The first decade: a hospice case study.

Abstract

thefounderofahospicespeakon the movement.Shethenmadeinquiries in the communityto find otherinterestedindividualsandwaseventually referredto a personwho hadhad some experienceat a hospice in Arizona,but who hadbeenunableto interest her employer (a nursing home)in the movement. Thesetwo placed an advertisement in a local newspaper inviting interestedparties to attenda meeting. Approximately 40 peopleshowedup with a dozen remaining for further discussion after the meeting. Fromthatpoint on, weekly meetingsof interested peoplewereheldfor severalmonths atalocalnursinghome. Initial plans by thegroupwere to approachexisting agencies—hospitals, nursing homes,andhomehealthagencies— andattemptto locateasponsorfor a hospice.The groupanticipatedthat theywould beinvolvedin theproject on a short-term basiseventually withdrawing after the hospiceconcept and functionwere part of the community’s mainstreammedical Astimepassed, it becameobvious that this approachwas not feasible andthatthegroupwouldhaveto becomemore directly involved in the establishmentof the hospice program/agency. The first board of directorswas appointedin December 1978, and in January1979,the agencybecameamemberof theNational Hospice Organization.Articles of incorporationand bylaws were written, andin May, 1979,the agencywasofficially incorporated. PhaseII The early years (late 1979to 1983) Considerabletimewasspentconducting communitymeetingsto inform the public about the hospice concept.A great deal of time was alsospenton developingtheagency’s structure.Emphasiswas placedon the developmentof admissionscriteria, forms, a volunteer training program, brochures,and contacts with physicians,hospitals,social workers, andnursinghomes.However,duringthe earlymonthsof incorporationwerealizedthatpositive responsefrom the communitywould be lacking until the agencyhadactuallybegunto offer services.