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A Legacy of hope
By Connie Beard
Published February 6, 2010
End of life is a time of retrospection, a period when many people take the time to put their lives in order, address end of life issues and prepare for the inevitable.
No one knows this better than the nurses and staff at Legacy Hospice in Paris.
“We take care of terminally ill patients,” said Ann Adams, RN and community care coordinator of Legacy Hospice. “We want people to live the fullest life possible and be comfortable.”
The hospice assists with equipment such as hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, walkers and wheelchairs and skilled nurses work with the patients and their families. Nursing assistants help patients with basic necessities such as bathing and social workers and a chaplain is on staff to help with the spiritual consulting needs of their patients.
“We take care of the whole patient, and that means the family, too,” Adams said.
The Paris office is part of Legacy Hospice based in Tyler. Other offices are located in Mineola, Longview, Sulphur Springs and Pittsburg. The local branch has been in Paris since November 2006 and has a full staff of up to 16 employees. The Paris staff assists more than 30 clients through the last months of their lives.
The owners of Legacy Hospice have also created a nonprofit organization, The Hope Foundation, for seniors who live in East Texas.
The Hope Foundation’s goal, “Giving back to our past ... one wish at a time,” provides funds to help fulfill wishes to anyone who is 85 years or older or who is 65 years or older with a terminal disease.
“The foundation has granted several wishes, but none have been from Paris,” Adams said. “We’re looking for people to grant a wish to.”
One elderly man, at 103 years of age, expressed a wish to attend a Texas Ranger’s game. Not only was The Hope Foundation able to grant his wish, he also received a Rangers baseball cap and a jersey, rode to the game in a limousine with three of his friends, and enjoyed the competition from box seats provided by the Rangers in the Jose Cuervo Club.
One women recently asked for a trip to Harlington, where she had met her future husband at the cinema. City officials presented her with a key to the city and a tile from the cinema.
Another woman’s “greatest dream of all” was to ride in a hot air balloon. The Hope Foundation brought boarding passes for the woman and her daughter. She was 85 at the time.
“The wishes are something they want to do or a place they want to go,” Adams said. “We have the funds, just no applicants.”
Applying for a wish requires filling out an application and writing a personal letter describing the wish, why help is needed to fulfill it and the importance or significance of the wish. Once the Hope Foundation receives the application and letter, they will verify eligibility, contact the applicant with any questions and get started on the wish.
There are a few items the foundation is unable to fulfill: Requests for cash, automobiles or property; requests involving foreign travel or visas; or requests to pay for medical treatments or legal assistance.
Applicants must be at least 85 years or older, or 65 years or older with a terminal illness.
Information and applications are available at hopefoundationtyler.com,; call 903-581-4406; email hopefound2(at)aol.com; or by writing to The Hope Foundation at 120 East Southtown Dr., Suite 400, Tyler, Texas 75703.
The Legacy Hospice in Paris at 903-784-1147 also has applications on hand. The office is located at 3305 N.E. Loop 286 Suite F.
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