Hospice Pearl team was such a gift. They tended to my father at his ALF, I was given weekly updates from his nurse and counselor. He had dementia and could be very difficult, but they always found the positive. As he entered crisis status they tended to him and also to me with such tenderness and compassion. Thank you Pearl team , from one grateful daughter. You are angels on earth.
Be aware of the Suncoast person at Morton Plant Hosptial named Kathy. She was assigned my mother but did not do anything correctly. We asked her to speak to our mom, she did not, recommended we do it ourselves. Then she told us the visiting procedures but categorized my mom wrong which delayed my family 24 hours in seeing our mom. If you get Kathy, ask for another representative or your process with hospice will be horrible. As far as the rest of suncoast they where great. Kathy find a new job, your not cut out to do this. PLEASE!
I ve never been treated as a lesser, always been shown a smile, and always given a helping hand.
A safe place for those who suffer from anxiety and every employee/volunteer has a heart filled with gold.
Primarily utilize EMPATH.
I am really disappointed with the Hospice care my mother is receiving at the moment. We had Hospice 13 years ago for my dad and they were great. Now, not so good. The level of attention and care has plummeted. Some people mentioned things changed since Empath Health joined with Suncoast Hospice and maybe that's it. But the difference is amazing and too bad.
We just started hospice so I tell if everything is this good. My mom privately owned hospital bed broke and hospice got one out right away. Tim the driver that delivers the beds made it a quick and easy process. He went out of his way to be helpful (we tried to tip him he wouldn't take a penny!) He is a rockstar in his part of a noble profession!Thank You!
EMPATH SUNCOAST HOSPICE leaves a great deal to be desired. Very dissappointed with their customer care people who answer the phones. Not always professional in their demeanor. I can site many examples, buy, today, was the "icing on the cake" scenario. Mom has been having bowel issues and the NURSING CARE has been TERRIFIC, but, the lady who took our second call, today, on the YELLOW TEAM, was as rude and arrogant as can be. She is very fortunate that I do not know her name, or I would spread this so far and wide, that only her immediate dismissal might help me to overcome my shock, disbelief and extreme hurt by her comment. Comments, by the way, which are unwarranted.
After, I placed a call this am to speak with my mother's nurse about what had happened over the weekend and what I needed, we set up an appointment for tomorrow AM. After a couple of hours, mom began complaining about pain in her stomach and needing help with her bowels. My husband, who is listed as her second health surrogate, placed a call to hospice, asking to speak with a nurse or get a message to a nurse. The yellow team person answering the call said: " this is your second call to a nurse, today. Rosa, already spoke with a nurse, earlier. " after his initial shock, he continued to explain about mom's discomfort, which she was NOT feeling when I had called, earlier. Finally, he was told that a nurse would call him back. now, in all fairness, I have to admit that someone did call him back and as I am writing this we are still waiting on an ETA for a nurse to visit her.
I can only think that the lady's comment can be attributed to plain stupidity and unfortunately, it came out of her mouth as rude. In either case, it is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
As a RN, I understand how important end-of-life care is for both patient & family. I don't know what would have happened without Suncoast Hospice services. The Palm Harbor location had no openings so my Dad was taken to the Largo location. The Dr. & Nursing staff were open, welcoming & compassionate towards all of us--a special place in Heaven awaits them, I'm sure!! I'll be forever grateful for making my entire family--especially Dad--comfortable & at peace! Thank you for everything!!!
The Purple Team helped my mother to remain at her assisted living facility during her final days. The doctor, nurse, social worker, and aide were very nice and professional.
If you have a loved one who needs taken care of Hospice is the place.
Amazing non-profit dedicated to providing quality, compassionate care.
My Grandmother hasnt been doing well. And suspected to be on her way out the door. Hospice has been wonderful we are through suncoast hospice and someone comes three times a week to help me keep her clean and the nurse comes once a week unless i call her before her next visit and she is always here the same day I call. My Grandmother never wanted hospital or extensive care and hospice has been doing a fantastic job heloing the family keep her safe and comforitable. Anything they order for her comes to the front door the same day. Famtastic service and I thankyou for eterniry for helping us make grandmas last months comfy and at home where she wants to be.
