Hospice of South Georgia www.hospiceofsouthgeorgia.org
It started with a small group of volunteers, and 30 years later, Hospice of South Georgia has grown into one of the largest providers of end-of-life care services within the region.
Charlie Oliver was one of the volunteers that worked toward establishing a hospice program in South Georgia.
“We found out that Tifton had started a hospice program and was providing training for people who wanted to become certified hospice volunteers,” Oliver said. “We began with less than a dozen volunteers, and the first year was spent getting all the documentation together.”
In 1987, the volunteers applied for a hospice license through the Georgia Department of Community Health. Physicians, registered nurses, and social workers began visiting terminally ill patients in their home.
The following year Susan Bowden, who now serves as executive director of Hospice of South Georgia, was hired as a patient care coordinator and registered nurse.
“When you look back at when hospice came to the U.S., it was a grassroots community or local hospital-based movement with a high percentage of volunteers, much like our start,” said Bowden. “We are the only community-based not-for-profit hospice in the area.”
The utilization of hospice services has expanded over the years and includes maintaining or improving the quality of life for patients that have an illness, disease, or condition that is unlikely to be cured.
Bowden explains that there are some misconceptions about hospice and the services provided.
“When people hear that hospice has been brought in, they often think this means totally giving up all hope,” she explained. “If something new comes along that might be a good option, then the patient can come out from under the care of hospice at any time to pursue other therapy. It also doesn’t mean that the patient gives up seeing their family doctor; they can keep those relationships and appointments.”
Bowden said that hospice is more than the discussion of death. It is also the understanding of living and improving the quality of life.
“Often we see people getting a little better, maybe not in the big picture scene with a cure but the sense of a better quality of life,” Bowden said. “When we can get the pain under control and breathing is under control, then we take care of helping the caregiver understand the process. This is when we begin to support improved quality of life.”
Follow-up for the family after the patient’s death is another important aspect of hospice care.
“Our social workers provide information—before and after death—that helps the family understand financial concerns, the practical things you have to think about,” Bowden said. “We are attuned to begin those conversations at the appropriate time. We have a strong grief program.”
Bowden explained that Hospice of South Georgia has always focused on keeping patients at home and the majority of patients are under care in a home setting.
“On any given day we are caring for about 60 patients that are in private home settings,” Bowden said. “This can mean nursing homes, assisted care facilities, or in their homes.”
In 2007, Hospice of South Georgia realized their goal of building a hospice house. With assistance from the South Georgia Medical Center Foundation, more than $1.3 million was raised, including a $750,000 gift from Harley Langdale Jr. to build the Langdale Hospice House.
“Some patients come to the hospice house to manage difficult physical symptoms then go back home,” Bowden said. “We can also provide up to five nights of respite stay as part of Medicare benefits. This gives the caregiver an opportunity to get some rest or if they need to go out of town.”
The Langdale House provides inpatient care for those needing 24-hour healthcare and monitoring and residential care for those living alone or who do not have the necessary assistance of a full-time caregiver.
Even after three decades of serving families in South Georgia, Bowden said, there is still a lack of understanding about the benefits of hospice and the necessity of having an advance plan and seeking care early.
“The national statistics indicate that every year hospice utilization has continued to increase, but what we are seeing are shorter lengths of stay or care,” she said. “Instead of patients being under hospice the last six months, there is a greater percentage that are under hospice less than seven days.”
She encourages families not to wait until the moment of a crisis to make end-of-life decisions.
“Hospice is a relational type of care,” Bowden said. “We are allowed into the privacy of someone’s home. It’s not like an acute care setting; it is much more intimate than a hospital. Those few days are not enough time to accomplish all the things that help the families provide a good end-of-life experience. We want the patient and family members to feel good about honoring those choices. Most people find it very rewarding when they can provide that level of care to their loved ones.”
Hospice of South Georgia is an affiliate of South Georgia Medical Center and serves eight counties: Atkinson, Berrien, Brooks, Clinch, Cook, Echols, Lanier, and Lowndes.