A Portal to Profound

A Portal to Profound

by | Nov 29, 2024 | Caregiving, Volunteering

By Ellen Buckmaster, Hospice Austin Volunteer When I tell people I’m a hospice volunteer, I almost always get something like, “Oh good for you. I could never do that,” as if my efforts are heroic or out of the ordinary. It’s an interesting and perhaps telling...
Patients Before Profit

Patients Before Profit

by | Nov 22, 2024 | Uncategorized

I read recently that a private equity-backed hospice chain that formed in 2019 for $21 million is seeking a buyer. This chain serves patients in Austin. Hospice care has become big business, and it’s commonplace for private equity firms looking for a quick profit to...
The Sweetest Dance

The Sweetest Dance

by | Jun 19, 2024 | Uncategorized

Yesterday, we were asked to admit Oscar onto our service. (This story is shared with the patient and family’s permission.) Oscar wanted to get home so that he could dance with his wife one last time. He was on a BiPap (oxygen) and Cardiac Pressors (heart...
Overcoming Barriers to Care

Overcoming Barriers to Care

by | May 16, 2024 | Uncategorized

When it comes to her medical care, Jazmin Campbell, 21, has a long history of not being believed. She was given a variety of diagnoses as different symptoms cropped up, but no one could get a handle on what was wrong. Because her symptoms fluctuate, she encountered...
A Tribute to Our Volunteers

A Tribute to Our Volunteers

by | Apr 29, 2024 | Uncategorized

Hospice Austin volunteers bring companionship to our patients and their loved ones. They visit and read with patients, write letters, listen to music, play cards or games, take walks, assist the patient and family with projects, and give the caregiver time to get away...