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Hospice Austin’s Blog
A Love Letter to our Social Workers
I have been thinking about hope lately. What it is. Where it comes from. How to access it when so much seems shrouded in chaos, uncertainty, and fear. I have decided that, for me at least, hope is not so much a positive outlook or even a belief that everything will turn out just fine. For me, real hope is a way of being in the world. An embodiment of raw courage, outrageous imagination, and deep love in the face of overwhelming odds. I can think of no other profession that is more hope-filled than yours. Social workers are the ones who step into that breach between what is and what is possible. You are the ones who reach across that vast chasm to make a way when it seems there is no way.
Love Stories
One of the best things about our job is the privilege of witnessing so many love stories. Hospice Austin Chaplain Katrina Shawgo says she and her team were particularly impressed by Sue and Richard Strahm.
“She has dementia but her husband is so sweet with her,” Katrina said. “He still flirts with her, saying things like ‘Get up and run around the house and I’ll chase you. Now if only I can remember what to do with you when I catch you!’ She’s minimally verbal and rarely smiles for other people, but always smiles for him. He still makes her laugh.”
2021 Year in Review
I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for the very generous support you have provided to Hospice Austin this past year. In 2021, we provided more than 100,000 visits to 2,300 patients.
Austin Palliative Care
When doctors told Anitra Gilley that she had Stage III cervical cancer, everything in her mind went blank. She was the single mother of four children; she couldn’t have cancer. Her mind started whirling and then, like a Wheel of Fortune spinner, stopped on her grocery store list.
Ten Common Misperceptions of Hospice Care
November is National Hospice and Palliative Care month and we wanted to take this opportunity to educate the public about the some common misperceptions about hospice care.
Whether you’re a person with a serious illness or a family member, just saying the word “hospice” can trigger many fears. These misperceptions are common among family members and patients who are trying to decide what to do next and where to turn.
Dr. Robert Friedman
From the moment you meet Hospice Austin Chief Medical Officer Bob Friedman, it’s obvious he cares, really cares, about his patients, his staff, and the delivery of end of life care that honors the values and goals that a patient holds dear. It is with great sadness that we announce his retirement, but Hospice Austin is so fortunate that he has been at the helm of our medical services for more than 10 years.
Hospice Austin Leadership Changes
After 27 years, Marjorie Mulanax is retiring as executive director of Hospice Austin. Hospice Austin’s Board of Directors has appointed DeSha McLeod as the new chief executive officer of Hospice Austin. Please join us in thanking Marjorie for her many years of service and in welcoming DeSha!
How to Best Prepare Your Patients for Hospice Care
We live in unprecedented times where end-of-life care discussions are more important than ever. These conversations are always difficult, even with the most accepting of patients and families. As the referring physician to hospice care, regardless of your field, your patients trust your judgement and recommendations for their journey ahead.
Marjorie Mulanax Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award
Hospice Austin Executive Director Marjorie Mulanax has been the face, heart, and soul of Hospice Austin for 27 years. The Texas and New Mexico Hospice Organization has selected Marjorie Mulanax as the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. As the 2021 honoree, she is the seventh winner of the Association’s most prestigious award.
Swan Songs
When legendary Texas Blues matriarch Marcia Ball was asked to perform a Swan Songs concert for a Hospice Austin patient, she didn’t hesitate. She brought her electric piano, set it up in the patient’s living room that was festooned with flamingo decorations, and rocked the house for nearly an hour. The living room was filled with friends, family, and even the patient’s Hospice Austin nurse, with the patient and everyone else tapping and nodding along to the music.
