Suncoast Hospice Care Center South Pinellas Celebrates 1st Year Serving Community

Celebrating One Year of Service

Our Suncoast Hospice Care Center South Pinellas recently celebrated its one–year anniversary with a gathering at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Several Suncoast staff and volunteers, hospital staff and community members attended.

Our care center's care team is proud of its incredible first year providing care, comfort and support to patients and their families.

Cathy Palmer, the care team’s leader, shared, “It’s just amazing when you think about the many people we’ve cared for. What a great year it has been building this together. I have so much respect for my team.”

Dedicated Volunteer

Volunteer Barbara Thornton

Barbara Thornton is one of the many terrific volunteers who serve on the care team. She’s committed to supporting patients and families.

“My priority as a volunteer is to be with the patients and provide whatever’s needed.  I enjoy talking with the patients and families,” Barbara said.

Barbara’s very impressed by the team’s high quality, tender care. “It’s such a caring, kind and calm environment. It’s the feeling of a family helping others. It’s a place that I would want my family to be.”

Have you had an experience at our Suncoast Hospice Care Center South Pinellas? Please share your story.

Is It Time For Hospice Care?

By Sue Rice, RN, CHPN

Suncoast Hospice Director of Admission Practices

Sue Rice, Suncoast Hospice Dir. of Admission Practices

“I wish we had known about your services sooner.” This is the most common feedback we hear from our community when they share their Suncoast Hospice experiences.

As a registered nurse working at Suncoast Hospice for the past 19 years, I understand how difficult the first conversation about hospice can be. I also understand that it can be just as difficult for physicians and families to start the conversation. I'm specially trained to visit patients and families to help educate and guide them as they consider if it’s time for hospice.

I recently met with a gentleman and his wife at their home and assessed him for our services. He told me, “Hospice just sounds so final.” I was grateful that he had opened the emotional door and allowed me to come in and explain the value of accepting hospice care sooner rather than later.

As he and his devoted wife shared their journey of living with a serious illness, they recognized that there comes a time when the battle is about quality of life. “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired,” he shared. I listened as he recounted the numerous tests, doctors’ appointments and emergency room visits he had experienced because of the increasing symptoms that were robbing him of comfort, sleep, energy and overall enjoyment of life. 

As I explained that our interdisciplinary medical teams of hospice professionals are available to quickly and effectively manage his pain and symptoms at home, his wife expressed relief that she could call us any time, day or night. I also discussed our care centers as alternatives to more hospital stays. I explained how our expert physicians and staff provide quick and effective pain and symptom management in the care centers’ compassionate and calm environments, allowing patients to return home after their pain is resolved. “That sounds wonderful,” he said.

After our conversation, the couple agreed that it made perfect sense to accept hospice care sooner. And their feelings of fear and finality were exchanged for hope and relief.

This same peace of mind can benefit all hospice care patients and their families, wherever the patients reside, including homes, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted and independent living facilities. Especially if loved ones can’t be at the bedsides or live out of state, it’s comforting to know that our skilled care teams are there to work together with healthcare partners to provide tailored care and support to patients and keep families informed.

It all begins with a visit with one of our trained hospice representatives who can inform you about your care options.

We’re here for you. If you’d like to hear more about our services, please call us any time at 727-467-7423.

Stepping Stones Provides Care & Support for Children & Families

Post by Julie Douglass, R.N., director of palliative care and children’s programs

Julie Douglass

“Stepping Stones, this is Sandy. How may I help you?”. The important first step for families who have a seriously–ill child or suffered the loss of a child starts with a phone call to our children and families program, Stepping Stones. They’re reaching out for help and we’re here for them.

Assessing Families’ Needs

Sandy Murray, our team assistant, is often the first voice families hear when they call in seeking a life line of support to help them navigate through the unbelievable – the possible loss or loss of their child. Sandy provides a calm, supportive presence as she gathers the necessary information to determine which of our care programs may best meet the families’ needs.

Do they have a child battling a life–limiting illness? Perhaps our Stepping Stones 4 Kids pediatric hospice care or pediatric home health is the answer. Have they already experienced the loss of a child? Our Stepping Stones grief counseling may be the right choice. Is a couple anticipating or experiencing a perinatal loss? Our Stepping Stones perinatal doulas and counselors can walk alongside them as they navigate this unplanned road.

