Hospice offers dignified care
When Maureen Kaspin was nearing the end of life, her husband Ron relied on hospice to help attend to her needs.
Despite the support, Ron's own struggles with multiple sclerosis left him unable to provide constant care for Maureen, who suffered from terminal cancer.
"I ran my wheelchair out of batteries. It was very difficult," he said.
To remedy the problem, Kaspin relocated his wife to the Good Samaritan House, an in-patient hospice site in Wexford, where she passed away in August.
With a similar in-patient site now open in Butler County, Kaspin is anxious to endorse the service, which provided physical and emotional relief during the hardship.
"They were there to rub her back, to give her medicine and just keep her comfortable. You can't imagine how relieved I was," said Kaspin, who sometimes left Maureen's side to tend to house pets in Center Township.
With similar needs from people like Kaspin, the agency in November opened Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia, a 6,200-square-foot wing at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Winfield Township.
Beth Stroud, director of public relations for Good Samaritan, said the in-patient sites fill a niche for terminally ill people who can't remain safely at home.
"Hospice is really meant as a support," she said, explaining hospice workers traditionally visit a patient's residence instead of accommodating patients in a substitute home with full-time aid.
Stroud said patients with elderly spouses, those who live alone or whose family members work but can't afford to hire nurses are all candidates for in-patient care.
As with traditional hospice services, which are covered by medicare, eligibility requirements mandate a patient be in the last six months of life.
During that time, hospice workers help family members treat disease symptoms and make the terminal patient comfortable.
To accomplish that goal, the wing at Concordia contains 10 private patient rooms, furnished to reflect a homelike setting.
The choice of window treatments, wood flooring and furniture all were chosen to downplay an institutional feel.
"Yes, it's a hospital bed, but it's got a headboard on it," Stroud pointed out.
A sitting room and kitchen allow family members to remain on site around the clock. Each patient room can house one overnight guest, and in some cases, suites are available.
At least one nurse and one aide are always on site during evening hours, with a third staff member during the day.
Linda Yarussi of Pittsburgh, whose mother was transported to Concordia before Christmas, was among clients that have used the new facility."This is home for now," said, Yarussi, adding she initially felt skeptical about taking her mother to a strange environment. The message "Embrace the Journey," hand-painted on the wall near the nurse's station, offered initial comfort, she said.As well as the caring message, Yarussi said the staff picked up on the family's emotional needs, setting up a Christmas tree in her mother's room and bundling the patient up and wheeling her near the outdoor pond after learning about her past as an avid walker.To comfort Yarussi, staff members pre-filled coffee filters in her mother's room, allowing Yarussi to brew fresh pots while remaining near her mother's side.To maintain a spiritual component of care, the wing is also equipped with a chapel."Our program began as a ministry, so the spiritual part has always been an important part for us," Stroud explained.Although Good Samaritan operates independently as a nonprofit agency, it does so under the umbrella of Concordia services.Keith Frndak, president and chief executive officer of Concordia Lutheran Ministries and chairman of the board of Good Samaritan Hospice, said Concordia looked at hospices for nearly five years before initiating the partnership — with philosophy an important factor."There are about 30 hospices in the Pittsburgh region," he said. "Good Samaritan is one of two that were clearly Christian-based end-of-life programs."As well as the spiritual element, Yarussi said confidence in the staff allowed peace of mind, especially during occasional trips away from the site."When Ileft, I didn't feel that anxiousness in my heart,"she said."She's okay here."
