Last November, Wallace Greene, age 84, found himself lying in a hospital bed with detrimental news. He needed a heart procedure, but undergoing the surgery would cause his kidneys to fail making him dependent on dialysis. Mr. Greene decided he’d rather spend the time he had left enjoying his family, so routine appointments were scheduled with a home health agency.
While Mr. Greene didn’t appear to be eligible for hospice, his family decided to reach out to Hospice of South Georgia to learn more about their service. Nurse Practitioner Eli Metts answered the call and according to the family that was a turning point in his care. At this time Mr. Greene was otherwise healthy, walking and eating unassisted, oriented, and most importantly—able to make his own healthcare decisions.
Mr. Greene’s ability to choose to undergo hospice care greatly reassured his family while also ensuring he continued to receive high-quality care without feeling like a burden.
According to his daughter Tracey, Mr. Greene called the shots up until his last day. She said hospice care made both of their lives easier because they received a dedicated care team. Case Manager, Kristy Cook, RN, and licensed social worker, Rachael Lustfeldt, ensured Mr. Greene received all of his medications, answered any questions, and monitored his progress so he didn’t have to travel to multiple physician appointments any longer.
Rachel said during her visits with Mr. Greene he was always alert, sharing his feelings and love for family and the Georgia Bulldogs. He also shared that he knew had he not chosen hospice care he would have been back in the hospital multiple times.
“When Daddy left Shands he was given three months to live, but we know hospice helped improve and extend the last 9 months of his life at home,” expressed Tracey. “We are so thankful for Hospice of South Georgia.”
