Looking to the Next 30 Years
As State of the Heart Hospice celebrates 30 years of service to the community, Board President Lisa Gasper reflects on this milestone and looks to the future. Gasper is the Director of Social Services and Activities at Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, and has been State of the Heart Board President since 2009.
“An agency with this kind of longevity has to have a forward-thinking leadership team,” Gasper said. “State of the Heart leadership is involved with what is happening in the hospice field with regard to regulations, Medicare and health care in general. They are looking for other ways they can better serve the patients, families and community by asking for their feedback and acting upon what information is gathered.”
Medicare funding will continue to be an important topic as uncertainties continue in Washington. Gasper, however, is confident that State of the Heart will rise above any uncertainties or challenges.
Lisa Gasper, State of the Heart Board President
“State of the Heart’s management team does a great job of utilizing all resources effectively and looking at the big picture. They are taking into consideration the changes in healthcare funding and working to position the agency on sound financial ground so it will be here for many more years,” Gasper said. She added, “The decisions we as a board make are not wholly based on dollars and cents; they are also based on the agency’s mission. State of the Heart will continue to look at all funding possibilities that will keep the agency running while staying true to the mission.”
Gasper also noted the importance of and appreciation for the generous donors in the community who continue to support State of the Heart. Community members help ensure the future of hospice care not only by participating in the annual golf tournament and other campaigns, but also by making memorial contributions throughout the year and designating money for State of the Heart in their wills.
Looking to the future, Gasper discussed how the aging baby boomer population may affect hospice care. “There were approximately 75 million people born between the years 1946 and 1964. As we age, the chances of us developing a chronic disease increase. What can you do to manage that? Educate yourself about the services that are available to you and your loved ones. Hospice can be that service for someone living with a chronic disease,” Gasper said. She added, “State of the Heart Hospice uses a team approach of giving end of life care, including doctors, nurses, licensed social workers, chaplains, music therapists, the family and the patient receiving the care. The goal for treatment is to ease the pain and control the symptoms all while increasing the quality of life.” State of the Heart is committed to providing care for people wherever they call home, reducing the need for hospital stays.
Gasper believes perceptions of hospice care will grow more positive with the boomer generation. “They may have known someone who received hospice services and the majority of the boomers are savvy at networking, either in person or via the Internet. They are willing to ask the questions to find the answers they need, and by doing so they will realize that hospice isn’t just for those living with cancer anymore. Hospice gives care to people who are experiencing end stages of renal failure, liver disease, respiratory diseases, heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases and diagnoses that have reached an untreatable stage,” Gasper said.
Gasper also emphasized the help State of the Heart gives families: “State of the Heart assists the family and the patient in transitioning and working through the end of life. They offer support groups for those who are left to grieve the loss of their loved ones. Each year they offer Camp BEARable for young children who have lost a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend. It is important for people to know they are not alone in their grief and there are positive ways to work through the emotional pain they may be experiencing. State of the Heart is here to help.”
More 30th Anniversary Articles
History Part 1: The Beginning 30 Years Ago
History Part 2: 30 Years of Growth and Service
