Webster couple Harold and Gerry Howell have been residents of Florida for decades. Harold’s sister is a resident of The Villages and has been for years. The couple frequently visits The Villages and has nothing but great things to say about the retirement community. A few years ago Harold’s father, Jesse Howell, spent his final days at the Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages. The Howells were touched by their experience so much so that they knew they wanted to give back to the organization as much as possible.
“We saw the care that people gave,” said Mrs. Howell of the staff at the Villages center. The couple knew of Lane Purcell and after finding out about the facility in the same name located in Sumterville, there was no question as to where their money would be donated. Today, the Howells presented a check for $20,000 to the Lane Purcell Cornerstone Hospice House in Sumterville.
“People can [spend] money on anything. What about those that have a need? And the people that are watching over their loved ones?” said Mrs. Howell of the donation.
Nick Buchholz, the Executive Director of the Cornerstone Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation indicated that contributions from people like the Howells enabled the facility and their staff to go above and beyond for their patients. He referred to a multitude of programs and examples of staff doing anything and everything within their power to improve the quality of life for patients in their final days. These ranged from gestures as small as making a food run in the middle of the night for a patient, to as big as helping a patient receive their bachelor’s degree diploma the day before their death.
“[Our] pets program keeps pets with hospice patients as long as possible,” said Susan Bennett, the Regional Development Director for Lake and Sumter Cornerstone hospice locations. “We have volunteers that will go to a patient’s home to walk the dog or take them to the vet. Once the pet’s parents are gone, we look for a home [for the pet]” said Bennett of the hospice’s efforts.
The hospice provides a team of specialists that aid the patient and their family not only during the time spent at the facility, but for months afterwards as well. Teams include a physician, a lead nurse, CNA’s that help with day-to-day care, a chaplain, a social worker, and a bereavement counselor among others. Bereavement counseling is available free of charge for families of patients for up to 13 months after a patient passes away.
The facility boasts state-of-the-art technology, including an Apple iPad equipped in every one of their 72 rooms across counties. The tablet devices in patient rooms enable families and patients to enjoy a variety of activities they wouldn’t otherwise be able to enjoy, including “FaceTime” with other family members, listening to music together, and viewing pictures of family through Facebook and other social media. Furthermore, with the advent of new technologies, these devices can be used to measure glucose levels, heart rates, and a multitude of other vital medical statistics to help families and patients keep track of their vitals without having to visit the emergency room.
“You donate money to different organizations…and [sometimes] you never see any results. Here, you can be guaranteed and know that [this money] is going to help someone,” said Mr. Howell of the donation. The couple was impressed by all the facility had to offer. Their hope is that other members of the community will help make sure these foundations remain in existence for years to come.
To read more about ways that you can help Cornerstone either with donations or by volunteering your time and efforts, visit their website at www.cshospice.org.
To view more pictures of the Lane Purcell Cornerstone Hopsice in Sumterville, click here.