I don't know where the recent good reviews come from, but in my personal real life case w/ my wife, THEY STINK ! Empath health visited my wife for 9 months @ least, 1 time each month documenting her down hill progress & writing down her wishes. My wife told me this 6 months prior & she was sharp as a tack, mind you: They promised her that at the time when things are bad, she would seamlessly transition to Hospice care @ their facility & she would not suffer. She told them she DID NOT want to die at home. (THEY LIED to a dying woman).The last 5 days of her life (3/12/18 - 3/16/18), her Empath nurse did nothing, not even returning our phone calls. I should post her name she's so lousy, but I won't. I called her Empath nurse 1st on 3/12 = NO RESPONSE & this is not the 1st time this happened. I had to call it in through her primary care as she was actively dying on 3/12 & then had to call Hospice on 3/13 & complain to get a hospital bed & some supplies, because the Admissions Administrator told me, her husband, "that she could not come to their facility, take her to a hospital or nursing home". Her name should be posted too, as she was totally useless & uncaring too . My family & I provided all my wife's end of life care. Hospice did send out a nurse a couple times to chart her vitals & give her a bath 1 time ( for which I am thankful, that was 2 days before her death from cancer) & on the day she died 3/16/18, they did send a nurse 2 times & she died while the nurse was here @ our house that evening. (Real Nice for grand kids to see, who love coming to grandma's house!) 1 word describes Empath/Hospice right now.. .
PATHETIC. I BET THEY WON'T TREAT THEIR LOVED ONES THAT WAY. Friends look at all the reviews 1st, not just the good ones, you'll be shocked, their actions are criminal. 6 years ago they were great for my mom, not now.
Very disappointed in the care or lack of care given to my father .
Since Empath took over the care is not as good.
I truly wish I could say one nice thing about the staff of this facility. Unfortunately I cannot. My sister was at Largo Medical Center and passed away yesterday morning. It was determined that she was terminal and would not be able to sustain like without the support of many tubes and machines. The staff at the hospital told us that once we make the decision to remove her from life support Hospice would be there to help us through this unbelievable painful time.
We did indeed make the incredibly difficult decision to carry out my sisters wishes. That decision was made approximately 4:30 PM. Within the hour we were relieved and down right happy when two staff members walked into my sister s room. One of the first questions they asked was for my sister s insurance card. As soon as my niece gave them the answer that my sister did not have insurance their demeanor instantly changed. I didn t really think much about it because I had heard such great things about Hospice. She explained that it will take about two hours to get the paperwork processed and things started to begin taking my sister off of life support. So we thought by 7:30 pm the process would start. They explained that someone would be with us during this time to help with questions and support. Well things went completely down hill from here. As my grieving niece is holding the hand of her dying mother she is asked to fill out paperwork indicating how much money my sister had in her bank account. Not one word of sympathy is shown to neither myself nor my niece. Not one word is mentioned about bringing in a counselor or a chaplain. After spending ten minutes of filling out this paperwork the staff member leaves. Twenty minutes later she returns and and explains that more paperwork is needed. Again while my niece is holding the hand of her dying mother she is asked to complete more paperwork. Again nothing is said about a counselor or a chaplain. At this time I specifically ask this person to please keep us updated on the progression and/or plan of how things will proceed. I tell her that this is extremely painful and that we just need to know how things will go. She says she will keep us informed on each step of the process. Fifteen minutes later she is back because she didn t know she needed more initials on more paperwork. So again she has to interrupt my extremely emotional niece to get these initials. Now she leaves and we do not see her again for over three hours. I proceed to call the Hospice phone number and ask for this person who was here to help us. After being on hold for a short while I am told that since it is Friday night no one is working and would we like them to send a chaplain. When the staff member finally returns three hours later (9:30 pm). my niece who is filled with so much pain asks where she has been and thought she was there as support. Hospice lady snaps back that she is not a counselor. We dismissed her letting her know we will not be completing anymore paperwork. No one from Hospice ever came back nor was a chaplain ever sent to help us. My niece was unable to handle it and went home at 1:00 AM. I was alone holding my sister s hand when she died at 7:30 am. It was the most painful night of my life.
The reason I wrote this is to hopefully help another family by telling them to not depend on this facility for support and compassion, unless you can write them a check.
What a horrible experience. Finally fired them today. They are not the only hospice in town. Experienced nothing but issues with them since day one. They are supposed to make my life during this difficult time easier but ended up making it 100 times worse. Goodbye hospice... you were the worst.
Martha Hartman. They where not responsive, I would not recommend them. I was mother in law
Again, I would not recommend empathy health
My Husband passed at you care center at Bayfront on February 17, 2018 very peacefully with the care of Suncoast Hospice. Your staff was so compassionate and made sure I was comfortable at this very sad day. Thank you so much.
Lillian Devries Magella
empathhealth.org