Jessica Rosa, Medical Social Worker for Heartland Hospice serving Tidewater wanted to acknowledge Heartland Hospice Administrator, Jessica Pope, for being incredibly supportive, compassionate, kind, understanding and informative during this chaotic time in our world. Jessica has gone above and beyond to communicate with her team every single day about COVID-19 updates from HCR ManorCare, ProMedica and the CDC. Her constant contact has helped calm the team’s anxieties. The Heartland Hospice team is grateful for Jessica’s leadership during this crisis and her ability to model calm, organized and kind leadership.

Below is an example of Jessica Pope’s message to her team:

“I want to thank each and every one of you for the dedication you have shown to your patients and one another! The support I’m seeing everyone give each other is admirable; you all rally around them and help without hesitation.  I know these times can be scary and the unknown is frightening. I know I’ve personally lost sleep with concern for our patients, families and all each of you. Please come to me if you are encountering additional stress during this time regarding work issues, lack of childcare or any other overall issues. I will do my best to get creative and see how we can help! I am so thankful for each of you on this team. You are all set apart and chosen for this work. Thank you for remaining strong and steadfast as we navigate these unknown waters! My door is always open – I will do my best to offer a shoulder to cry on or a laugh to relieve some stress! Our goal is to continue to provide excellent patient care, protect ourselves and our employees and to stay calm! Thank you for being such steady, strong, resilient team members!”

Heartland Hospice serving Tidewater, a division of ProMedica, is proud to announce their promotion to a Level Five partner within the We Honor Veterans Program for their continued care and support of the Veteran population. Level Five is the highest level We Honor Veterans partners can attain and includes several new required activities and yearly recertification.

All wars are different and provide unique experiences and often difficulties for the Veterans who served in them. We Honor Veterans was launched by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help improve the care veterans receive from hospice and palliative care providers.

“Achieving Level Five is such a tremendous honor. Each level was a stepping stone in ensuring that not only were our Veterans thanked and recognized, but also that our staff was educated on Veteran specific topics,” said Paula Potter, Heartland Hospice Volunteer Coordinator. “Our patients look back on their time served as an important part of history. It is a privilege to show them how much we appreciate their valor and sacrifices while serving our country. We want our Veterans to always know that our hospice team thanks them from the bottom of our hearts for all they did to keep us safe and we are thankful for their service.”

“I am so thankful to lead such an amazing team that serves our Veterans. It is humbling to be able to care for those who have sacrificed so much for our country” said Jessica Pope, Heartland Hospice Administrator. “Paula worked so hard to achieve this Level Five status! I am in awe of her commitment and dedication. As a team, we accept the responsibility of continuing to serve our veterans, care for them and their families and educate our community on such an honorable platform. I am thankful that there is a program such as We Honor Veterans that allows our arm of influence to reach even further,” said Jessica.

The We Honor Veterans program provides five levels of recognition to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to improving care for veterans. Aside from existing partner requirements, Level Five partners place a greater emphasis on staff education and caring for Vietnam-era and combat Veterans. Additionally, Level Five partners take on the role of regional mentor to other We Honor Veterans partners working to enhance their programs. 

“When we set out to create the Level Five program we knew that it had to be different to truly showcase the efforts needed to go above and beyond. Not only has the Heartland Hospice team demonstrated their commitment, but they have helped shape the program and have continued as an example of what all hospice partners should strive to be,” said NHPCO President & CEO Edo Banach.

To learn more about the We Honor Veterans initiative, the steps that our agencies have taken to receive this acknowledgement or to see where other Heartland agencies are at in the process of achieving this honor, visit the We Honor Veterans website.

Heartland Hospice serving Tidewater is pleased to announce their promotion to a Level Four status within the We Honor Veterans Program for their continued care and support of the Veteran population. 

All wars are different and provide unique experiences and often difficulties for the Veterans who served in them. We Honor Veterans was launched by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help improve the care veterans receive from hospice and palliative care providers.

“Meeting so many veterans from all different wars has been such an eye-opening experience. It has been so rewarding being able to listen to their stories and see the depth of honor in their eyes. Being a part of the Vet-to-Vet initiative has been an experience like no other,” commented Paula Potter, Volunteer Coordinator for Heartland.

The We Honor Veterans program provides four levels of recognition to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to improving care for veterans. In order to reach Level Four, Heartland was tasked with learning more about caring for veterans, declaring a commitment to honoring veterans at the end of life, providing education for hospice staff and volunteers on caring for veterans and partnering with the VA at the local, regional and national level to ensure the unique needs of veterans are met. 

To learn more about the We Honor Veterans initiative, the steps that our agencies have taken to receive this acknowledgement or to see where other Heartland agencies are at in the process of achieving this honor, visit the We Honor Veterans website.

Heartland Hospice serving Tidewater patient, Gayle, was able to attend the TobyMac concert with help from the Heartland team.

Gayle is a huge TobyMac fan and purchased her tickets early for his concert being held in Norfolk, VA. TobyMac is her favorite Christian musician and she wanted to splurge on tickets that were close to the stage. Unfortunately, Gayle is battling cancer and as of recently the disease is making it difficult for her to walk longer distances. The great seats she had were not handicap accessible and she was worried she might have to miss her favorite musician’s concert.

Upon hearing Gayle’s devastating news, Heartland Hospice stepped in and mobilized their team to help her attend the concert. The Heartland social worker called the Ted Constant Convocation Center (The Ted) to see if there were any handicap accessible seats available, in which there were, but the seats were further away from the stage.

