Rumi, the daughter of a hospice patient, is very thankful for the help that Heartland Hospice has been providing to her father, as well as her family. Being a caregiver for someone can be tough at times, so Heartland Hospice wanted to ensure that Rumi knew what a great caregiver she is for her father.  While celebrating his 90^th birthday, the Heartland team also surprised Rumi with the “Caregiver Award.”  Heartland gives this award to caregivers to remind them they are doing a great job during such a difficult time. Rumi was honored and thanked the Heartland Hospice team for everything they do for her father and her family.

"The team of caregivers at Heartland Hospice mean a lot to our family. Through their patient and compassionate care, my father feels well cared for. Heartland’s music therapist and massage therapist have tremendously helped my father with his anxiety. The nurses and therapists have not only helped my father, but also educated me and my family. Heartland has helped us care for him in ways we could not have done alone. My deepest gratitude to the entire team at Heartland Hospice."

Watch this heart-warming story about how a community came together to help a Heartland Hospice patient and her family in their time of need. To learn more, click here.

“I want to thank you and your team at Heartland Hospice for the excellent care you provide to our patients and their families. Specifically, I wanted to share the experience I had with one of our families. Both the patient and his wife were hesitant to sign-up for hospice because of horror stories they were told by friends and family. The other morning the wife called me with a completely different perspective of hospice and the care they provide. She went on to comment about how the level of care her husband received from Heartland was above and beyond what they expected  or ever thought they would receive and couldn’t have been happier to have Heartland in their home."

"I make many referrals a week but the one referral I never question or worry about is a referral to Heartland. We will continue to use them as our primary hospice because of experiences like this. I can’t tell you how proud and happy I was to receive this phone call and know that I have an amazing care team. This family will always remember Heartland."

"I’m honored to work with such amazing individuals who are so dedicated to their calling in life – a higher quality of care.”

Laura Sterling, DNP/FNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner, Arizona Oncology

Tina McDaniel, RN Case Manager for Heartland Hospice serving Augusta had an experience that reminded her how plans can change and the privilege of being there with her patients as they near their end-of-life journey.

She recalls, “I had other plans that day but a call came into the office that this patient didn’t look good. The wife was distraught and not very clear. I was asked to visit this patient and his family first before going to my other appointments.”  

When Tina arrived the patient was in pain, struggling to breath and very scared. She gave him his medicine and made him comfortable in his bed. “I told him that I would be with him as long as he needed me. I sat at his bedside at eye level and told him, just look at me,” explained Tina.

Tina continued to talk quietly to the patient while holding his hand and keeping him calm. At one point, he spoke two words to her, “thank you.” His family later told Tina those were the first words he had spoken in the last few days. She never left his bedside and was with him as he took his last breath. Tina explains, “He comforted me just as much as I comforted him. He also reminded me that sometimes schedules and plans are not the most important part of my job.”

“I firmly believe we are put exactly where we are meant to be and I was supposed to be there with him. Death is as much a part of life as being born. Someone transitioning deserves the same love and compassion as a new baby entering the world. This patient shared his last hours of life with me. That is truly the highest honor and privilege I could ever hope for,” added Tina.