Caring Hearts and Hands opens in Columbia to 'celebrate lives'

Those facing end-of-life care decisions have a new home where loved ones can receive that attention in Columbia.

Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia, part of the Omega Home Network, is a nearly all-volunteer-driven alternative to institutional hospice care at 1307 W. Broadway, the former home of a St. Raymond's Society transitional home for expectant mothers. The organization held an open house Friday.

Caring Hearts is not a hospice provider, but does work with those agencies in being able to provide a space to care for those at the end of their life, said Kasey Kronk, operations director.

The home can serve two guests at a time and features a main entrance office area for Kronk, an area for hospice care providers to work, a kitchen, a large living space, two bathrooms and an outdoor deck. Work is happening to provide space for family members who may stay at the care home.

"It starts with hospice. You have to be on hospice to be able to come and be a guest," Kronk said. "From there, the hospice agency does a referral and the agency also has criteria they have to meet before they come here."

Caring Hearts is unable to accept those with IVs or with certain wound care concerns. Once an agency thinks the criteria are met, the referral is made and family members can come to meet at the home to view it and ask questions. Kronk expects to start receiving referrals Monday and possibly having guests in the home by the end of the week.

Care at the home is provided free of charge, lessening that burden on families. Caring Hearts is able to provide the service for free via community donations, fundraisers and sponsorships. Since the organization is 90% volunteer-run, Kronk encourages people to seek out Caring Hearts and sign up to volunteer.

"This is a home away from home for people. Some people in their own house can't take on this challenge," Kronk said, such as keeping track of medication schedules, being able to lift a loved one or inability to put a job on hold to care for a loved one, among other examples. "When guests come here they already know they are at the end of their life and most likely will pass away here.

"We want to celebrate the life they have had. It's a circle of life. When you come here it's not a huge tragedy, so let's celebrate the life you have lived."

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: End-of-life care home opens in Columbia