The Heartland team did not want to diminish the experience for Gayle, so they launched a social media campaign to the arena and to TobyMac’s team. The message was quickly received because Heartland’s Manager of Business Development was contacted by The Ted who told them, “Heartland must love their patients, you have no idea how many emails and calls we’ve received to help this patient.” The Ted promised to figure out a way to make Gayle’s existing seats work.

Soon after hearing the exciting news from The Ted, TobyMac’s team reached out to Heartland and provided backstage meet and greet passes for Gayle and her family. To make the evening more special, local real estate agent, Chris “Limo Agent” Susko with exp Realty, donated limousine services to take her in style to the concert.

Not only was Gayle able to meet her favorite artist, enjoy her amazing seats, her heart’s desire to meet TobyMacy was fulfilled. She told the Heartland team “I just want to meet TobyMac before I go home.”

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.

When Michelle Bates, Social Worker for Heartland Hospice serving Tide Water, asked patient Joan Lankford what her one heart’s desire would be, Joan quickly stated a day at the Washington Redskins training camp to meet quarterback, Kirk Cousins. Given this information, Michelle contacted her administrator, Jessica Beauchamp to see how they could fulfill her heart’s desire.

“I knew we had to make this happen for Joan,” said Jessica, “so I quickly made several phone calls and sent some emails to the Redskins.” Jessica received a call from the Manager of Community and Charitable Programs for the Washington Redskins. He guaranteed VIP passes for Joan to attend training camp but he couldn’t promise anything additional.

On the big day, Jessica escorted Joan to the Redskins training camp facility in Richmond, Virginia. A member of the Charitable Team greeted Joan upon arrival then registered her and the group at the VIP tent. The group was then led to the Owner’s Tent on the practice fields where refreshments and cold drinks were waiting for all. They also helped Joan to get comfortable and out of the direct sunlight as it can exacerbate her condition.

The Charitable Team presented Joan with a Redskins duffle bag full of team apparel including t-shirts, blankets, hats, socks and even pajama pants. All enjoyed watching the walk through practice session. After an hour of practice, Kirk Cousins stopped by the tent to meet Joan. He gave her his undivided attention and truly fulfilled her last heart’s desire. He signed a football for Joan as well as her shirt and hat. “We are so thankful to the Redskins for allowing Joan to have this incredible moment,” said Jessica.

Heartland Hospice serving Tide Water along with area businesses recently came together to provide a local Virginia Beach City family with a “stay-cation.” Jacob Babonis, an 18 year-old hospice patient, was diagnosed with Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma at the age of 14. This rare cancer attacks bone and soft tissue and has no cure. Instead of attending high school as a normal teenager would, his plans were traded in for years of surgeries and seemingly endless amounts of chemotherapy and radiation.

As the Heartland team began caring for Jacob and getting to know his family – mom, Alisha and brothers, Ethan and Cooper, the team realized that the family had never experienced a family vacation. Heartland worked with local businesses to provide the family with this special time to experience some summer fun while making cherished memories together. Highlights of the “stay-cation” included hotel accommodations, a cabana on the beach, a boat cruise with dolphins, a trip to Ocean Breeze waterpark and a family photography session.

Local businesses who contributed to Jacob’s family vacation included: Surfbreak Hotel, Sunrise Beach Service, Florence Womacks Photography, Rudee Tours, Waterman’s Susrfside Grille, Chix Seaside Grille and Bar, Scrambled Virginia Beach Oceanfront, 11^th Street Taphouse Bar and Grille, The Egg Bistro-Virginia Beach, and Calypso Bar and Grill.

Dorothy is a Heartland Hospice Serving Tide Water patient. Her crayon and colored pencil drawing featured above, and in HCR ManorCare’s upcoming 2016 Heart of Art calendar, is Untitled.

“I dreamt this scene while asleep. After I woke I drew it from memory. It represents myself coming into a new era of life. When I pass away I’ll be in a better place. I began to draw because the pastor suggested it. Now it’s just fun.”

Dorothy has also had her presented at a gallery in Virginia Beach last June, all of her work is drawn with crayon and colored pencil on 8” x 11 1/2” paper. Her art show went well and was attend by about a dozen people.

 

 

To learn how you can get a copy of our 2016 Heart of Art calendar contact the center closest to you.

At Heartland, we understand that hospice patients with heart disease and their caregivers deserve a specialized level of care.

We believe that the quality of life for our cardiac patients can be enhanced through care designed to meet their physical, psychological and spiritual needs. Our care focuses on providing proactive therapies, as well as experienced pain and symptom management and psychological support. 

Services for patients with heart disease may include but are not limited to:

• Cardio-respiratory assessment
• Medication management
• Pain and symptom management
• Teaching and use of oxygen
• Nutritional management
• Spiritual and psychological support
• Family support
• Advance directive planning

Triggers for eligibility for patients with heart disease may include:

• New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV
• Ejection fraction 20% or less
• Decline in Karnofsky Performance Status Scale from 70% or less
• Body Mass Index less than 22; unintentional weight loss or gain (Weight gain could be from fluid overload, not representing nutritional status)
• Shortness of breath or angina at rest/minimal activity
• Symptoms persist even with optimal doses of diuretics, vasodilators and/or ACE inhibitors
• Increased frequency of ER visits or hospitalizations for symptom control
• Not candidates for or declined surgical procedures
• History of MI or cardiac resuscitation; unexplained syncope
• Current inotropic therapy dose unable to be reduced
• Dependence in 2 or more ADL's
• Co-morbidities likely to contribute to a life expectancy of 6 months or less

For more information about Heartland Hospice services near you, click here.