President & CEO Rafael Sciullo Talks Achievements, Care and Community Support

Suncoast Hospice and our family of programs had a wonderful year of growth and service to patients and families in Pinellas and Pasco counties in 2013.

Watch this video of our President and CEO Rafael Sciullo talking about some of our 2013 achievements of care to the community, including two new healthcare partnerships, and the many ways the community can get involved with us in 2014.

Teen Volunteers Enrich Suncoast Hospice's Mission

(left to right) Teen volunteer coordinator Fabiana Compas
greets new teen volunteers Shekeema Striggles and
 Kirstin Miller at an ice cream social at
our St. Petersburg community service center.

Suncoast Hospice teen volunteers provide invaluable service to our organization and family of programs. Their passion, creativity and commitment carry through in the many activities they’re involved in.

Many teens find joy in visiting our patients and families at their homes, our care centers and various other facilities in Pinellas County. They may hold celebrations, play music or sing at bedsides or make and deliver comfort items for patients. While others like providing support at our community service centers, resale shoppes or events. No matter what roles they take on, the teen volunteers learn, grow and enrich the lives of the people we serve. 

Teen volunteer Carrie Hall volunteers at our 2012
Gift Wrap & Trees of Love event at Tyrone Square Mall.

Are you a mid-Pinellas County teen interested in becoming a Suncoast Hospice teen volunteer? Come learn more at our teen volunteer open house on Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at our Clearwater community service center. For more information, call 727-523-3431.

Want to see more about our teen volunteer program? Watch this video of the stories of four teens who have made a difference through their volunteer service.

 

Celebrating Volunteers In Recognition of National Volunteer Week

This week is National Volunteer Week and we’re celebrating our fantastic volunteers and the many staffers who work with them.

Our volunteer coordinators and other employees supervise and support volunteers who serve in many areas, including in our resale shoppes, community service centers and care centers and with our care teams, providing comfort, assistance and companionship to our patients and families. Our volunteers are loved and appreciated for their dedicated service.

Several staffers have expressed their pleasure of working with our volunteers. “It’s wonderful to nurture teen volunteers and hear how their hospice experiences have enriched and changed their lives,” said Laura McGary, a teen volunteer coordinator. Jill Pelletier, a finance department administrative assistant shared, “One of the things I love here is our wonderful volunteers. I really enjoy interacting with them. They do a lot for us.”


Showing Appreciation

Janet Pattison, a volunteer coordinator with one of our south Pinellas care teams, has been touched by her volunteers’ support to our patients and families. “I have the privilege of hearing their stories. They’re doing amazing things,” Janet said.

Picnic Time

Janet along with three other south Pinellas care team volunteer coordinators hosted a volunteer appreciation picnic at Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Petersburg last week. The volunteers enjoyed their special celebration and some delicious food grilled by a psycho-social team leader with one of the teams and her husband.

Please check out our debut issue of Suncoast Hospice Spotlight online magazine showcasing our volunteers and the many ways they support our mission. Click here to read it.

Do you want to make a difference as a volunteer? See our many volunteer opportunities.

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.

Looking to Make a Difference? Our Volunteers Provide Much Needed Support

Lise sets out treats at the care center

Suncoast Hospice has many volunteer opportunities available including evenings and weekends at our three Suncoast Hospice Care Centers. These volunteers play a vital role providing many types of support.

Some volunteers enjoy working directly with our patients and families. Their support may include making visits with patients and families, making phone calls to families, providing companionship to patients and helping the care team staff with various patient care needs.

Other volunteers help with answering phones, office projects, decorating or other activities. There are also some late night positions to answer phones and doors and sit with patients.

Lise Fields works a full–time job weekdays at Ronald McDonald House and volunteers on Saturdays at our Suncoast Hospice Care Center South Pinellas in St. Petersburg. “I love it here at the care center. This is an awesome place to volunteer. I’ve always wanted to volunteer for hospice,” Lise said.

Lise visits with patients and families and pitches in cleaning the family room and kitchen and putting out food and goodies.

“It’s a custom–built volunteer opportunity for me. I visit with patients and families and share tender moments with them. I come in and do whatever it is they need. The staff is phenomenal and the families are so appreciative. When I leave here I feel uplifted,” she said.

Have you thought about volunteering at Suncoast Hospice? Check out our many volunteer opportunities.