HUMANITY PERSONIFIED
Hinds Hospice
As the Founder and the heart of Hinds Hospice, “Nancy Hinds’ mission is to uphold the dignity and ease the suffering of the terminally ill while supporting their loved ones, and those who are grieving,” explains Robert Walker, Manager of Communications & Marketing at Hinds Hospice. Nancy’s dedication to the nursing profession took her around the globe before she settled in the Central Valley. “While working as an oncology nurse for Saint Agnes Medical Center,” Walker recounts, “she saw a huge need for hospice care in the Valley.” Hinds Hospice was born in 1981, when Nancy began with a four-patient capacity in her Fresno home. “During those first four years, she cared for 72 patients and their families.”
Today, Hinds Hospice is led by CEO Eric Klimes and the Board of Directors, who oversee over 200 employees and 300 volunteers. “We care for more than 350 patients every day in three counties while still adhering to Nancy’s mission,” Walker expresses. “Last year, Hinds Hospice cared for 1,641 patients, and 4,804 people received grief support. Hinds Hospice is truly ‘the Valley’s hospice,’ and never turns patients away because they lack the ability to pay for their care.”
Between the Fresno, Madera, and Merced locations, Hinds Hospice has grown to a comprehensive level of care not available at any other hospice in the Central Valley. “One of our newer programs is our Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors formed in 2019 … we developed a state-of-the-art Simulation Education Learning Lab,” that same year. Walker goes on to add, “We have enhanced our grief support programs and added the Hinds Hospice Palliative Care Program for pain and symptom management.” A long list of service programs includes: the Hinds Kids Pediatric Concurrent Care Program, Angel Babies, Circle of Friends, Fresno Survivors of Suicide Loss, as well as a variety of workshops, support groups, and individual counseling through the Center for Grief & Healing.
Considering that next year marks four decades of service for Hinds Hospice, “We look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary all year in 2021. We will highlight our accomplishments and recognize those who have made Hinds Hospice possible,” Walker professes. The celebration will continue through fall and winter, culminating with their Annual Hinds Hospice Gala, where a special 40th Anniversary Initiative will be launched.
The needs and services of Hinds Hospice haven’t been paused with the onset of COVID-19—they are doing everything they can to support their front line caregivers, while continuing to deliver exemplary care with added measures and precautions, including: screening all patients and staff for symptoms of COVID-19, using established protocols for anyone who may be symptomatic, implementing telehealth to limit face-to-face contact, providing appropriate personal protective equipment for all employees, mandating social distancing while at work, limiting support staff on-site, and tracking protocols for anyone who may display symptoms or who has tested positive for COVID-19. The public can help serve those who need their care by giving donations or gifts, visiting their thrift stores, or becoming a volunteer.
LB How has coronavirus impacted Hinds Hospice’s services and fundraising efforts?
RW As part of our commitment to the safety of our community, we made changes to all our upcoming events, including:
Postponing the Hinds Ladies Guild Noon Tea fundraiser until October 9th, 2020.
Cancelling the 16th Annual Angel Babies Walk Run and making it a “virtual event.”
Cancelling the Fresno Survivors of Suicide Loss Moms to Moms Luncheon and rescheduling it on a later date.
Postponing the Granville Home of Hope Grand Prize Drawing until later in the year. (For those who already purchased tickets, your ticket is still valid, and we will continue selling tickets until they are sold out.)
Possibly cancelling or postponing our Annual Hinds Hospice Gala in September.
We hope the community will understand how important these fundraising events are to our mission, and support these special events on their rescheduled dates.
LB Since the outbreak of coronavirus, in what ways have the offerings and procedures of Hinds Hospice altered?
RW Hinds Hospice has a nearly 40-year established history of caring for patients with complex medical conditions. Our Founder Nancy Hinds provided hospice care to HIV positive patients when no one else would. As a registered nurse, Nancy understood how to care for those in need, while providing the necessary safety precautions. Today, Hinds Hospice continues Nancy’s mission to ease suffering, and continues to deliver exemplary care by following and exceeding the safety standards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization, California Department of Public Health, and the health departments in the three counties we serve.
LB How has Hinds Hospice adapted interactions between loved ones and those in the end-of-life journey during this time?
RW Hinds Hospice is following the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 to protect patients, visitors, and staff. We perform screenings and temperature checks on all visitors and provide masks, which must be worn while visiting our in-patient unit. Unlike many nursing homes, we are allowing one family member to remain at the bedside from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. When a patient is actively transitioning, we do allow multiple family members to the bedside. We utilize our emergency exits in those cases to minimize the number of visitors who come into contact with the rest of the unit. We are not allowing families to congregate in our public areas, but encourage families to rotate their visits to our home.
Fresno Headquarters
2490 West Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711
559.226.5683
www.hindshospice.org
Managing Editor Lauren Barisic
Photographer Robert Walker
