The staff of University of Maryland Shore Home Care and Hospice decided to celebrate this year’s Thanksgiving holiday and National Home Care and Hospice Month by creating and delivering a real feast for three patients and their families, according to Debbie Reeder, RN, home health manager. The staff set up boxes for food donations in the office and also purchased frozen turkeys for the households of three patients whose financial constraints and health challenges threatened to make Thanksgiving Day a rather meager celebration.
“Along with the turkeys we bought, we collected and delivered well over 200 pounds of non-perishable dry and canned goods,” says Reeder, who organized the project with Trish Focht, RN, hospice supervisor. “We are especially gratified that all 65 of our home care and hospice staff brought in donations, and most brought in several items. Everyone wanted to help make it possible for our patients and their families to plan and enjoy a hearty Thanksgiving meal.”
During the past year, UM Shore Home Care and Hospice has served a total of 2,100 Mid-Shore patients and their families. Approximately 1,600 of these patients have received home care services, 260 have received hospice services, and 240 have been clients of Shore Wellness partners.
Shown with 200-plus pounds of dry and canned goods donated by staff of UM Shore Home Care and Hospice are: Trish Focht, RN, hospice supervisor; Rita Holley, BSN, MS, director; Penny DeShields, home health aide; Bobbie Wells, BSN, customer care nurse; Barbara Cole, RN, BSN, home health supervisor; Debbie Reeder, RN, home health manager, and Alice Ofano, LSCW, social worker. The goods were delivered with frozen turkeys to three Shore Home Care and Hospice patients and their families on November 21.
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