Hospice organizations are recognized each November to bring awareness to hospice and palliative care of terminally ill patients.
“Hospice is a special way of caring for the terminally ill patient and their family,” said Lynn Taylor, Owner and administrator of Hospice Care Group of Quitman.
Hospice Care Group was formed by local resident Lynn Taylor in March 2005 and covers Clarke, Lauderdale, Kemper, Neshoba, Newton, Jasper, Wayne, Jones and Greene counties.
“Hospice benefits the patient and family, when a cure is no longer an option. Hospice provides palliative care rather than curative care,” Taylor said. ”Under the direction of a physician, hospice uses sophisticated methods of pain and symptom control that allows the patient to live as fully as possible.”
Taylor began working in the hospice field in 1999 and knew this was where she wanted to be.
“In 1989 my dad suffered a severe stroke that left him completely disabled. He was sent home from the hospital with a feeding tube, a tracheotomy, a life expectancy of a few weeks and a family that had no clue as to how to care for him. Although we did our best, his needs were beyond what any of us had ever experienced. We had private nurses to come into the home and had mounting healthcare costs. After 9 months my dad passed away. Hospice wasn’t available in our area at the time but would have made this journey so much easier. I went to nursing school shortly after my dad’s death and have worked in a few different fields of nursing over the years. I began working in the hospice field in 1999 and knew this was the area of nursing that I could make a real difference,” Taylor said.
“In 2005, I contacted Julie Godwin, my right hand, and told her of my desire to open my own hospice company. She reluctantly agreed and has been the Assistant Administrator for the past 11 years,” Taylor said.
Hospice Care Group is located at 114 East Donald Street in Quitman and services are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Hospice Care Group Nursing services are provided by Jacey Bullock RN, Brooke Ivy RN, Annette McHan RN, Gloria Jackson FNP and under the medical direction of Muzaffar Rahat, MD and Richmond Alexander, MD, Homemaker and Aide services by Pam Owens CNA and Skye Simpson CNA, Social Services and Bereavement Counseling by Linda Brashear LSW and Spiritual counseling by Edward Shoemaker.
Hospice Care Group also provides Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy, Dietary counseling, medical supplies, durable medical equipment and medications related to the primary diagnosis and pain/symptom management. Our mission is to provide each patient with pain relief, emotional, spiritual and social support within the comfort of their own home. Through education, love and support, we hope to relieve any fear or anxiety of the unknown and hope to prepare the patient and family for the transition through life's final stages.
Although there are numerous diagnoses that lead to hospice care a few of the most common are: cancer, congestive heart failure, stroke, Alzheimer, COPD, kidney failure, Parkinson's disease and Heart Disease.
Physicians, family members, community members and clergy can refer someone to be evaluated for hospice services but a physician must certify eligibility.
Hospice is funded by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances. Patients will never be asked to pay out of pocket for services provided by Hospice Care Group.
