VSU graduate, Amanda Patterson (Hospice of South Georgia and Langdale Hospice House Director), found herself back in Valdosta years after college. She was surprised to find a community that had experienced significant growth, but still maintained its small town feel and charm. Coming in off of I-75 onto exit 22 she even wondered, “Did I take a wrong turn?”

As a registered nurse, she stumbled into the hospice field after realizing that the hospice model of care was the model she was already practicing as a nurse—patient-centered comfort and caring for the patient as a person. At Hospice of South Georgia the goal is to help people make the most of the time they have. This includes relief of physical pain and alleviating spiritual suffering and emotional and family support. Quality of life is priority.

Hospice of South Georgia was recently selected by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to pilot a new program; Caring Connections’ LIVE at work. LIVE at work focuses on the effects that care giving, serious illness and grief cause in the workplace. “I challenge you to find a business that is not impacted by care giving or loss,” said Patterson. LIVE at work is one of the many programs that South Georgia Hospice offers to focus on living life to the fullest.

Part of the Valdosta-Lowndes County community since 1987, Hospice of South Georgia employs 43—with many of the jobs in the knowledge-based sector. The organization also sees value in helping college-students become highly-skilled and experienced members of the Valdosta-Lowndes County workforce, “In this field, there are many things that can only be learned by hands-on experience, and we can help college-level interns with gaining that experience. Sometimes, we train someone who goes to work for someone else in the community, and that’s OK…It helps our community,” said Patterson.

Visit www.hospiceofsouthgeorgia.org for more information.