.
"Hospice is considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing life-limiting illness or injury," said Robyn.
Hospice and palliative care involves a team-oriented approach to medical care, pain management and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes.
Dr. James Suchsland, DO, is medical director. Nursing services are provided to help the patient remain comfortable and pain free. Four registered nurses are working at Regional Hospice of Gallatin: Marquitta Brown, who is R.N. coordinator; Lynn Johnson, Norma Smith and Ruby Hostetler.
Social services are provided to help the patient and family cope emotionally. Carrie Flanagan, MSW, is social worker and coordinator of volunteers. Chuck Miller, MA, is chaplain and director of the bereavement program.
Support is provided to the patient’s loved ones as well. Four certified nurses aids, Amanda Thompson, Diane Estes, Paula Harville and Jennifer Weinmann, help with personal and home care, such as meals, light housekeeping and bathing. These services support both and patient and the care giver.
"People may not be aware that we also provide care for people in nursing homes who have received a terminal diagnosis," said Robyn.
Regional Hospice is part of the Christian Health Care organization owned by Pete and Phyllis Stayton of the Springfield office and Allen Kilgore out of headquarters at Rogers, Ark. Regional Hospice of Gallatin is a satellite office operating out of the home office at Liberty. Angela Hogan is office manager at Gallatin.
Counties covered include Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Livingston and Mercer.
Hospice services are available to patients of any age, religion, race or terminal illness. Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance pay for hospice services, so generally there is no cost to the patient and family. In addition, many hospice programs provide services to a patient and their family regardless of their ability to pay. There are different hospice programs and patients or their advocates have the freedom of choosing which hospice provider they want to utilize.
For hospice eligibility, life expectancy, as best estimated by a physician, is six months or less. If a patient has survived longer than six months but continues to decline, re-certification periods can be utilized for hospice care to continue.
The term "hospice" is from the same linguistic root as "hospitality" and can be traced back to medieval times when it referred to a place of shelter and rest for weary or ill travelers on a long journey. The name was first applied to specialized care for dying patients in 1967 by physician Dame Cicely Saunders, who founded the first hospice.
"Although dying is a very natural part of life, it is generally a taboo subject in our society, and a lot of people are uncomfortable talking about death, especially their own dying experience," said Robyn. "Dying is not just a physical process; it is also an emotional and spiritual process, which is why the hospice team addresses all of those needs."
For more information about Regional Hospice of Gallatin, contact Robyn at 1-877-663-2168. Routine office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The hospice may be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On Tuesday, April 17, Vincent Harris, a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant with an office in Trenton, was a guest speaker at Regional Hospice of Gallatin. Mr. Harris talked to the staff about the inevitability of change in their work place and in their personal lives as well.
"The hospice staff is exposed to wider extremes of change no doubt," Mr. Harris said.
He talked about methods for making accelerated behavioral changes. "We hear people talk a lot about genetics and how there is nothing can be done about it," he said. "But all of life is genetic. We all develop habits that are harmful and entrenched. I focus on aspects of our lives we can do something about. We can willfully set out to develop habits that support us and help us interact with others, by design rather than happenstance."
Mr. Harris has worked with clients from around the world and has been a regular guest on numerous radio shows and has appeared on NBC television He is the president of Harris and Associates LLC. Besides being available for speaking engagements, Mr. Harris also provides individual assistance to help people meet their goals. For more information, visit his website at www.successpath.info.