Alive Hospice presented three more Heart of Hospice Awards today at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Cool Springs. The honorees are Dr. Ruth T. Young, Dr. Stephen J. Smith and Dr. Shannon Serie.

The Heart of Hospice Award is given to health-care providers who demonstrate compassion, kindness, patient/family advocacy and an in-depth understanding of end-of-life care.

Pictured: Alive Hospice Interim CEO Barbara Cannon; Dr. Ruth T. Young; Dr. Stephen J. Smith; Dr. Shannon Serie; and Alive Hospice Account Executive Janny Adkins.

Paul Arbogast

I started doing in-home visits as an Alive Hospice volunteer four and one half years ago. My church, Brentwood United Methodist, decided to get involved with Alive Hospice’s volunteer program as a way to serve others. We organized a team of about a dozen members to volunteer either in homes, in Alive Hospice inpatient facilities or to help in the office.

My time with a patient has varied from a few days to eleven months. I usually visit once a week for up to four hours. The time is flexible and arranged between the caregiver and me. The visit might include talking with a patient, watching television together, having a meal, running errands or just watching the patient sleep. The family caregiver might stay or leave, but they get a chance for a change of pace and some needed time alone.

The patients have so much to share about their life journeys and I have been inspired and enriched by their friendship. I would encourage others to volunteer and give some much-needed and appreciated time with some wonderful families.

Paul Arbogast is an Alive Hospice volunteer and a Brentwood resident. 

Dr. Frank Gluck and Ellen Bush, MSSW have been named the inaugural recipients of Alive Hospice’s Heart of Hospice Award. Dr. Gluck is a long-time Nashville physician and former Alive Hospice board chair. Ellen Bush is a social worker who recently retired from service at Baptist Hospital. Bush also is a co-facilitator of Alive Hospice grief support groups.

The Heart of Hospice Award is given to health-care providers who demonstrate compassion, kindness, patient/family advocacy and an in-depth understanding of end-of-life care.

Pictured: Ellen Bush; Alive Hospice Interim CEO Barbara Cannon; Dr. Frank Gluck; and Judy Gluck.

Today, some Alive Hospice staff members share how they show love in their work not just on Valentine’s Day, but throughout the year. There’s a reason the words “loving care” are used so much in hospice!

Judy Ruggieri, Murfreesboro Team nurse:

“I show love for my patients and families by being in the moment and giving them my undivided attention from the time I walk in their door until I leave. I use gentle touch when appropriate and acceptable to the patient/family. I give them as much time as they need and I listen. I enjoy the time I spend with patients and families and I tell them so.”

Jamie Roberts, nurse at Alive Hospice at Saint Thomas Hospital:

“I work hard to treat each of my patients like they were my own family and care for them the way that I would want my own loved one cared for. I try to remember the little things. Sometimes it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference.”

Ruth Williams, Alive Hospice grief counselor:

“Many years ago, in the College of Social Work, they taught us the concept of ‘unconditional positive regard,’ which is at the HEART of social work practice. To me that’s the ’scholastic’ version of unconditional love, which is part of my everyday experience as a grief counselor.”

During Black History Month, Americans celebrate people who have left indelible marks on our nation because of the great things they’ve done. However, one thing is often overlooked by history: Many prominent African-Americans have turned to hospice care for comfort and support at the end of life.

Take our quiz and see if you can guess the identities of some very notable people who had hospice care in the United States.