Saluting Nurses In Recognition of National Nurses Week

Nurses Care at Care Center

It’s National Nurses Week May 6 to 12 and we’d like to acknowledge our fabulous nurses who take loving care of our patients and families.

Our nurses are compassionate and uplifting and bring comfort in so many ways. They’re experts at resolving the pain and symptoms of our patients. They also give education and emotional support to our patients and families, helping them understand what to expect with their illnesses and listening to them as they cope with their feelings.

Working with the Care Teams

Collaboration with the other care team members is also an integral part of their job to ensure the best possible care to patients and families. Melanie Harmon, a registered nurse (R.N.) with our supplemental staff-PRN department, celebrated ten years with Suncoast Hospice this year. She shared how she and one of our chaplains worked together swiftly to bring comfort and peace to a patient right before she died.

R.N. Home Visit

“One of our patients had a debilitating illness and was close to death. I rubbed her swollen foot, and she liked it. I called one of our chaplains to help her and he came that day. He baptized her and said the Lord’s Prayer with her family all around her bedside.  It was amazing what he did and wonderful to be there,” Melanie said.

Fulfilling Careers

Two of our other nurses say that working in hospice care is extremely meaningful. “It has been an honor and educational experience going into people’s homes and hearing their stories,” said Stephen Mitchell, a licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.) with our supplemental staff-continuous care department. Cynthia Peterson, an R.N. with one of our care teams shared, “I just don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than being at the bedsides of the dying and helping their families. It’s the best job.”

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of patients and families? Check out our current job openings.

Counselors Help Community Heal from Loss & Grief

Counselor Dee Brandon

When someone you love dies or a traumatic death happens in your community, your world may start spinning. You don’t have to go through it alone.

Suncoast Hospice’s Center for Loss and Healing offers a broad range of counseling and support groups for those who’ve experienced loss and grief. Services are available to anyone in the community and provided based on an individualized fee scale.

Help with Loss of Loved Ones

Deangelis “Dee” Brandon, MSW is one of the center’s counselors who help people find their grounding and healing. She has served with Suncoast Hospice for 15 years, including working as a children’s counselor with one of our care teams and a counselor with our Stepping Stones children and families program.

In her role with the center, Dee does grief counseling with adults, children and families and works with support groups. Her mission is to help them find understanding and peace.

“I love what I do because I get to help people, which may mean holding their hands, bringing them coffee or listening to their stories. It may be a widow or widower or someone who’s dealing with a loved one’s sudden, unexpected death, such as a heart attack, suicide or accidental overdose. They want somebody to listen to them, help them problem solve and let them know that everything they’re going through is ok. It’s ok if they don’t want to eat or they want to cry,” Dee said.

Support with Traumatic Events

Her work also includes support for people who’ve been newly diagnosed with an illness, as well as crisis intervention, grief–in–the–workplace and other traumatic loss counseling.  

“We do a lot of crisis intervention, including counseling when there are shootings in the community. We reach out to police officers, firefighters and other professionals and give them education and support because they’re on our front lines and see a lot,” she said.

She helps others in the community who’ve been shaken by traumatic news stories. “That news may trigger something, so they’ll come in for a few sessions. Some examples include the recent sinkhole event or loss of homes or family members’ loss of homes. Those can be traumatic. We’ll get referred to families and give them support or information they can take to their loved ones.”

Do you think counseling might help you or someone you know?

Please call 727–467–7423 any time for information or visit our events calendar for a listing of our support groups.

Kids Touched by Suncoast Hospice Give Back

Ashley (left) and Nicholas display their fundraising project

Ashley Boubede and Nicholas Steffen have young and caring hearts, helping to support Suncoast Hospice. The two fifth graders recently made a $320 donation to our organization, in honor of our care of their family members.

They raised the funds putting on an auction for their annual service learning project in their gifted program. Both received outstanding grades for their work, and found it wonderful to give back to an organization that has been so meaningful in their lives and others.

“This experience was rewarding because I got to help the people who helped my family,” Ashley said.

Nicholas also felt great about supporting our care. “It was amazing to do this because I know it will help the patients they serve,” Nicholas said. 

Have you been touched by Suncoast Hospice? Please share your story below.

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. 

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.