Georgia Mountains Hospice- going beyond traditional healthcare

The Mission Statement of Georgia Mountains Hospice (GMH) states one of our purposes is "To offer spiritual guidance and answers to one's search for meaning in one's life and death." While our chaplains are certainly not the only ones in GMH working to fulfill this purpose, our chaplains are dedicated to this purpose as their primary jobs. GMH employs two full-time Chaplains, David LeGrand and Jerry Johnson, to provide spiritual support for our clients. We are fortunate to have two highly qualified and caring individuals to be part of our care team.

As part of the hospice interdisciplinary team, Hospice Chaplains make Spiritual Care a priority. Chaplains offer open, sensitive, and non-judgmental presence and an acceptance of different beliefs, cultures and values. It is our goal to support every family with as much compassion and care as possible. Being able to walk with someone in their final life journey is an incredible gift. We recognize this gift and respect life in all its stages and transitions. Our hope is to share in this incredibly scared time in such a way as to provide spiritual healing, purpose and meaning, honoring those entrusted to our care. Issues of meaning, spiritual pain, forgiveness, hope, and relatedness become more focused during a life limiting illness. Supportive presence, listening, and appropriate interventions and rituals of ministry given by a Chaplain can help make this time a blessed time.

Our Chaplains are highly trained, caring professionals, who are available to provide the following:

* Care to patients, families and caregivers according to their desires and beliefs.

* Assistance connecting people with clergy of their own faith group or other professionals as needed and requested.

* Open, sensitive, and non-judgmental presence accepting of different beliefs, cultures and values.

* Assistance in making arrangements for or officiating at funeral or memorial services, cooperating with churched and non-churched families alike.

* New patients can expect to receive a call from a Hospice Chaplain within the first week of admission into the Hospice program explaining their services and offering a getacquainted visit.

* From initial visit forward, our Chaplains continue to visit or just be available to call, talk, visit and offer support.