St. Francis Reflections: Teaming with Families to Dignify End-of-Life Care
For over 40 years, St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care has provided compassionate end-of-life care for patients and their families. Today, St. Francis Reflections offers a variety of services to support residents throughout Brevard County, including palliative care, hospice care, and grief support for adults and children.
The highly skilled teams at St. Francis Reflections are working to change people’s perceptions of hospice care. The goal is to help each patient live his or her remaining days to the fullest, while maintaining comfort and dignity. Their individualized focus allows patients and their families to cherish their remaining time together.
“From family to food and faith, we know every patient has different priorities on how they want to spend the last few months of their lives,” said Cami Leech Florio, chief strategic officer, who recently experienced caretaking for her dad. “Every person who comes onto our service is given a chance to tell us what matters most to them, so we can be mindful of their priorities and preferences.”
Jennifer Creel, clinical director of operations at St. Francis Reflections, says sooner is better when it comes to deciding to enter hospice care. Generally, patients can be referred to hospice by their physician if they are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness of 6 months or less. Studies show that patients receiving hospice care typically live longer than those who don’t receive hospice services.
Each patient is supported by an entire hospice care team, which includes a registered nurse, a home-health aide, a social worker, and a chaplain. The visit nurse is in charge of the medical management of the patient’s symptoms. Health aides assist with personal care, such as bathing, dressing, changing sheets, or simply providing companionship. The team’s social worker listens, provides counsel, and helps patients and their families make decisions for advance-care planning. Chaplains provide spiritual support and connect patients and their families with members of their local faith community.
The team is there not only for the patient, but for the entire family, as well. Teaching caregivers how to best assist their loved one is a big part of the job.
“Being a caregiver is hard,” Creel said, “and new to a lot of people, so they don’t know: ‘How do I change the sheets with my loved one in the bed? How do I properly care for skin?’ The hospice aides not only do that, but they teach it, so people can be more prepared.
“We also help caregivers understand what may happen next. It’s our job to identify when things are changing for the patient.”
Robert and Betty Lane
Robert Lane, 90, and his wife, Betty, 85, have been married for almost 70 years. The couple spent over 40 of those years working for Team Missions International. Beginning when their daughter was 16, they traveled as a family to over 50 countries. In each new place, the Lanes worked with local teens to build orphanages, churches and other necessary facilities. Robert Lane served as vice president for Team Missions International for over 25 years before taking medical leave to care for Betty, who was diagnosed in 2019 with dementia.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better life than we’ve had,” Robert Lane said. “We’ve had a wonderful life, we felt we’ve contributed to society, to people who are less fortunate. We feel that was what God wanted us to do and we are so happy that he chose us to do it.”
When Lane needed additional support to care for his wife, her doctor recommended St. Francis. The team addresses her medical needs and helps him with personal care — and all in the comfort of their own home. They have taught him how to best care for her when they are not on site.
“They taught me a lot about how to do the things that she needs done. They have been very professional and very generous in the way they have taught me,” Lane said. “I am 90 years old, so I am not the strongest, but I know my faith has brought me through. I have always asked God for strength and help and to allow me to be here as long as my wife is so I can take care of her.”
Frances Bley
Frances Bley, at 103 years young, is healthy, spirited, and self-sufficient. She grew up in Pennsylvania but moved to Brevard with her husband after he fell in love with the area while on a vacation here. She has outlived her husband, her daughter, and her two sisters. She has two grandsons, who both live out of state. The support she receives from St. Francis allows Bley to continue living at home on her own.
Bley takes walks daily, cleans her own home, and does her own laundry, but the companionship and assistance provided by her St. Francis team helps her maintain her independence, which is important to her.
Bley says being full of energy is the key to her longevity.
“Keep moving,” she said. “Keep yourself active.”
Bley’s nurse, Rachael Browne, jokes she has to chase her to take her vital signs.
“She never sits still. She is always finding something to do around the house. And she won’t take a nap, because she is afraid she might miss something.”
St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care
1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville
866-269-4240
Facebook: facebook.com/stfrancisreflections
Services:
- Hospice care
- Palliative care
- Pediatric palliative care
- Grief support for adults and children
- Advance-care planning
- Caring for patients’ pets
- Veterans care
What is Advance-Care Planning?
Designating how you want to be cared for if you become seriously ill.
- Who would make your healthcare decisions if you are unable to do so?
- What kind of medical care would you want or not want if faced with a serious illness?
- What type of pain control do you want and when should it be administered?
- What comfort measures will be important to you at the end of life?
— St. Francis Reflections
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