She said many people consider hospice to be the “very last intervention,” and it “takes away the opportunity to hope.”
In reality, she said, Hospice, when brought in early enough, can be “a tremendous support to the patient and the caregiver.”
Founded in 1980, the agency will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a month’s worth of activities scheduled around the Middletown community, said Kathryn Wood, marketing director.
She said hospice care is about more than traditional health care, it’s providing solutions for difficult times when hope is in doubt.
Wood said she’s finalizing activities, but so far, several events are planned, including:
• Memorial service, 6 p.m. Nov. 3, Middletown Senior Citizens Center;
• Estate and funeral planning, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4, Deardoff Senior Center in Franklin;
• Mike Pendell’s piano concert, 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Nov. 9, senior center;
• Free blood pressure screenings, noon Nov. 17, senior center;
• Open house, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19, Hospice Care of Middletown, 1001 Grove St., Suite 800;
• “Blessing of the caregivers’ hands,” Nov. 21, area churches;
• Volunteers, staff to serve meal at Hope House, Nov. 26.;
• Volunteers, staff to wrap presents, Cincinnati Premium Outlet, Monroe, Nov. 26, and 27;
• Thanks-A-latte, Kidd Coffee, 20 percent purchase benefits Hospice Care of Middletown, every Monday in November.
Wood admitted that the 30-day schedule is “a little ambitious.”
She said Middletown and Dayton Hospice agencies merged in 1994, and 10 years later, Hospice Care of Middletown was born.
She said the agency is the only community-based, nonprofit agency providing Hospice care in the area.
That, she said, “means a lot” to local residents.
“They ask for us by name,” she said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.
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