STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Wood River Valley lacked services for patients and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses when Ellen Fisher heard about the hospice movement, which was fairly new, having started in the 1970s.

She didn’t leave it at that. She pleaded her case with Alan Stevenson, who was then CEO of Sun Valley’s Moritz Community Hospital—the predecessor of St. Luke’s Wood River.

A breast cancer survivor herself, she left their meeting inspired to start a local volunteer hospice that would offer free end-of-life support care to help keep people in their homes where they wanted to be.

Geri Herbert, who had studied with “On Death and Dying” author Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, jumped in. So did Bonnie Brown Hartley, Dr. Dennis Davis and Carlyn Ring. And they developed a volunteer training program after visiting the Hospice of Marin in San Francisco and St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise,

Moritz Hospital created the hospice’s first office in a large utility closet in the hospital basement.

And today—40 years later—Alan Stevenson now presides over the board of the Hospice and Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley, while Alli Collins, a nurse, serves as its executive director.

The hospice provides a breadth of services not only to those nearing the end of life but others who have debilitating illness that may not be immediately life threatening.

“Our hospice nurses even provided in-person and virtual care throughout the pandemic—incredible care during very difficult times,” said Stevenson.

Indeed, the commitment of the Hospice to those in need of care has been evident. Carolyn Nystrom, who directed the organization from 1990 to 2017, was not only on call 24/7 but also traveled to Challis to care for a young child with AIDS and delivered a bed to Smiley Creek at the request of Karen’s Pharmacy.

She facilitated the move from the basement of Moritz Hospital to the little Red House at 507 1st Ave. N. in Ketchum in the early 1990s with the help of hospice donor Jim Ray, who paid the rent for the first two years. And shortly afterwards she and Nick Nicolai found 12 other donors to make the down payment with Ray paying off the mortgage so they could buy the house.

Not only did she serve as president of the Idaho State Hospice and Palliative Organization and on the State AIDS Prevention Task Force, but Nystrom also established an Endowment Fund just before her retirement.

Over the years, the Hospice has offered such services as grief support groups, a bereavement camp for kids, a caregiver’s group and a caregiver retreat. It’s also conducted Critical Incident Debriefs in conjunction with the hospital and local fire, police, ski patrol and others.

Hospice currently has two nurses on staff who assess a patient’s needs and helps make arrangements to meet those needs. The Hospice has things like toilet risers to loan, and nurses provide symptom management.

Volunteers follow up, offering companionship and welfare visits.

The organization has chosen to remain an independent organization based on donations to give patients and their families the greatest amount of flexibility and access to end-of-life care, rather than being limited by the restraints of Medicare funding, said Collins.

But it follows the Hospice Standards of Care to assure the community of its quality of services. And it’s been hailed as a model in “Providing Hospice and Palliative Care in a Rural or Frontier Area” published by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

“The community has been incredible in keeping us funded,” said Collins. “We can help those receiving treatment even when they’re not dying. A lot of people would fall through the cracks if we couldn’t do what we’re doing. And consistently we hear we’re providing the most amazing care.”

Hospice ‘s services are free thanks to donors and volunteers. One grateful son of a Hospice patient even put together a golf scramble to benefit the organization.

And, yes, Spanish translation is provided. Part of that sometimes involves addressing cultural differences among the Spanish-speaking community. One family, for instance, couldn’t understand why the doctor was giving their mother chemotherapy when it was making her sicker.

“Every town needs a Hospice, and ours is the gold standard for hospice,” said Jeri Howland.  “I’m amazed by the high-caliber nurses who work there and the professionalism they offer to help people be comfortable at the end of life. And Alli is so skilled meeting families in the valley and at the bedside.”

Hospice has had as many as 80 patients on its rolls at a time.  Some patients go into remission after treatment and nurses are able to discharge them.

“It’s such a good support system for patients and their family,” said Erik Griffin, a nurse from Oregon. “The fact it doesn’t have to abide by Medicaid guidelines is such a super power because the organization can navigate around red tape to get the patient whatwill help them the most.”

The hospice has about 65 volunteers. Some of the volunteers began doing so atter Hospice helped their own parents. Volunteers may spend a couple hours a week providing companionship, perhaps even taking baked goods or small vases of flowers to those they visit.

“It’s a real honor to be with people in their last days,” said Sherry Wanner-Steinberg.

“I feel like I’m more comfortable with death because of volunteering with the organization,” said Jeff Steienberg.

Nurse Bridget LaRock said she loves to hear people’s stories about growing up and living in the Sun Valley area.

“I worked in a big operating room in San Francisco for 30 year so this is a lovely change,” said Joanne Squire. “I hope everybody realizes how lucky we are to have a Hospice here.”

Want to know more? Contact 208-726-8464 or visit https://www.hpcwrv.org/contact.