Suncoast Hospice Patient & Veteran Recipient of Honor Flight

Betty (left) receives a warm welcome home from
Daphni Austin, Suncoast Hospice veterans liaison.

The war memorials in our nation’s capitol generate great patriotic pride, especially among our military veterans. Suncoast Hospice patient Betty Schefter served as a medical secretary in the Women's Army Corp. She and several fellow World War II-era veterans went to see the World War II memorial on a recent trip to Washington, D.C. with Honor Flight West Central Florida. She’s one of 782 veterans, accompanied by guardians, who have traveled there in the past two years courtesy of the nonprofit organization. 

Betty’s care team registered nurse Maureen Diorio along with a group of other Suncoast staff and volunteers welcomed Betty back at the airport. She exited the plane last, beaming with joy and dressed in her pristine red, white and blue outfit prepared by her care team hospice aide Carol Hogan. 

“When I looked at this beautiful woman who had traveled the distance and been gone for more than 16 hours, two words came to mind: Betty Strong. We’re so proud of her,” Maureen said. 

Suncoast Hospice is proud to honor our local veterans through our many partnerships, including Honor Flight West Central Florida and Veterans History Project, which collects and archives interviews of wartime veterans.

If you’re interested in being a guardian or attending a welcome home celebration for Honor Flight, visit www.honorflightwcf.org.

Planned Giving Supports Suncoast Hospice’s Mission of Care

By Karen Van De Putte
Suncoast Hospice Foundation’s Planned Giving Director


Karen Van De Putte

Suncoast Hospice is a nonprofit, community hospice that’s committed to providing expert, compassionate care and services to patients and families as they face one of life’s most difficult journeys. Our Suncoast Hospice Foundation works to raise funds needed to serve our community. Estate planning (or planned giving) is one of the ways in which people can give to our foundation in support of Suncoast Hospice.

Through planned giving, you can make a significant gift in the future, which won’t impact you financially now. Some examples of how you can include Suncoast Hospice in your estate plan are:

• Include Suncoast Hospice in your will or trust. If you don’t have an estate plan in place, we can help you get started with it. If you already have one in place, you can do a codicil to your will or amendment to your trust that adds a bequest to Suncoast Hospice. 

• Charitable gift annuity. You can fund a charitable gift annuity now and then receive income guaranteed for the rest of your life. If there is anything left over at the end of your life, that amount stays with Suncoast Hospice. Rates of return are based on your age, and we can help you find out what rate you would receive at your age.

• Beneficiary designation. You can make Suncoast Hospice a beneficiary or partial beneficiary of your IRA, life insurance policy or investment, bank or money market account. You can usually do this with a simple, one-page beneficiary designation form, which you can request from your institution.

When you let us know you’ve made a planned gift to our foundation, you’ll become a member of our Parker Legacy Guild, which includes having your name put on our guild donor wall (with your permission) and an invitation for you and a guest to attend our annual, springtime Celebration of Caring dinner.

Thanks to all who have supported the Suncoast Hospice mission. 

If you’d like more information on or need assistance with planned giving, please call (727) 523-3422. 

You’re also invited to join us at our next panel discussion covering estate planning and other topics on Aug. 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Suncoast Hospice’s Mary J. Labyak community service center, Garden House, in Clearwater. RSVP to Suzanne Pace at (727) 523-3417 or suzannepace@thehospice.org.

Suncoast Hospice Recognized for High–Quality Patient Care

By Laurie West
Suncoast Hospice director of quality and service

Laurie West

It was a big honor for Suncoast Hospice to receive Deyta’s 1st annual Hospice Honors Award this past spring. This award recognized our hospice as one of the top hospice agencies in the U.S. to provide the highest level of satisfaction in patient care as rated by the patients’ caregivers. 

We’re benchmarked nationally with the Family Evaluation of Hospice Care surveys, and to be honored as one of the top hospices for our patient and family satisfaction is remarkable. We’re committed to patient and family–centered care. The voices of our patients and families are extremely important. That’s what defines our care and leads us.

It touches my heart when I read the comments from our surveys. One common theme is  compassion. A lot also say, my loved one died at peace and my loved one died with dignity. Many also state, thank you for taking care of me, the caregiver.  

To me, this recognition shows that no matter what discipline you are, it’s what we all do together that touches our patients and families. From our physicians to our volunteers to our DME (durable medical equipment) drivers, we are all one team. 

Our care teams go above and beyond to provide compassionate care to our patients and families. I heard a recent story about one of our nurses who sat and held a patient’s hand and sang to that patient. Our staff and volunteers are always there to provide that wonderful human presence.  

Have you been touched by our care? Please share your story.

Suncoast Homecare Offers Skilled Palliative Home Care & Support

By Debra Shade, RN
Suncoast Hospice Director of Palliative Care 

Debra Shade, RN

Suncoast Homecare provides expert palliative care to individuals of all ages who have advanced chronic illnesses or conditions. Care may be provided in patients’ homes, hospitals or assisted or independent living facilities.  

Palliative care is a specialized type of care that helps control the distressing symptoms that may occur with seriously-ill patients and their families. Our care teams help address and resolve the physical, spiritual and psycho-social stressors or concerns of patients and families. Palliative care doesn’t stop someone from seeking or continuing curative treatment; it provides another layer of medical assistance, care and support.

Our Suncoast Homecare is a Medicare and Medicaid certified and licensed palliative home health agency. This care for patients combines traditional home health services with palliative care, including skilled symptom management, medication management, disease management and/or complex care management. Patients may receive this care while continuing their treatment regimens for their diseases. Caregiver training for family caregivers is also available.

It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, we have experts to assist you. All of our staff has received training in palliative care and is experienced to work alongside you, your family and your physician to ensure we reach your care goals. We’re all part of the same team. Our goal is to work together to create a plan of care that meets all of your needs so you and your family may experience increased quality of life.

Care & Services

Our Suncoast Homecare teams include qualified clinical professionals and trained  volunteers who visit you where you live to provide the care and support you need. The teams may provide:

• Nursing care 
• Personal care (bathing, dressing, skin care)
• Specialized care (physical, occupational and speech therapies, wound care, 
   infusions, etc.)
• Emotional and spiritual counseling
• Volunteer help, companionship and palliative therapies (music, art, pet visits, etc.)
• Assistance with long-range decision making and advanced care planning
• Dietary education 

Suncoast Homecare may be paid for with Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and some Medicaid Waivers. 

To learn more about our Suncoast Homecare, call 727-467-7423 or visit suncoasthospice.org.