Hospice Opens the Possibilities of Care for the People We Love

Hospice is a relatively new discipline in the healthcare field, only having been in the United States since the 1970s. Its recent arrival combined with a focus on end-of-life care has created significant stigma towards the word “hospice.” With President Jimmy Carter announcing his decision to enter hospice care, hospice has found its way into the current public discourse, providing the space for healthcare professionals to further discuss the definition of hospice and its transformative effect on a patient’s end-of-life journey.

Hospice focuses on comfort for patients nearing the end of their lives, alleviating pain and physical symptoms rather than curing them through further diagnostics and procedures. Hospice also provides holistic support to both the patient and the family through addressing their spiritual and emotional needs. To qualify for hospice care, patients must have a life expectancy of six months or less, though they can continue to receive care if they live longer.

For over 40 years, Hospice of the Western Reserve has been providing quality hospice care to Northern Ohio. Our mission is to foster choice in end-of-life care, so our services are provided in a variety of settings. We can provide care in one of our inpatient units, a skilled nursing or assisted living facility, or even the comfort of a patient’s own home, which was President Carter’s choice in his home state of Georgia.

Most hospice patients are Medicare/Medicaid eligible and have their services fully covered. Commercial insurers often have hospice benefits available in their plans. For those with limited or no coverage, it is important to select a hospice agency that is willing to sit and talk through available options. HWR has a Financial Resource Advocate who provides this information to families across Northern Ohio.

A common misconception of hospice is that it means “giving up,” or that the care involved hastens death. Hospice only hastens comfort, and many families who have walked with Hospice of the Western Reserve wish that they started their journey with the agency sooner.

Hospice never means “giving up.” Hospice gives hope. Hospice gives hope to those who are grieving. Hospice gives hope to families who want to spend quality time with their loved one, free from pain and suffering. Hospice means giving hope to patients who are seeking peace in their end-of-life journey.

Death is part of life. We all have friends, neighbors, and coworkers who have experienced hospice. When starting this path, seek out those who have traveled here before. These intimate and educational conversations, as well as the public ones that President Carter helped to start, can help put an end to the stigma of hospice and open the possibilities of care for our loved ones.

Dr. Robert Ancker, MD FAAFP FAAHPM, is chief medical officer and medical director at Hospice of the Western Reserve.

CHARRON ALEXANDRIA LEEPER MODEL, CREATIVE CONSULTANT & ENTREPRENEUR

Charron Leeper is a lateral thinking, multi-disciplinary, creative consultant and entrepreneur with a passion for innovating in the spaces of Fashion & Art. She leverages her design education and her experience with branding and marketing to help others convey and elevate their brands. With a genuine heart for people, relationship building and community, Charron has focused her efforts in the last 3-5 years toward growing her existing businesses while serving as a consultant to other organizations who want to build marketing strategies that speak to the heart of their missions. Charron is a former Collegiate Division I Women's Basketball Scholarship recipient, graduate of Radford University with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design. She is the founder of Perfect Pineapple, a head-wrap and hair accessory brand and the founder of Agency Thirty Three, a start-up creative agency that focuses on serving BIPOC founders. Lastly, Charron's love for fashion and beauty landed her as signed model at Docherty Agency Cleveland, where she has been featured in campaigns for Big Lots, Moen, JoANN fabrics, Sysco Corp, and more. She has as served as a freelance wardrobe stylist, and had her brand and client featured in New York magazine (2018). In 2022, Charron entered the role of co-founder and served as the Creative Director for FutureLAND, a new twoday destination event held in the city of Cleveland that focuses on tech, diversity, investment and entrepreneurship. Charron will continue to lend her creativity to FutureLAND 2.0, which will take place October 5-7 2023. Charron intends to scale Perfect Pineapple and A33 into profitable business that others are proud to work for, leaving a legacy for her future family to be a part of.

Why did you choose your career field(s)?

I have always been creative, always! My mother limited the amount of TV I could watch a day when I was little and used to say, "Okay, now go use your imagination." That was the best advice she could have ever given me. My imagination has opened lots of doors for me and I have been most attracted to the doors in Fashion, Design and Beauty space.

What do you like most about your work? Solving problems. Taking a something that is nebulous and forming into something that is understood, experienced and concrete. Then once that happens, it brings me great joy to see my clients or customers internalize what was created for them.

What was the first or most memorable project you worked on and why?

It was my first dress. In 2000 I was awarded a certificate of recognition by Cleveland Style Group as an impressive up and coming designer during a salute to African American designers. I was the youngest at the time to be awarded that. A mentor of mine constructed the dress from a drawing I gave him and I was able to see it walk the runway. That moment felt magical!

What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?

Persist, pursue, collaborate and stay humble. Women are brilliant individuals. We feel and see the world in ways that add color, life and nuance that cannot be contrived. Moreover, I would say to other women entrepreneurs that we are unstoppable when we work together in harmony, valuing each other’s gifts while fully operating in our own. There is no greater feeling than being surrounded by or working with women who are confident in who they are and can also genuinely celebrate the greatness in you. Iron sharpens iron. Let's do more of that.