Blue Ridge Hospice

Why do we exist?

Through the vision of two Virginia women, Blue Ridge Hospice was created over twenty years ago and has touched the lives of thousands of residents in The Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont areas of our commonwealth.

In 1974, Gail Rodgers’ father was dying.  At this time, families were encouraged to leave the side of the dying person, and children were “protected from death.”  Death was viewed as an “if” in life rather than a “when.”  With the support of her dear friend Helen Zebarth, Gail pulled together the help she needed to care for her father at home.

Championed by Zebarth and Rodgers and supported by Winchester Hospital, Blue Ridge Hospice was established as an outgrowth of the hospice concept in England.  To this day, Providing hospice and bereavement services to more than 200 patients and families each day, Blue Ridge Hospice is changing the outlook on end-of-life care in our community.

What have you accomplished?

Blue Ridge Hospice provides hospice and end-of-life care to more than 850 patients and families each year.  Our philosophy emphasizes patients living and receiving care in their own homes; however, in-patient care is available when home care cannot be managed adequately.  Privileged to be the first hospice in the area to offer this service to our patients and families, Blue Ridge Hospice has established an 8-bed residential unit to meet the needs of these special patients.  In 2008, 94 patients were housed in this facility.

Offering a wide range of therapy services, Blue Ridge Hospice operates numerous Centers for Hope throughout our service area.  Staffed with licensed professionals with over 70 years of combined experience, these counseling centers provide individual, child/family, and group counseling; support groups, community resource centers, workshops for community groups, churches, and businesses; and grief and bereavement support.

In addition to our residential center and counseling centers, Blue Ridge Hospice has opened four satellite offices, and five thrift shops throughout our service area.  Although very proud of these accomplishments, our most important accomplishment is serving our patients and families each day.  We work daily to continue brightening life’s journey for others.

Personal Story – This letter was written by a hospice patient in response to friends and family who were dismayed at her mention of hospice.  This patient was very knowledgeable about her healthcare and cancer diagnosis, and after exploring her options, decided that hospice was the right choice of care.  She felt a response to her friends and family was necessary, as she wanted to enlighten everyone on “what hospice really is,” and perhaps dispel some of the myths associated with end-of-life care.  We at Blue Ridge Hospice are very grateful for this patient’s thoughtfulness, and for her assistance in educating the community about hospice.

Dear Friends,

Seems a word of explanation may be in order as we’ve had expressions of dismay at our mention of Hospice.  Please don’t worry.  Let me explain what Hospice really is.

First, it is true that one engages Hospice when one is done with regular trips to the doctor and had decided to forego previous forms of treatment.  This is definitely our choice-as we have said at the beginning – to take a break from all that conventional treatment and give my body a chance to do what it can.

However, when one engages Hospice, it is under the supervision of your regular doctor.  So my doctor approves any drug choices, etc. and is always “in the loop.”  But now, I don’t have to go to her office.  A nurse comes to the house once a week to check my vitals and do a good once over and make sure I have everything I need.  She orders any prescription refills and those are delivered to the house.  I’m taking a very small regular dose of morphine which, along with constant oxygen, has eased my breathing tremendously.  My only other medication is something that manages the cough.

It is the goal of Hospice to make our living as easy and comfortable as possible – the longer the better.  It does mean that we have decided against any dramatic medical interventions – no feeding tubes, no 11th hour resuscitations, no clanking, blinking, dripping machines interrupting my gentle sleep.  SO that, when my time comes, it can be a peaceful exit, rather than one full of angst and rushing and everyone going bonkers.

When the moment comes, we will not call 911.  We will call Hospice, which will mean dignity and peace for us.  Meanwhile, Hospice is here to make sure that there will be no physical pain associated with that moment and , meanwhile to hold “the moment” at bay as long as possible.  They often have patients get better and go back to their normal lives.

In addition to medical support Hospice offers:
• A social worker to help folks with practical needs and counseling (We are way ahead of the curve in this area!)
• Someone to just sit with me if my spouse needs to be away for a few )?hours (so far we haven’t run out of friends to perform this service
• An LPN to cover bathing/personal needs (haven’t needed that either)
• Music therapy – a real person to come and sin, play guitar, do meditations
• Bereavement help.  This piece of the program is directed by a very good friend of ours.  I am relieved to know that there’s someone available to my spouse on a professional basis when the time comes.

Everyone we’ve dealt with has been lovely.  Kind, thoughtful and non-intrusive (they always call to make an appointment – once every 14 days for the nurse is all that’s required).  They are also non-sermonic.  It is part of their pledge to be totally respectful of the patients’ spiritual needs – a big item for us.

Finally, our insurance fully covers Hospice for six months, including oxygen and prescriptions.  If I’m better at the end of six months, I just get kicked out of the program – Oh Well!  If not, I can be “re-certified” but we’ll deal with that later.

So, you need to understand that Hospice is a life extending service.  If you’re sure you’re in your last days, living them comfortably expands them to a place where you could focus on some good times in those days.  From my perspective, the ease with which I live translates into more days of living.  Less effort expended in daily required activity means more energy for things I enjoy.

I’m sending a current photo and you will see a thin but happy me.  We are both very happy to have this time together, to laugh and live in peace and quiet.  It’s a real gift.

Much love to you and yours.

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