County Connections: Fairhope takes pride in caring for patients and families

“Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.” – Author Unknown

Kristin Glasure, president and CEO of Fairhope Hospice and Palliative Care, recalled the story of a woman she saw one day standing in silence before her building. Surrounded by the gray mist and falling rain, the woman’s head was lowered. For that moment, the woman was alone.

Turning to a member of her team, Glasure was informed that the woman returns every year to the same location – placing flowers on a stone dedicated in memory of her mother. Restoring her gaze to the window, Glasure observed as a member of her team approached the woman, quietly holding an umbrella to protect her from the storm.

“This moment speaks volumes about what we do,” Glasure shared.

The sheltering love within its walls makes Fairhope unforgettable to those touched by its mission – patients and staff alike. In fact, Glasure’s own connection to Fairhope is a testament to this legacy.

Beginning with FairHope shortly after college, she served as a social worker, while also coordinating the center’s volunteer program. In this role, she empowered and prepared volunteers for the difference they would make in local lives.

Though much has changed around the building, its heart is still the same. And upon her return to the organization last year, Glasure found that two of the volunteers she trained still serve in that capacity.

Furthering the organization’s spirit of holistic care, the volunteers on which Fairhope relies serve in countless, highly individualized ways. Some volunteers greet families and bring coffee, while others garden, read to residents or perform light chores. Still other volunteers choose to serve as a trusted friend to a patient as they live their final days.Residing on roughly 40 acres, Fairhope’s Pickering House, which offers on-site end of life care, provides privacy and dignity for patients, as well as supportive services to families. But for those who wish to stay within their homes or health care facilities, Fairhope offers solace through community outreach, including hospice care, chaplain guidance, grief support, and education.

“We really pride ourselves on taking good care of patients and family,” Glasure explained. “We serve an hour drive from the Pickering House. If someone need us in the middle of the night, we can get there,” she continued.

And though it is common for families to fear the implications of seeking palliative support, Glasure notes that hospice can both extend the life of a loved one and improve their peace of mind. These positive outcomes stem from the continuum of services encompassed by comfort care, including pain management, planning assistance, wellness programming, and emotional support.

“Please don’t wait too late to come see us,” implored Glasure. “Hospice can help manage physical and spiritual pain. When quality of life improves, it can add days to someone’s life.”

And, as a nonprofit organization, Fairhope offers this sense of solace to patients in need, regardless of income. But the continuity of this hospice programming requires a passionate community to support its mission and share its message.While the proceeds from memorial bricks and pavers support the charitable work of Fairhope, special event sponsorship and general donations are crucial to sustaining the organization’s work.

“Every time you make a donation to FairHope, those donations go right back to helping families,” Glasure shared. Such donations help ensure that all families facing grief have the option of hospice programming – granting equal access to comfort and dignity amid a serious diagnosis.

Tax deductible donations, as well as volunteer inquiries, can be shared through the nonprofit’s website, fairhopehospice.org. And however you choose to support the Fairhope mission, your act of generosity will stay close to home, sheltering vulnerable families, and offering compassion that will live on in memories of serenity and love.

Through Oct. 31, 14 of Fairfield County’s communities, including Stoutsville, Bremen, Lancaster, Millersport, Sugar Grove, Amanda, Baltimore, and Pickerington, will display nearly 250 unique, creative and whimsical scarecrows. See a scarecrow you love? Snap a photo and post it on social media using #FCScarecrows22 and share on the Fairfield County Trail of Scarecrows-Autumn Experience Facebook page. Visit https://visitfairfieldcounty.org for more information, and to access the online map.

Every Friday and Saturday night in October, Rippling Stream Campground (3640 Reynoldsburg Baltimore Road NW in Baltimore) will host its haunted trail. It begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at https://www.ripplingstreamhauntedtrail.com/.

Thank you for sharing your events and ideas! Please reach out to me at tkellyfairfieldcounty@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: County Connections: Fairhope takes pride in caring for patients and families