St. Tammany News

Two organizations dedicated to helping individuals and families cope with terminal illness have joined forces.

The Hospice Foundation of the South, which primarily served the east end of the parish, and Hospice of St. Tammany, based in Covington, have merged to become one organization. The new group will retain the name Hospice Foundation of the South. "Their board and our board are now one," said Kathy Busco, executive director of Hospice Foundation of the South. "We're trying to bridge the east-west divide."

According to Busco, the groups had slowly been moving toward the merger for several months. Both boards met together as one unit for the first time on Jan. 22.

Hospice of St. Tammany President Pam Voelkel will serve as vice president on the new combined board.

"All the members of both boards are very excited to be working together," said Voelkel. "While HOST will continue to focus on indigent care for St. Tammany Parish Hospital, we'll now have the strength in numbers to build the first hospice residence in the parish."

That's music to the ears of Connie Hulsey-Shepherd, past president of HOST, who was instrumental in starting hospice 25 years ago when insurance for hospice care was completely non-existent.

"This is a new era for hospice," said Hulsey-Shepherd. "It's like a dream come true for all of us in the hospice family. I'm thrilled the merger will help us finally get a hospice house."

Hulsey-Shepherd pointed out the hospice approach incorporates doctors, nurses, pastors and social workers. In addition, numerous volunteers are involved, often staying for several hours in a patient's home to offer respite for the family.

"Everyone works as a team," she said. "That approach is what makes hospice special."

The 2008 officers for the new board of the Hospice Foundation of the South will be sworn in at an installation banquet at Palmetto's in Slidell on Feb. 15. For more information call 643-5470.