Coordinating Care & Services

Once we determine which program or programs are a good fit for families our staff jumps to action. Our pediatric registered nurses (RNs) and counselors may collaborate with staff and physicians at All Children’s Hospital to coordinate nursing and counseling services, so families can bring their child home. Our counselors may coordinate individual and group counseling sessions for working through the emotions and stresses of having an ill child or bereavement. Our pediatric medical director may get involved to assist with a child’s pain and symptoms management. 

Our care for children and families is provided regardless of their ability to pay. Some of our services are covered by insurance or Medicaid. Individual and group counseling is provided based on an individualized fee scale. 

Stepping Up 4 Kids

One opportunity for the community to support our children’s programming is to join our 3rd annual Stepping Up 4 Kids, a 1–mile and 5K walk/run happening this Sunday, March 3 at the Seminole Pow Wow. You can register online or at the race. We hope you’ll come out with your family and friends for this fun event benefiting the kids we serve. Thank you for making a difference for kids.

Does your family need help with care or support? Call our Stepping Stones program, 727–523-2361, to find out how we might help you.

CNA's/HHA's Learn About The Benefits of 'Caring Touch' For Patients

CNA/HHA Yolanda Trotman practices caring touch.

A soft, gentle touch can do wonders to soothe and relax people. It’s especially beneficial for comforting our hospice patients.

Our CNAs/HHAs (certified nursing assistants/home health aides) recently participated in a new Caring Touch class presented by our licensed massage therapists. They plan to use their new skill as a way to bring comfort to their patients.  

“It’s really exciting to combine these two disciplines. We have been amazed at the patients who have benefited from it,” said Suzanne Lascoux. Suzanne leads the facility–based care team whose CNAs/HHAs were the first to integrate caring touch in their care.

Hands–on Comfort

Danette presents caring touch.

Leading the class was Danette Shalkowski, a longtime licensed massage therapist. She gave tips on self preparation and ways to administer caring touch with the patients who would like to receive this type of therapy.

“It’s not massage but you are licensed as people to touch. It's a wonderful way to make a connection on a different level with your patients,” Danette said.

She also shared the many health and wellness benefits for patients and families.

“Caring touch can do a lot of good and the effects are immediate and noticeable. It can calm, release anxiety, reduce the need for pain medications and induce sleep at night. Touch can be more powerful than words. You’re not only helping patients, you’re helping their families because they’re seeing how much patients are benefiting from it,” she said.

Are you interested in caring for hospice patients and families? Check out our job openings. 

Caregivers Benefit from Support & Education

By Paula Di Landro–Everett
Director of Center for Living and Wellness




Paula Di Landro-Everett

Being a caregiver is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding jobs you can do. At our Center for Living and Wellness, we understand the importance of supporting our patients and those who provide care to them each day. Our center offers a variety of support and education for those in the caregiver role, including those whose loved ones aren’t in our hospice care. 

One of the most popular and growing services is our Caregiver Coffee Breaks. These are just as the name suggests, dedicated times to take a break and be supported by other caregivers. It can be extremely helpful and healing to know that someone understands what you're going through having experienced a similar journey. Some participants have described the breaks as extended families, which they have grown to count on. Others have expressed meeting some lifetime friends.

Another helpful service is our Caregiver Connect Seminars. These cover topics related to the most pertinent needs of caregivers, and are open to family and professional caregivers and those who support caregivers. The more prepared you can be to accept the challenges of caregiving, the more successful you will feel. Some past topics have included tips for managing finances, nutrition for the caregiver and tips for developing a daily routine.

Another valuable service is our Confident Caregiver Training. This program provides caregivers hands–on education around the activities of daily living for the people in their care who are declining in physical health. Our trained clinical staff assists participants with increasing their technical skills and confidence. Participants may work with the durable medical equipment provided, role play and discuss any emotional needs.   

It's also important to know that youth are one of the largest and fastest growing groups of caregivers in our community. We offer support services that cater to the developmental needs of youth who find themselves in the caregiver role. 

We are honored to support caregivers. We look forward to seeing and serving you soon.

Are you feeling in need of some support? Check out our upcoming events. 

Staff Enriched by Visit to Sister Hospice in South Africa

(left to right) Terri Peterson, Stacy Orloff and Susan Bruno

Three Suncoast Hospice employees are in South Africa visiting our sister hospice – Hospice Association of the Witwatersrand (Hospice Wits). They are Suncoast Hospice’s Theresa "Terri" Peterson, a care team chaplain, Stacy Orloff, vice president of palliative care and community programs and Suncoast Hospice Institute’s Susan Bruno, director of institute business.

