When asked to define “hospice,” the answer is more involved than people think.
This is exemplified by Maryland-based Frederick Health Hospice, which recently marshaled community resources to repair the road leading to a patients’ home because conditions were impeding their access to the residence.
The only route to the home of Larry and Ruth Stambaugh was an extremely steep 1,000-foot road that would turn into a mud slick anytime it rained, making it virtually impassable. The hospice enlisted a local ambulance company and a neighbor of the Staumbaughs to transport clinicians in 4-wheel drive vehicles through the terrain, but this was not enough to ensure timely access to the home during an emergency, according to CEO Carlos Graveran.
“I thought we needed to do something for this family, because we didn’t want to have to discontinue care, and he’s gonna end up back in the hospital. He was nearing the end and wanted very much to stay in his home through the end of his life,” Graveran told Hospice News. “We have a very generous community, and some wonderful donors, one of whom owns a paving company. Even their truck got stuck on the road, and they basically told me that, yeah, this is a real disaster up here.”
In some instances staff had to leave their vehicles at the bottom and trudged through the thick mud to care for their patient.
Staumbaugh’s terminal diagnosis was a double blow to the family who had lost a son to COVID-19 a few months prior. The family was “very down to earth,” according to CEO, and they were active in their community including efforts to help the homeless.
The price tag to repair the road was in excess of $20,000. Jimmy Remsburg, the owner of Remsburg Paving, volunteered to discount his fees, leaving only the cost of purchasing and transporting the materials.
Another local business, Laurel Hill Quarry, donated the gravel that would be needed. The hospice was able to make up the difference through a philanthropic fund established by the family of Jim and Kelly Cloyd. The fund was designed to pay for patient needs that were not covered by the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
The paving company fortunately had an opening in its schedule and were able to begin work immediately. From inception to completion, the project lasted five days, though it required far more gravel than anticipated.
“Now the Staumbaughs have a very workable driveway that should last them for a good while with some minimal maintenance,” Graveran said. “Frankly, I don’t know how they were even getting down to get the mail every morning. Mrs. Stambaugh remains in the house, but she has a way to get up and down because it’s quite a hike to get up that hill.”
Founded 42 years ago as Hospice of Frederick County, Frederick Hospice began about 20 years ago. They serve two Maryland counties, including the largest in the state. The organization’s average daily census fluctuates, but is currently close to 200 patients. The hospice’s footprint includes suburban and rural communities.
“We really felt compelled to do whatever we could as a community to help [the Stambaughs]. I think that’s one of the things that I wanted to drive home to folks about hospice care,” CEo said. “People think we’re just there for the final few days of life and that we’re all about giving people morphine and until they’re gone. People don’t understand that we’re about the living and really here to help.”
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