State of the Heart Hospice, a nonprofit agency which has served area communities for 32 years, joins the nation’s 5,300 other hospices in observing National Hospice Month in November. The past year for State of the Heart Hospice has been an important one for the agency as more patients than ever before were cared for by the agency, and a new State of the Heart Hospice Care Center opened on the fourth floor of Wayne HealthCare in Greenville, providing an inpatient care center for the first time in the agency’s history. The care center has five private rooms and is the only one of its kind in the area.
“Our growth in the number of patients we serve daily is a strong indication that more patients and families are receiving the quality care we have been known for since 1981,” stated Ted Bauer, Executive Director for State of the Heart. The new care center also completes the options of care for our patients who are provided services in their homes, in nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
Last year, State of the Heart cared for 738 patients. The agency cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio and has offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland.
Bauer explained that hospice care is considered the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness. State of the Heart provides expert medical care, pain management and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes. Support is provided to the patient’s loved ones as well.
In 2012, over 1.65 million patients received care from the nation’s hospices, according to the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization. Approximately 45 percent of all deaths in the U.S. were under the care of a hospice program.
“There is a common misconception that hospice care is giving up,” Bauer said. “Nothing could be farther from the truth. Hospice provides high quality medical care and services from an interdisciplinary team of professionals and trained volunteers that maximizes quality of life and makes the wishes of the patient a priority.”
An important service provided by State of the Heart, he explained, “is the bereavement support provided each family.” Grief support is available for adults and children at no cost. State of the Heart has become known as the region’s primary resource in grief support. State of the Heart Hospice provides grief support to anyone in the community who needs help, regardless of association with hospice care, Bauer said. In addition, each summer the agency conducts Camp BEARable for grieving children. This camp will be held July 11-13 next year and is free to any child who needs help dealing with grief.
State of the Heart also provides music therapy and has two board certified music therapists on staff in addition to a music therapy intern. The agency is one of only three out of about 100 in Ohio to offer a music therapy internship. In Indiana, where there are approximately 100 hospices, there are no hospices with a music therapy intern program. Recently, State of the Heart added pet therapy for patients and families as an extension of the volunteer services provided. Now, patients and families who wish can have a visit from one of two pet dogs that are accompanied by their owners who are volunteers.
“As a nonprofit agency, State of the Heart is always looking at ways to expand and enhance the services and care we provide our patients and families,” Bauer said. “We feel it is our responsibility to give back to the community for all of the support given our agency over the years. “We look forward to continuing to serve our patients and families with the best hospice care possible,” Bauer said.
For more information about any of the services provided by State of the Heart, visit the agency web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.
