By Michelle Baker
The local nonprofit Circle of Life Hospice Foundation has opened a guest house to provide free end-of-life care for Nevadans in need. The guest house is the first of its kind in the state, offering essential care services to those unable to die at home or afford residential care.
“Nobody should ever die alone. No one should ever die in pain,” said Michelle Cagle, president. “We’re there to serve the entire family.”
Hospice care is for people with a prognosis of six months or less to live, as determined by a physician. Financially, hospice care can cost anywhere from $150 to over $500 a day depending on the level of care needed, according to SeniorLiving.org. Finding in-home hospice care can be difficult for Nevadans in rural areas of the state.
“Your average senior citizen does not have that type of means,” Cagle said. “You could have a 92-year-old veteran who doesn’t have any family, was never married and cannot take care of himself at the end of life.”
The Circle of Life Hospice Guest House has three beds for guests. Care is managed by medical staff and registered nurses while social workers and other volunteers help the dying and their families through the process.
Chaplain Chaz Blackburn, vice president of the hospice, offers nondenominational spiritual support to families in their care.
“I think that a lot can be said about society based on how we treat the most vulnerable,” he said. “Children are vulnerable. Seniors are vulnerable. Homeless and displaced populations are vulnerable. But those who are dying are the absolute most vulnerable. So, it is imperative that we support them through that process.”
Transitioning is mentally and physically difficult for both the dying and their family. Cagle said that as organ systems shut down, death can be painful for individuals, which is why it’s important to seek emotional, physical and spiritual assistance to help a loved one die with dignity.
Since the Circle of Life Hospice Foundation opened its guest house in June, they have cared for over 10 guests and are always taking referrals via their website. The pilot program is projected to serve about 70 to 80 people a year at their current location and the foundation is fundraising to build a second house that will care for 270 to 300 people annually.
