Heart to Heart Hospice goes out of its way to provide patients and caregivers with everything they may need at the end-of-life. Our teams are experienced and trained for end-of-life care, and the education, training, medical and emotional support they’re able to provide is priceless.
For needs outside of medical and emotional support, such as transportation, utility bills, legal assistance, or emergency food and household goods (items not covered by Medicare or insurance), patients and caregivers can qualify for financial assistance for these unexpected issues.
This is where Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation (HTHHF) comes in. Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation offers hope and resources for families in need. For National Non-Profit Day, we are looking at the non-profit side of Heart to Heart, how it started, and what programs they can offer patients and caregivers who are receiving hospice care at end-of-life.
How did Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation begin?
The Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation was founded in 2008 by Kelly Mitchell, CEO of Heart to Heart Hospice, and overseen by the leadership team at Heart to Heart Hospice. Mitchell is also the President of the Board of Trustees. The foundation reaches out to and works with those in need within Heart to Heart Hospice care, as well as the communities the company serves.
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity funded primarily through generous donations from families and friends of Heart to Heart hospice patients. The foundation is meant to provide financial support for patients nearing end-of-life, their families, and the greater community through various charitable programs. Each of those charitable programs includes financial support for critical unmet needs as well as much-needed education for the underutilized and often misinterpreted field of hospice and palliative care.
HTHHF has contributed substantial support to the community in the form of grants and scholarships. In 2015, the foundation provided 80 grants to patients or their families totaling more than $72,000. In the last few years, the foundation has provided approximately $250,000 a year in scholarships and need grants to the community. This increase is due, in part, to the recognition of the incredible work of the foundation and the compassionate care from Heart to Heart Hospice, and the foundation anticipates even more growth in the coming years.
“We’re fortunate to have a charitable foundation that touches the lives of so many hospice patients and their families as well as the surrounding communities,” said Mitchell. “This foundation was established through the generosity of our patients and their families, and it is our responsibility to give back in as many ways as possible. There’s no limit to the potential benevolence of this organization.”
The Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation Mission
According to the organization, its mission is to improve the quality of life for those with life-limiting conditions and those nearing the end of life. The HTHHF honors those nearing end-of-life through greater care, greater education, and a commitment to celebrate life. They carry out this mission by providing education to healthcare professionals and community members, and by providing support to those with critical unmet needs, including veterans, patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and those living with financial hardship.
The foundation’s dedication to education includes a focus on healthcare professionals working in all fields related to hospice care, palliative care, and geriatric care. Working to develop well-trained, compassionate caregivers is key to quality care for patients nearing end-of-life. This focus can hopefully, over time, create more caregivers in a sector of the healthcare industry historically lacking in quality candidates. According to Hospice News, “Future generations of health care clinicians may be woefully unprepared to address both the quantity and the complexity of emotional, physical, and spiritual needs among a swelling aging population nearing the end of life. A main issue is that many students do not receive adequate exposure to hospice and palliative care during their medical education, including training in the full scope of these interdisciplinary services.”
By supporting not only families and patients but also the surrounding community, HTHHF can work to create stronger holistic support — from the nurses on the care team to the everyday caregivers to the patient’s family.
What programs does Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation focus on?
In order to create this holistic support, HTHHF focuses on five key programs: patient and family needs, Alzheimer’s and dementia support, cancer and cardiovascular-related illnesses, veteran care support, and community & education.
Patient and family needs
The way HTHHF supports the needs of patients and their families is by providing small grants to improve the quality of life for those suffering from financial hardship. The foundation states, “We know that not all needs are covered by insurance. Some of our patients are suffering from financial hardship: some require special therapeutic services such as massage, Reiki, or counseling; some have simple last wishes that are unfulfilled.”
The foundations Patient and Family Need program allows families to meet these needs and more with these small grants, including:
- Paying bills
- Home or auto repairs
- Buying groceries or hygiene items
- Travel expenses for family and friends for a last visit
- Assistance with funeral expenses
Alzheimer’s and dementia support
When you look at the statistics and impact of Alzheimer’s dementia on the population, it can be staggering: 1 in 3 seniors has Alzheimer’s, it is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia are 40% more likely to suffer from depression and 60% more likely to report high levels of stress.
Because of this, HTHHF provides critical need grants for patients and family members caring for those with later-stage Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as educational programs for healthcare professionals and community members. These grants help fund:
- Respite care program scholarships
- Adult day program scholarships
- Caregiver support programs
- Continuing education for healthcare professionals caring for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients
Cancer and cardiovascular-related illnesses
Adults ages 85 and older are the fastest-growing population group in the US, with an expected count of 19 million by 2060. Also, cancer risk increases as we age, with a peak in men and women in their 80s. This, combined with the fact that a primary cancer diagnosis is the leading diagnosis among Medicare hospice patients followed by a primary diagnosis of circulatory or heart disease, means an increased demand for cancer and cardiovascular care.
Through HTHHF’s Cancer and Cardiovascular-Related Illness Support Program, critical need grants are distributed for caregivers in areas such as:
- Respite care program scholarships
- Adult day program scholarships
- Caregiver support programs
- Bereavement support grants
- Continuing education support focused on cancer and cardiovascular-related illnesses
Veterans’ Care Support
HTHHF believes that there is no greater honor than to serve a veteran or their families. Veterans are our nation’s heroes, and to give back to them in a time of need is a tremendous privilege. Through the foundation’s Veterans’ Care Program, they can provide for veterans with life-limiting conditions and nearing the end-of-life. They can pay tribute and honor veterans and their families by assuring quality of life and support. The program supports initiatives such as:
- Emergency financial support
- Transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, and more
- Legal services
- Counseling and other therapies
- Legacy and honoring programs, such as pinning ceremonies
- And more
Community & Education
The foundation’s core mission is “to improve the lives of those with life-limiting conditions and nearing the end-of-life.” They believe that the greatest impact they can have is “through the ripple effect of education,” including educating healthcare professionals, caregivers, patients, and their families. The foundation can support initiatives such as:
- Caregiver support and education programs
- Training for direct care workers at their job sites
- Bereavement education
- Educational programs in local ministries for patients and their family members
As part of this mission, the foundation also supports multiple scholarship programs at universities and community colleges across the country. These include nursing scholarships at Tyler Junior College, University of Saint Francis, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Lansing Community College, Grayson College, as well as a scholarship at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville for students pursuing a career in end-of-life care and planning. They also endowed a $25,000 undergraduate palliative studies scholarship at Madonna University in Livonia, MI, plus an annual renewable scholarship for a Master’s or PhD student. The Foundation also partners with the University of Southern California for multicultural palliative care research to develop an evidence-based series of palliative care resources.
Though the foundation is based in Plano, TX, they are able to reach into every area where there is a Heart to Heart Hospice office. The foundation is run by a dedicated group of employees, volunteers, and donors with a shared mission to improve the quality of life for those with life-limiting conditions and nearing the end of life. If you’d like to learn more about what the Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation is doing in your community, and how you can get involved, you can visit their website and sign up to receive our e-newsletters and bulletins.
