Woodside Hospice committed to caring
By LONN TURNER
Article published on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007  |
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| Pinellas Park Woodside Hospice House cares for more than 1,200 people a day. |
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PINELLAS COUNTY – The Woodside Hospice House is dedicated to people who have terminal illness and supports people of all ages affected by distress and loss.
Generating from root words “hospitality” and “hospitable,” the term “hospice” has been adopted for decades.
This nonprofit organization in Pinellas County cares for more than 1,200 people every day, managing about 120 losses per month. Many are looked after at their homes, nursing homes, and at the Hospice house.
The Woodside Hospice organization is committed to caring for individuals and families, without view of race, creed, or lack of ability to afford. Some Medicare and Medicaid insurance plans pay for Hospice care, but no one without insurance is denied, Hospice representatives said.
As standard protocol, Hospice waits for ultimate signs of lab results, physician and family requests before they step in.
Patients are often aware of their timely condition, and a substantial number prefer the care of the Hospice House.
In addition to their in-patient unit, Hospice also has a team that goes to individual homes or where necessary. Therefore, it is important to differentiate Home care from Hospice care.
Home care involves longer-term intermediate and rehabilitative services. Physical help, aid with taking medications and meal criteria, for instance, are provided to those who may not be in need of total care.
Hospice provides care to make the terminally ill comfortable. Services are designed to aid an individual during their concluding moments of vitality.
In Hospice care, some treatments and medications may be administered only to ease pain. Supplementary programs are used for treatment care, but individuals in the Hospice program know there is no cure.
Hospice organizations are often equipped with home teams and facility teams. Home teams go to individual homes, while facility teams take care of the patients at the Hospice House.
Personnel carrying both Home and Hospice care identification cannot use one in place of the other at the Woodside Hospice House, Hospice representatives said.
A tour of the Woodside facility reveals ideology beyond the medical fraction, having serene décor. There is a library of donated books, a large dining area which can be reserved, and a room with a fireplace. There is both an inside and an outside chapel.
In addition to the Hospice House there are “Hospice villas” that resemble hotel or studio apartments for terminal residency and different areas of the main building.
Birdhouses are placed outside each of the rooms. There is a labyrinth or maze of marble in the yard, symbolizing different paths in life, also used for staff meditation and equilibrium.
In the outside chapel there are “prayer trees.” Pieces of cloth with a handwritten prayer are placed on the trees, with a consoling theory that when the cloth blows away it is taken up to the skies, to heaven.
“A strong mission of ours is for office and staff to put family first, listen and endeavor to follow their guidelines. We also pay attention to what the community says and aim to provide what they need,” said Louise Cleary, director of public relations and marketing.
The entire Pinellas County Hospice team possesses a commitment by their administration and ever-growing volunteers, providing 24-hour care, six days a week.
“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our volunteers; they are a huge backbone of our organization,” said Cleary. “We have some 3,000 dedicated volunteers that do everything from visiting patients to office work and more.”
Important to the education and training is the volunteer’s commitment to confidentiality, boundaries and skillful communication. They give support as put forth by Hospice’s program called, “Faith in Action.” Some assume mild housekeeping, meal prep and transportation.
Volunteers offer companionship and mentoring, help with office work and special events.
The Hospice program responds to families experiencing grief and loss, many having a masters degree in mental health and several with additional training in trauma and serious illness.
Staff members can get use to coping with the death of a patient they have been attached, but it is a process. That challenge can take a toll and put emotional strain on them. Therefore, the Woodside Hospice organization is cognizant of this and offers hours of relaxation, benefit hours to be off and staff retreats.
The Hospice care provides expertise in pain management, focusing on the patient and family. There are case managers and volunteers in this care, counseling workers and therapy support. Further support groups handle bereavement and additional counseling for suicide survivors, loss of parent, widowers, orphans, child loss and holiday coping.
Respite care may be available so the main care giver can be briefly alleviated or tend to other obligations.
The Pinellas Park Woodside Hospice House and Hospice Villas are located at 6770 and 6774 102nd Ave. N. Pinellas Park, FL 33782.
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Article published on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007
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