Terri Braun / April 25, 2022
SM Spotlight Crater Community Hospice
If you’ve ever had a loved one who needed end-of-life care, then you know how important it is to find a place that offers the compassion and attention needed at this time, and also feels like home. That’s where Crater Community Hospice comes in.
Established in 1995, Crater Community Hospice is a locally owned non-profit organization that provides hospice services to the community of Central Virginia.
Crater Community Hospice’s mission is to educate the community on serious illness and end-of-life concerns as well as provide patients and families with quality care and supportive services.
As Chief Executive Officer, Zach Holt has a passion for helping those who need it.
“Crater has given me the opportunity to do right by the patients. I’m the guy who will look for money so we can spend it on our patients,” he said.
As such, Crater Community Hospice offers various programs unique to the industry, like in-home respite, which is contracted with a third-party company. It also offers music and massage therapy, and support programs for caregivers and family members.
Zach believes that being small gives Crater Community Hospice an advantage. It can make decisions as they go because there is no need to go up the corporate ladder.
His experience comes from working with larger corporate hospices, where there’s always a challenge being able to spend money on patients.
To help with funding, Crater Community Hospice owns two thrift stores, with no personal ownership in the organization so any extra funds go directly toward patient care.
Because Crater Community Hospice recognizes that not everyone can afford quality, comfortable end-of-life care, it will often cover costs for patients who may not have insurance, helping with expensive medications and additional therapies. Patients are never turned away based on their ability to pay.
Zach said, “the reality is that it’s helping that one family that needs our support. Anyone who’s facing end-of-life challenges, they have a lot of questions and need a lot of support.”
Being connected to, and supporting the community is extremely important to Crater Community Hospice. It is involved with We Honor Veterans, where it empowers hospices and community organizations to meet the unique needs of America’s Veterans and their families by offering guidance and resources.
Zach also stresses that it’s important to pursue care for your loved one as soon as it is apparent that they are in need of hospice.
“When it comes to contacting hospice, it’s important to not delay the conversation – no one wants to talk about death or dying – but it’s an important conversation to have so don’t hesitate,” he said.
To learn more about hospice care, volunteer opportunities or ways to donate, you can reach Crater Community Hospice by phone (804) 526-4300, email [email protected] online at https://cratercommunityhospice.org/
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