The staff have felt welcomed and enamored by the loving, joyful spirit of the Hospice Wits staff and the people they serve. They have been sharing their daily experiences with us back home, including providing education and team–building activities to their staff, observing their hospice care and soaking in the culture and history of South Africa.  

“I feel so privileged to share my skills with our sister hospice and to learn from them about caring compassion at all times,” shared Susan. This week, she told about some heartwarming home visits with patients and families. She had a touching experience reuniting and going out with Penny Mathe, a social worker who was part of the group that visited Suncoast Hospice last fall.    

Susan wrote, “Today we traveled the roads, some paved and some not, in Soweto to visit a few of Penny's patients. One patient was a woman living with AIDS, who lived with her daughter and granddaughter in an 8x10 hut made of cardboard, blankets and tin. Penny assessed the woman’s need for a food parcel and the possibility of moving her to another location with better shelter, while the community care worker (hospice aide) gently massaged her hands and arms to comfort her. They all spoke in their native language, Zulu. The universal language of hospice was understood by all of us. The patient was so appreciative of everything Hospice Wits has done for her.”

Want to hear more about their trip and our sister hospice? Visit our Care4Soweto blog.

Suncoast Hospice Chef Cooks Up Comfort

Chef Sheila preps at Suncoast Hospice Care Center Mid-Pinellas

Chef Sheila Wooden puts a whole lotta love into her food. Sheila serves as the dietary manager for our Suncoast Hospice Care Centers in north and mid-Pinellas. She and her kitchen teams passionately prepare delicious, homestyle meals for our patients and families. Sometimes they’ll even cook specially–requested dishes.

She has savored her work, bringing comfort and happiness through food.

“It’s rewarding to provide for our patients and their family members in the hospice houses. We make the food that patients want and love in some of their final hours. It’s an amazing gift to take care of patients. We also get back from them when we see them smile or become more comfortable in what can be a very stressful time,” Sheila said.

Another part of her job is catering special events for Suncoast Hospice programs. Gourmet desserts are her specialty. Her talent is producing fine quality food fit for each occasion.

“Sheila always goes above and beyond and takes such care in matching her food offerings to the guests at our events,” said Grace Case, patient family care coordinator at Suncoast Hospice Care Center North Pinellas.

Chef Sheila recently appeared on Studio 10 to discuss her passion for cooking homestyle food and goodies every day for patients and families.  Watch the video.

Do you have a passion for hospice care? Check out our latest jobs.

Rabbi Brings Spiritual Comfort to Jewish Patients & Families

Rabbi Leah Herz

Hospice care encompasses comfort for the body, mind and spirit. Suncoast Hospice provides spiritual care to patients of all faiths. We honor their beliefs and customs and help foster internal peace at the end of life. Our care also includes spiritual support for families of patients.

Rabbi Leah Herz is part of our spiritual care team through our Toby Weinman Jewish Hospice Program partnership with Menorah Manor. Rabbi Herz provides spiritual care and support to our Jewish patients and families, primarily those who don’t have their own rabbis. She also works as Menorah Manor’s full-time rabbi and director of spiritual care serving seniors in their facilities.

Healing In The Here And Now

Our chaplains make referrals to Rabbi Herz when patients request a rabbi. Her care involves learning her patients’ life stories and helping them find peace within themselves and with their loved ones.

“I’m very focused on who our patients are and what they did in their lifetimes. I want to support them if they are feeling stress, pain or guilt, listen to their concerns and provide a calming presence. As a rabbi, I can look at it from the Jewish perspective and help them address their concerns about life after death and concerns for their family members. Judaism has a primary focus on what you can do in the here and now. My goal is to help them through this process,” Rabbi Herz said.

Her care may include prayer and rituals. “We have what’s known as the final confession. It can be said on behalf of patients if they are nonresponsive and can’t say it themselves. It can provide an opportunity for forgiveness,” she said.

Using The Arts In Care 

Rabbi Herz is vocally-trained in classical music and certified in creative arts therapy, and has drawn upon those skills when working with her patients and families. She has created some wonderful connections using poetry, songs and Hebrew readings.

“I find that with our hospice care patients and Menorah Manor’s seniors, the songs connect them to their youth. I had an amazing experience singing to one of our care center patients. She was a Jewish woman who was imminent and not affiliated with a congregation here in Florida. I went to her bedside and stood very close but she was unresponsive. I spoke in her ear and sang a song. When I was done I asked, “Is that ok?”, and she replied, “Marvelous”. I was blown away,” she said.

Do you have a calling to work in hospice care? View our open jobs.