by Julie Theado | Nov 26, 2024 | Uncategorized
By Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE president and CEO
Every November, FAIRHOPE emphasizes National Hospice and Palliative Care Month for its significance in the lives of many who use the services for advanced illness and to support the end-of-life journey. It’s a time to pause and reflect on the care and comfort these services bring to patients and their families. While hospice and palliative care often work hand-in-hand, they serve different purposes, and understanding those differences can help you make the best choices for your loved ones.
Hospice care is for individuals who are facing a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. At FAIRHOPE Hospice, we focus on comfort and quality of life, making sure patients and their families feel supported—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether care is provided at home, in a nursing facility, or at The Pickering House at our FAIRHOPE campus, our team works together to ensure every need is met with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Palliative care, however, can begin at any stage of a serious illness. It focuses on improving quality of life and providing relief from the challenges of a chronic or advanced condition. At FAIRHOPE’s Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Clinic on E. Main St. in Lancaster, our staff provides expert care to manage symptoms, ease pain, and improve overall well-being with the intent of preventing frequent hospitalizations. Palliative care isn’t just about treating the body, it’s about caring for the whole person, including emotional and spiritual needs. We also help families by coordinating care and having open conversations about goals and planning for the future.
The key difference between hospice and palliative care is that hospice focuses solely on comfort when curative treatments are no longer effective, while palliative care works alongside treatments like chemotherapy, dialysis, or rehabilitation. At FAIRHOPE, we’re here to guide you through the process so you can focus on what matters most.
We believe everyone deserves to live with dignity, no matter where they are in life’s journey. If you have questions about hospice or palliative care, or if you’re unsure which is the right fit, please reach out. We’re here to help you make the decision that’s best for your family.
by Julie Theado | Oct 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
As many of you know, Dr. Gordon B. Snider passed away on October 7, 2024. We are saddened and heartbroken to have lost one of our “Founding Fathers.”
There would not be a FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care without this amazing man. He committed his life to seeing the needs in our community and addressing them. He used his expertise and passion in the medical field to find solutions while being committed to bettering our community and its residents. Not only did he help start FAIRHOPE, but he also recognized the need for an inpatient hospice facility and found a way to make The Pickering House a reality. He had a vision and inspired others around him to see it as well. Not only would I not be where I am, but our staff, patients, and families would not be where they are now. I can’t imagine Fairfield County without FAIRHOPE. And, as I process this monumental loss, I can’t imagine Fairfield County without Dr. Snider. His constant presence, guidance, and spirit live on in many, especially his beautiful and devoted family.
As we celebrated our 40th anniversary, I had the honor and privilege of sitting down and talking with several of the people who started FAIRHOPE. We lovingly called them our “Founding Fathers.”
Perhaps what strikes me most as I recall my experiences with Dr. Snider is his generosity of spirit and his desire to impart his wisdom and experiences – both personally and professionally – to those around him. He would attend our hospice team meetings, listening patiently to the reports about each patient, and, every time, he would share an experience or a perspective with us that allowed us to care for our patients better. And his teaching didn’t stop on the clinical side. I had the privilege of golfing with Dr. Snider at a recent Fairfield Medical Center Foundation golf outing – and he even took the time to teach and mentor me on the golf course! Teaching was at his core – and, as we each recall our experiences and interactions with him over the years, I know he will continue to teach and guide us for years to come.
In 2023, we created the Dr. Gordon B. Snider Community Impact Award to honor extraordinary companies, organizations, or member(s) of our community who represent a servant’s heart through actions of community service, education, advocacy, and community initiatives. I feel a certain peace knowing that his legacy lives on and will continue to be an inspiration to our team and the community. I will take his spirit of altruism, support, and advocacy and work every day to ensure we’re living up to the vision and legacy he created.
by Julie Theado | Oct 10, 2024 | Uncategorized
FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care is hosting a community 5k run and walk event at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Oct. 19. This event is open to participants of all skill levels and will benefit FAIRHOPE’s Memorial Fund.
The 5K course consists of two laps around the fairgrounds, with the race kicking off at 9 a.m. Registration and packet pick up begins at 8 a.m. Participants can register online at eventbrite to secure their spot. Registration includes a t-shirt while supplies last.
