Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio Celebrates 40 Years of Community-Based Care

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio. In 1982, Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio began with a small group of visionaries giving their time and talent so compassionate care and a comforting presence were available to those facing a life-limiting illness. Forty years later, Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio continues to provide a holistic, community-based approach to hospice care to patients and families in nine counties across central Ohio from locations in Newark, Columbus, Lancaster, and Zanesville.  

 “Medicare requires a minimum standard for hospice services. Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio goes above and beyond those standards to provide superior care and superior services to all patients and families,” said Renee Sparks, general manager/executive vice president of Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio. “As a community-based, not-for-profit hospice, we take a holistic approach to care for patients, families, and community, addressing not only the physical needs but also social, cultural, spiritual and behavioral needs of our patients and families through our interdisciplinary care team.”  

 The interdisciplinary care team — comprised of board-certified hospice and palliative care physicians, hospice-certified nurses and personal care specialists (state tested nursing assistants), social workers, chaplains, bereavement counseling professionals, and volunteers — work with the patient and their family to design a personalized plan of care that allows for care and services to meet each individual’s needs to ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life.  

“We take an evidence-based approach to providing expert medical care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury,” said Stacy Geller, vice president of philanthropic development at Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio. “We rely on best practices, clinical research, and current science to provide superior care and superior services to the patients and families we have the privilege of serving.”

Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio is committed to providing care to patients wherever they call home, whether that is in their own home, a senior living or assisted living facility, or within one of its inpatient care centers at Licking Memorial Hospital or The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Regardless of where care is provided, patients receive all levels of hospice care, including routine care, crisis care, general inpatient care, and respite care.  

“Our patients, families and community members find comfort in the fact that we have the ability to support them in whatever and wherever their need may be in the final journey of life,” said Judy Moore, vice president of clinical care at Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio. “That comfort comes from knowing we not only focus on the individual patient, but on the family as a whole and on our community’s needs.” 

Through the Pathways of HopeSM Grief Counseling Centers, Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio extends bereavement support services to anyone in the community, regardless of enrollment in hospice services.  

“Since our founding, we have offered bereavement support to any of our neighbors who have sustained a loss, regardless of any connection to our hospice program,” Geller said. “Loss comes in all forms, and everyone grieves differently. Children’s needs are different, too. Our specialists can provide support, language, activities, family education, and more to help children cope with their varying emotions.”

Additionally, through the volunteer program, Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio’s trained volunteers visit patients for companionship or provide respite for caregivers. Volunteers help Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio to continue to provide exceptional services to patients and families. Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio also offers other programs to honor Veterans and nurses through the American Pride® Veteran Care by Ohio’s Hospice program and the Nursing Honor Guard.   

“Our patients, families and community members rely on us to provide the best services at this special time in the journey of life,” Moore said. “We are able to do this through our team approach, with a high focus on excellent open communication and planning to address the uniqueness of each individual and each situation.” 

Learn more about the history and mission of at Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio at:  https://www.hospiceofcentralohio.org/about-us/