November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and for 2017, it’s about how you live. Hospice is not a place but is high-quality care that enables patients and families to focus on living as fully as possible despite a life-limiting illness. Palliative care brings this holistic model of care to people earlier in the course of a serious illness.
Hospice of Natchitoches is an organization of compassionate, well-trained professionals, support staff, and volunteers who provide a comprehensive plan of care, which addresses the medical, psycho-social, and spiritual needs of patients, all with an emphasis on keeping the patient at home with family and friends as long as possible.
Kasey Sparish has been a social worker at Hospice of Natchitoches for 2 years. She performs psychosocial and bereavement assessments. She is also the facilitator with the local bereavement support group. She grew up in Natchitoches and received her bachelors in social work from NSU before pursuing her master’s at Stephen F. Austin.
She chose social work because she enjoys listening to people and helping them.
“The staff at Hospice of Natchitoches is there during the last part of someone’s life,” she said. “It can take a lot for them to let us in during such a delicate time in their lives, but it is truly an honor to become part of their family as we support them in their time of need.”
Kasey performs home assessments and advocates for community resources such as Meals on Wheels, Social Security and Medicaid. She offers extra support for her patients and their families where it’s needed.
Buster Jordan has been the chaplain with Hospice of Natchitoches for 8 years. In addition to providing spiritual support, he also provides music ministry.
His goal is to lighten things up through music for folks going through very serious times as they deal with end-of-life issues. He also reaches out to people who believe in God, but haven’t attended church in a while.
“I enjoy getting them reconnected and guiding them through Jesus,” said Buster. It’s something God has led me to do. Working at Hospice of Natchitoches keeps me humble as I perform good ministry work. It gets me to people in crisis who need the help.”
With local offices in Leesville, Many and Natchitoches, the mission is forever focused on meeting the needs of individuals and families facing end-of-life realities with quality compassionate care. Hospice of Natchitoches is located at 340 Second Street.
For more information call 318-214-0944 or go online to: http://www.hospiceofnatchitoches.com.
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