Back in March, Aultman reached the end of its "Together, We Can!" employee fundraising campaign. During this three-week initiative, Aultman employees were given the opportunity to show their support for our patients by choosing one of the many available funds to contribute a small gift  – and we saw an astounding number of our Aultman team open their hearts to our patients!

In the months following the campaign, we couldn’t be more proud of the difference our employees have made. After raising more than $2,000, our employees have enabled the staff at The Aultman Women’s Board Compassionate Care Center and all members of the Aultman Hospice Care Team to meet the needs of families requiring end-of-life care for a loved one. With more than three decades of experience throughout Stark County and the surrounding areas, Aultman Hospice offers the experience and knowledge families need and can trust during one of life’s most difficult times.

In 2016, 834 hospice patients benefited in some way, whether directly or indirectly, from donated funds. And there are many ways these gifts enrich the time that patients and their families spend in our service. Donated funds have been used for patient education, to cover the expenses for annual memorial services and to cover living expenses that families are unable to handle while a loved one is ailing.

Some specific uses for past gifts include:

• Patient education booklets
• Cab fare for a patient’s husband to come visit her in the Compassionate Care Center when there was no other way
• Covering the cost of a water bill for a home hospice patient
• Providing groceries to a family in need
• Purchasing bed pads to provide to home hospice patients
• Covering hospice care, including stays in the CCC, for patients who have no insurance and no other means to pay for their care

“Without donated funds, we would not be able to facilitate the special requests of patients or meet all of their needs," said Jody Hershberger, director of Aultman Hospice and Palliative Care. "We would not be able to provide care to those without insurance or the means to pay for care.” 

The entire Hospice Care Team is thankful for those whose contributions help them to serve families in need. For more information about Aultman’s Hospice Care and the work that they do for our patients, click here.