Hospice Austin

Hospice Austin

Written by Beth Wade Friday, 26 September 2008

While many nonprofits serve niche groups of people, Hospice Austin is an organization that deals with something that everyone goes through. Hospice Austin was established to help people in the last stages of life, but while focusing on the patient, the hospice staff takes care of the family as well.

“People never forget [the time their family member or friend spent in hospice care]. That time is etched in your memory forever. That time is sacred,” said Marjorie Mulanax, Hospice Austin executive director. “Everybody faces this. That sets us apart from other nonprofit organizations. This is something personally we will face for ourselves and for our loved ones.”

The hospice was founded in 1979 by a group of physicians and began aiding terminally ill patients and their families and caregivers in 1980.

Hospice Austin provides care for people diagnosed with any terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. In some cases a patient could be discharged from hospice care if the patient improves, Mulanax said.

“Patients can go back and forth between hospice care and curative care. Some do get better,” she said. “We have discharged about 10 percent of patients a year. Most of them do come back later.”

The philosophy of hospice care is to provide pain and symptom management for patients to allow them to live out their last days, weeks or months comfortably and with dignity. The hospice admits anyone to the program, regardless of his or her ability to pay.

Hospice Austin goes beyond helping the patient, caring for the family as well. Hospice nurses can help answer questions about the end of life, caring for the patient; social workers help with anticipatory grief and unresolved issues that may be bothering family and the patient; the hospice’s nondenominational chaplains can assist the family and the patient with religious questions or end of life ceremonies. The hospice has experience with most religions, from Christianity to Buddhism to Native American beliefs.

Once the patient has passed away, the hospice continues to care for the family and friends through group and one-on-one counseling as well as other programs.

When a patient is admitted into hospice care, he or she is provided with a team of care providers. The team consists of a nurse, nurse’s aide, chaplain, a social worker and a volunteer who provides a comforting presence for the patient and a chance for the patient’s normal caregiver to take a break. Each patient is the team’s captain and is in charge of his or her own care.

Hospice Austin serves Travis, Williamson, Caldwell, Burnet and Hays counties. Patients can be treated in their home, nursing home, assisted living center, in area hospitals or in Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, the short-term, inpatient facility.

Each year, the hospice group takes care of approximately 2,000 patients, including about 30 children.

Several of the hospice staff have lost loved ones and chose a career in hospice care to support others in similar situations.

“Everything about hospice is so personal, and that is why it is so special,” Melinda Marble, communications coordinator said. “Everyone approaches their ending differently. Hospice Austin is here to provide a calm voice. There are good deaths out there.”

Volunteers

• Hospice Austin has 200 paid staff members who are supported by more than 400 volunteers.
• Volunteers are assigned one patient at a time to offer emotional support and nonmedical practical assistance such as travel to and from appointments, running errands and a chance for full-time caregivers to take a break.
• Some provide professional services, including massage therapy, hair-styling, acupuncture and handyman-type services.
• All volunteers must attend volunteer training: the next session is Sept. 16-27 in Austin.
• Volunteers are always needed in Austin, but are especially needed in surrounding areas, including Hutto, Taylor, Round Rock, Pflugerville and Leander. For more information, call volunteer coordinator Gayle Smith at 342-4735.

Hospice Austin, 1101 Williams Drive, Ste. 102, Georgetown • 863-8700, www.hospiceaustin.org

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