“Whether you’re running in memory of a loved one, supporting a friend, or simply wanting to give back to the community, your participation makes a real difference,” said Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE President and CEO. “We encourage everyone to come out, walk or run, and be part of something truly meaningful.”
by Julie Theado | Oct 9, 2024 | Uncategorized
FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care continually seeks volunteers that contribute to a mission of quality and compassionate end-of-life care for our patients and their families. The support of our volunteer team allows us to forge ahead devotedly towards a community that helps care for one another.
New volunteers are inducted into a training class, beginning October 16, to review fundamental steps and instruction geared towards specific volunteer duties. This will be the final training of 2024, with 2025 dates coming soon. Training classes will be held every Wednesday for six weeks at the FAIRHOPE Pickering House location, 282 Sells Road, Lancaster, from 1-4 p.m. For more information about volunteering or to register for training, call Twylia Summers, Volunteer Manager, at (740) 657-7077, or visit https://fairhopehospice.org/volunteer/.
Our volunteers participate in rewarding experiences through opportunities for patient companionship, clerical duties, fundraising events and community outreach.
“Volunteering at hospice gives you an opportunity to slow down and meet people where they are. To sit and listen, with your ears as well as with your heart.” said Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE President and CEO. “Our volunteers are an integral part of our team, giving their time, talent, and energy to serve our patients.”
by Julie Theado | Sep 24, 2024 | Uncategorized
By Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE president and CEO
At FAIRHOPE Hospice, we recognize the distinctive needs of children and families facing the profound journey of grief. Our Peace – Acceptance – Love – Support (PALS) Child, Teen and Family Grief Support program delivers compassionate and comprehensive care tailored to the emotional needs of patients and their loved ones. Understanding that grief can begin long before a loss occurs, we offer anticipatory grief support to help children and families navigate this challenging time.
Anticipatory grief involves a sense of loss and change before a loved one’s death. Our objectives during this phase include helping children and loved ones say goodbye, offering guidance in explaining to children that a loved one is dying, and creating meaningful items for funerals and memorial services. Children often take their lead from the adults around them about how to handle death. They will process what they can at their age and feel different parts of their grief as they grow and change developmentally. We prepare children for these services, remind families of their enduring bond, and collaborate with school personnel to ensure secondary support as the child resumes their daily routines following this loss.
Our bereavement support aims to help children share their thoughts and feelings about death, and normalize their feelings of sadness, anger, confusion, or guilt that comes in waves as they learn to cope. Loss changes children’s lives as well as their families. Children need to be reassured that they are safe and will be cared for, despite the recent drastic changes. Our services teach children ways to express their grief and assist them in preserving positive memories while learning to release negative ones.
To inquire about PALS or individual grief services at FAIRHOPE, visit our website or call 740-304-0869.
by Julie Theado | Sep 24, 2024 | Uncategorized
FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care celebrated the grand opening of their Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Clinic through a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 23, hosted by the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce alongside community leaders.
The AIM clinic, located at 1319 E. Main St., is designed to meet the growing needs of the community by providing a convenient setting where patients can receive care from nurse practitioners for routine visits and urgent, non-emergency care. Physician support will also be available to help patients better manage symptoms and stress associated with their conditions, ultimately aiming to reduce frequent hospitalizations. The AIM clinic shares the same building as Dr. Sean Jerig’s Obstetrics and Gynecology practice, with each maintaining their respective offices on designated sides of the facility.
Kristin Glasure, President and CEO of FAIRHOPE Hospice and Palliative Care, shared her thoughts on this expansion: “The opening of the AIM Clinic is an exciting next step in our ongoing commitment to providing compassionate care for our community. By offering more specialized services in a dedicated setting, we’re ensuring that patients with advanced illnesses receive the best possible care while staying close to home. Our goal is to support patients in managing their conditions and improving their quality of life.”
The ribbon-cutting event featured remarks from local leaders, including Travis Markwood, President of the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce, Kristin Glasure, and Seth White, Vice President of FAIRHOPE. Community members also showed their support in attendance, receiving tours of the AIM Clinic and enjoying refreshments throughout the ceremony.
