Honoring those who have served
Community Hospice has just completed construction on the Veterans Memorial. This stunning granite memorial honors those who have served and is open to the community for reflection and tribute.
Norm Mast, president and CEO of Community Hospice shared about the recently completed Veterans Memorial, “It has always been a goal for our organization to create a public memorial on our grounds honoring veterans. Our new Veterans Memorial is an outdoor feature that provides a visible testament of our dedication to those who have served and offers a place for anyone in the community who wishes to honor a veteran.”
The memorial will be open to the public, and includes a 25-foot flag pole in a raised ornamental area, with monoliths representing each branch of the service, POWs and MIAs, and service families. Embedded seating offers the opportunity to sit, reflect and honor loved ones and those who have given their lives in service to their country. Lighting has been added at the base of each monolith and the flagpole as an added evening viewing feature.
The memorial was designed by local landscape architect and owner of Pace Landscaping, Mike Pace, construction and landscaping work were done by Pace Landscaping, and the beautiful monoliths were created by Stevenson Memorials.
“The public is already embracing the visual tribute. It’s a solemn area, a place for reflection,” Mast shared.
A dedication ceremony for the new memorial will take place on Sunday, Oct. 14 from 6-7 p.m. on the grounds of the Community Hospice Truman House. Everyone is invited to attend.
Community Hospice also provides Pinning & Remembrance Ceremonies that show gratitude to those who are or have served in the United States Armed Services. A member of the Community Hospice Veterans Team places a pin on the lapel of the veteran being honoured, as well as presenting them with a framed certificate and a hand-held flag. Immediate family (survivors) also are presented with a flag and certificate.
Hospice is end-of-life care for anyone who has been diagnosed with a serious, life-limiting illness. They provide services for both the patient and his or her family. Community Hospice provide nurses, social workers and home health aides as well as chaplains, massage therapists and volunteers who provide companionship for patients and can provide a much needed break for families and caregivers. Hospice also offers an extensive bereavement and grief counseling program for families before and after they experience a loss.
The Truman House, a 12-bed inpatient facility, offers a comfortable home-like setting where compassionate experienced nurses and support staff provide 24-hour care to patients. With a focus on pain and symptom management, the Truman House is an option when the patient needs pain management, control of other distressing symptoms, around-the-clock nursing presence, respite or residential care.
“The goal is to help patients get their symptoms under control or provide respite care. Then the person typically goes back to his or her home or care facility,” Mast said.
Community Hospice also offers a palliative care service to those who qualify. Palliative care is intended for patients with chronic and/or life-limiting illnesses. Unlike hospice, palliative care patients may have a life expectancy of greater than six months. The goal of palliative care is to enhance quality of life by providing aggressive pain and symptom management, coupled with psychosocial support, and assistance with medical decision-making. Eventually that person may transition to hospice.
“Because of our growth, we recently added two more physicians to our team,” Mast said. “Dr. Lori Kuehne is now our Chief Medical Officer, overseeing a team of physicians and nurse practitioners who specialize in hospice and palliative care. Along with the patients attending physician, they manage the day-to-day care of all hospice and palliative care patients being served.”
Typically, a doctor or medical provider refers a person to hospice, but people can elect to call Community Hospice on their own too. “We make sure a person can navigate their end of life peacefully and without stress, without having to worry about who will be with them or there to help them at home,” Mast said.
Hospice is most often funded by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. Community Hospice also receives generous donations, all of which go into a patient care fund. For those without a billable payment plan, the team provides care through its community care program.
Community Hospice is located at 716 Commercial Ave. SW in New Philadelphia. The phone number is 330-343-7605. Hours are 24/7/365. Visit MyHospice.org to learn more.