Reflecting Life, Love, and Compassion
For over 40 years, Hospice of St. Francis provided help and hope to Brevard residents at one of life’s most challenging stages. In August, they adopted a new name, St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care, to better communicate the wide range of services the organization provides.
As caregiver for his wife, Doris, Ferris Goria saw firsthand the loving care provided by the nurses of St. Francis Reflections. Doris had Alzheimer’s and was a patient at Addington Place of Titusville. Ferris visited her daily, staying for four or five hours. There, he watched the interactions the St. Francis staff had with the other patients. And when the time came for Doris to require compassionate care, there was no question who he would choose as her provider.
“The nurses from St. Francis were very compassionate and sincere,” Goria said. “It was like night and day compared to the other providers. They took the best care of my wife and my family. It was amazing.”
St. Francis Reflections is Brevard’s longest serving, non-profit provider of compassionate care services. Founded in 1977 by Titusville nurse Emilie Sasko, St. Francis offers hospice care, palliative care, and the Space Coast’s most extensive array of grief support services. The organization recently unveiled a new name and logo to better reflect the legacy of care they offer and the depth of their mission.
President and CEO Joe Killian explained the reasoning for the change. “We are well beyond the traditional hospice only picture. Our services are expansive compared to what we used to do. We wanted a new name to reflect the scope of the services we provide.”
Despite the challenges of the current pandemic, St. Francis continues to serve its patients and their families. Their grief support programs are open to the entire community, even if their loved one was not a St. Francis patient.
“For a number of years, we have offered an array of diverse programs that meet people where they are,” said Chief Strategic Officer Cami Leech Florio. “We have people who lost a spouse of 50 years or maybe someone dealing with the unimaginable loss of a child. We have traditional support groups, walking groups, groups that meet for social engagements, journaling groups, and even groups that incorporate arts and crafts. Things look a little different these days, with social distancing.”
More than a year after his wife’s passing, Goria still participates in a weekly support group each Thursday. In fact, Goria’s experience with St. Francis was such a positive one that he is now in the training program to be a volunteer. He hopes to work with Alzheimer’s patients and their families.
“I still need the support,” Goria said. “It feels good to speak knowing the other people have grieving issues, too. Sometimes there is laughter, which is good. I always feel better after the meeting than I do before.”
Something for all
The St. Francis Reflections Foundation is the fundraising arm of the non-profit. The money raised helps fund community wide events and ensures every patient is served, regardless of ability to pay. This year, the foundation’s annual event, Legends, will be a week-long virtual tribute to those whose kindness and philanthropy have brightened our community.
For a donation, families may nominate “living legends” and “legacy legends.” From November 16-20, each legend’s story will be shared through a custom video tribute.
Family is at the forefront of everything at St. Francis. Grief support is available to all who need it, free of charge. They offer support groups, family visits, social gatherings, and remembrance services. The organization has child grief specialists on staff who help children express their feelings through play, stories, and peer interactions.
Planning for pets, too
Even patients’ furry friends are included. St. Francis knows that pets are not just animals, but a part of the family. They know pets bring patients and their families joy and strength. Their unique Pet Pledge program helps hospice patients ensure a long-term care plan for their pets.
With the help of the St. Francis Reflections Foundation, the organization recently unveiled an on-site dog park at their in-patient care center in Titusville.
“Thanks to the foundation, we now have a gazebo, water, and shade in a dedicated space for people to visit with their dogs while they visit with their loved ones,” Killian said.
Virtual Holiday Help
St. Francis Reflections plans special events each holiday season to help grieving families. Most of this year’s events will be held virtually.
Another one of St. Francis Reflections’ signature events is Lights of Love. For this unique, uplifting experience, majestic oak trees are decorated with hundreds of twinkling lights dedicated to those who were loved and lost. There are trees in north, central, and south Brevard. For a small donation, families can dedicate a light in memory of their loved ones. Trees will be lit starting Nov. 5 and, everyone is invited to visit whenever they wish to remember those they have lost.
“We anticipate Lights of Love to be very well attended and extra poignant this year,” Florio said. “So many families were not able to honor their loved ones with the funeral they would have wanted to.”
St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care
1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville
6905 N Wickham Rd., Suite 403 Melbourne
321-269-4240
Facebook: facebook.com/stfrancisreflections
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