Tennessee Hospice Organization

About the Tennessee Hospice Organization

The Tennessee Hospice Organization was founded in 1989 to represent the state’s hospice providers. According to the 2003-2004 Joint Annual Report for hospices in Tennessee, there were 47 hospices serving 31,751 patients and families from all 95 counties in the state. For a listing of licensed hospices in Tennessee, visit http://www2.state.tn/us/health/HCF/Facilities_Listings/facilities.htm. Hospice is a philosophy of caring for the terminally ill. This philosophy holds that end-of-life care should emphasize quality of life. Hospice is about the living that goes on during the time between diagnosis of a life threatening illness and death.

THO Contacts

Helen “Pixie” McCord Mills, President 931-920-6117 [email protected]

Gary Maxey, President-Elect 615-963-4642 [email protected]

Sally Aldrich, Past President 800-968-8326 [email protected]

Pat Green, Secretary 865-925-9130 [email protected]

Andy Gardner, Treasurer 731-664-4220 [email protected]

Norman McRae, At-Large Director 865-694-4762 [email protected]

Patrick Cash, At-Large Director 931-484-4748 [email protected]

Recent Informational Newletter

TENNESSEE FALLS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE-ONLY 29% OF AMERICANS HAVE A LIVING WILL

The Anniversary of Terri Shiavo’s Death May Remind Tennesseans of the Importance of Advance Care Planning

NASHVILLE, TN, March 31, 2006— While today marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Terri Shiavo, people around the world will be reminded of the public and private debates over her tragic situation. Another tragedy is that situations similar to Shiavo’s continue to happen every day in Tennessee, forcing families to make difficult healthcare decisions for loved ones who have no written advance directive. These recurring situations have brought attention to the critical need for advance care planning.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that only 29% of Americans have a living will. Helen “Pixie” McCord Mills, president of the Tennessee Hospice Association (THO), says the Tennessee average is significantly lower, in the 15-20% range. Mills also says THO is committed to increasing this percentage, as well as awareness of the importance of advance care planning.

“Increased awareness is especially important to THO,” says Mills. “Not only because our members deal with end-of-life decisions on a daily basis, but because all Tennesseans are affected by these decisions.” Like Shiavo’s case, Mills says it is common for families to be torn over who has the right to make decisions for the patient. “Ultimately it is the patient’s rights and wishes that we should be working with,” she says. “Difficult situations are made much worse when family members, partners or friends disagree about end-of-life issues.” She continues, “It is a matter of individuals making their wishes known, to be prepared for any situation. That’s what advance care planning is all about.”

Mills also reports that the state has an abundance of options for advance care planning, and that increased awareness will hopefully encourage individuals to take advantage of those options. “Advance care planning can be as simple as talking openly with loved ones about your wishes,” Mills continues. “It can also be complicated because these decisions can be very personal and difficult to think about. You must also consider there are always new and complex technologies and treatments that can sustain life even when an individual has no hope of recovery. But no matter how complicated someone may think these decisions are, it’s always better to make them in advance.”

Mills also adds that the state’s forms are clear and simple. To view or download Advance Directives forms for Tennessee, visit http://www2.state.tn.us/health/Boards/AdvanceDirectives/#Forms.

Online Resources

http://www2.state.tn/us/health/Boards/AdvanceDirectives.index.htm offers up-to-date information about Advance Directives in the state of Tennessee.

www.caringinfo.org offers state-specific advance directive information. Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, provides information as part of the “It’s about how you LIVE” campaign to improve end-of-life care.

http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/HydrationCR.pdf provides information about artificial food and hydration at the end of life.