Mercy Hospice

Mercy Hospice has provided compassionate care to terminally ill patients and their families since 1979, ensuring their physical, emotional and spiritual comfort and care in the supportive surroundings of their residence. Services are provided by a team of Hospice professionals and volunteers, and include pain and symptom management; 24-hour availability of a registered nurse; and bereavement support for a year following the loss.

Mercy Hospice is certified and licensed to provide both Medicare and Medi-Cal hospice benefits and also serves patients with private insurance. Donations to Mercy Foundation help fund care for patients with limited financial means.

Guided by the Sisters of Mercy mission to provide compassionate care to all people, no matter their life circumstances, Mercy Hospice is committed to addressing the needs of the under- and uninsured. Countless patients and families turn to Mercy Hospice for comfort at end of life, and Mercy is there, no matter their ability to pay for services.

MERCY’S LEGACY OF CARING

The word “hospice” originates from the Latin word “hospitium,” meaning guesthouse. It was originally used to describe a place of shelter for weary and sick travelers returning from religious pilgrimages.

Sisters of Mercy Foundress Catherine McAuley was renowned for her hospitality, opening her Dublin, Ireland home to provide comfort to the poor, the sick and the uneducated.

Mercy Hospice embodies Catherine’s spirit of compassion and hospitality by ensuring that those with terminal illnesses live the remainder of their lives with dignity and comfort.

The challengeThe Sacramento region has been particularly affected by the country’s economic collapse, with the number of home foreclosures and unemployed residents here among the highest in the nation. With loss of jobs comes loss of health insurance. A UCLA study noted that the number of uninsured residents increased by 63,000 in just two years, between 2007 and 2009. In turn, a greater number of under- and uninsured patients are turning to Mercy Hospice for end-of-life care.

At the same time, new Hospice regulations have imposed more face-to-face interactions between doctor and patient, including a stringent certification and recertification process. The increased time involved places a significant burden on smaller, nonprofit programs like Mercy’s that typically have limited personnel and financial resources. This burden, coupled with a growing number of patients requiring charity care, is stretching the Mercy Hospice program and its financial resources dangerously thin.

What’s more, a growing number of for-profit hospice agencies with funding for aggressive marketing to health-care facilities and physician groups are gaining a larger share of the end-of-life medical market. These agencies pose a threat to nonprofit faith-based programs like Mercy’s by luring patient referrals to their programs and diminishing the base of insured patients whose payments help sustain the program.

Mercy Hospice must hire additional caregivers to address the growing number of patients with limited financial means and meet new federal regulations for visits. Additional caregivers also will enable Mercy to make longer, more effective visits with patients and families, enhancing care and comfort.

To sustain and enhance its programs, and to continue to provide care to the underserved, Mercy Hospice seeks philanthropic funding from the community for five core areas:

Mercy Hospice endowmentAs health-care funding continues to decline steadily, Mercy Hospice relies more than ever on philanthropic support to sustain its day-to-day operations. An endowment will generate annual income to fund required services for under- or uninsured patients. Endowment funding also will support the work of a medical director who will assist with newly required certifications for patients in Hospice more than six months.

Physician/Nurse Practitioner “House Call Fund”Mercy Hospice currently employs only one part-time physician. To accommodate growth and patient needs, the program seeks endowment funding to recruit and retain at least one additional physician. Funds also would be used to hire a nurse practitioner who would provide primary care, assist with medical certifications, and monitor patients in skilled-nursing facilities.

Program supportMercy Hospice seeks general support for:• Bereavement programs• Unfunded care• Aftercare for families of the deceased• Semi-annual memorial services for families to assist in grief support• A comprehensive marketing program to strengthen community awareness

Volunteer servicesCharitable support will enable Mercy Hospice to strengthen its dynamic volunteer program. Hospice volunteers provide such critical assistance as conducting respite visits; delivering patient-care supplies; providing office support; and conducting pet-therapy visits with dogs through the SOUL (Source of Unconditional Love) program.

Tech fundFunds are needed to purchase laptops and other equipment for new staff and to replace outdated computers.

“In such a difficult time I did not think I could handle, the Mercy Hospice team gave me the strength and knowledge to get through it and give my mom the best care imaginable.”

“Every member of the Mercy team, whether making a call at our home or helping us on the phone, was always professional, kind and compassionate. Our family was blessed and encouraged by the team. We were so thankful for their service.”

How you can help

One hundred percent of your gift to Mercy Foundation will directly support Mercy Hospice; no overhead or administrative fees are assessed.

To learn more about Mercy Hospice and Mercy Foundation, contact:

Becky ThompsonChief Philanthropy Officer (916) 537-5215 | Rebecca.Thompson@chw.edu