New Hospice Opens in Jasper to Provide End of Life Care

BY: DAVID SHEPHERD, NEWS DIRECTOR / E-MEDIA MANAGING EDITOR 

JASPER -- A ribbon-cutting was held Wednesday afternoon on the new Hosparus Health office in Jasper.

It’s located on Jasper’s north end near the Dollar General store.

"We've been providing hospice care for about 40 years in southern Indiana," says Phil Marshal, president and CEO of Hosparus Health.  "We really felt like this community is a special community, a special place to be; That we do things a little bit differently like this community does.

Gwen Cooper is the chief external affairs officer for Hosparus.  She says don’t wait until the last few days or weeks of a loved ones life to call Hospice in.

"We are here long before our patients are eligible for hospice.  The longer they are involved with us, the opportunity [is there] to create more moments and that's what it's all about."

Cooper added, "We really want people to be able to take advantage and not be afraid of the word hospice.  Because, hospice doesn't mean [you're] going to die tomorrow.  It means [you're] now eligible for a type of care that is unprecedented and, actually, a beautiful and wonderful transition for the family."

If you need Hospice care for a loved one, the first step is getting a referral from your doctor. 

Hosparus works with Memorial Hospital and other area health care groups.

Tomorrow on WITZ Radio News.... hospice care for kids.  It’s something Hosparus is now offering to residents in our area who need it.

We’ll talk more with the experts about planning for the unthinkable Friday on your local news on 104.7 fm WITZ.