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.

Inside the Role of an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

Lori Burckhardt

An essential part of hospice care is conversation. Lori Burckhardt is an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) at Suncoast Hospice Care Center North Pinellas. Many of the care center's patients are living with end–stage diseases and are there for pain and symptoms management. Lori is skilled at providing care and comfort, as well as having those important conversations about the end of life.

She concentrates on breaking down the wall, preparing her patients and their families to face and understand dying. “Our ARNPs or physicians are often times the ice breakers. When you talk to each patient, you look into his or her eyes and you find out what to say. You don’t know where it’s going to go. I always try to put myself in the patient’s shoes and hope that the patient and family are much more centered and accepting,” said Lori, a longtime nurse who spent many years in critical care.

Lori has always enjoyed providing this kind of support to those in her care. “I found I have an ability to care for patients in a way that allows me to make a difference in their lives. I want to make a difference,” Lori said.

Health Assessments and Education

Lori consults with R.N. Diane Esposito at the care center

One day during her rounds at Suncoast Hospice Care Center North Pinellas, Lori stops in the hallway to talk with a son about his mother’s care. She then checks in at the care station to consult with staff and moves on
to follow up with two patients, the first about care decisions and the other about a medication she has prescribed. With her patients, she always gauges their entire well–being, comfort level and needs.

“We do a total health assessment and take in every aspect of a patient. We look at the energy of that patient and the dynamics of that patient’s family situation. Then we look at that patient’s goals and create a plan of care in collaboration with everyone on the care team, including the patient’s own personal doctors and other healthcare staff. You constantly readjust that care plan. Everyone’s input is extremely valuable,” she said.

Lori finds education to be one of the most important and meaningful parts of her job. “Patient and family education is a huge part of what we do. You do a lot of listening. You take them from the clinical side and help them face the emotional aspects of their disease so they may have a peaceful death,” she said.

Do you have a desire to work in hospice care? Check out our job openings.