Parkview Home Health and Hospice provides services to more than cancer patients or those with terminal illnesses. Hilda Morr of Wolcottville has experienced a lot in her 101 years. Born in East Germany in 1908, Morr spent her early teens living through the devastation of World War I. At 16, she came to the United States, where she and her family lived through the great depression.
As Morr’s daughter, Jackie Hamlin, puts it, “Mom’s life was never easy,” Hamlin continued. “She’s experienced a lot of tragedy, but she never let it stop her. She has always been one to keep looking forward.”
Hilda came to live with the Hamlins in 1988, after her husband of 42 years passed away from cancer. “She always took care of everyone,” said Hamlin, “I promised her she would never have to go to a nursing home.”
Everything was going very well until several years ago when Morr fell during the night on a trip to the bathroom. Although there were no broken bones, Hamlin was concerned and spoke to Morr’s doctor.
“It never occurred to me that mom would qualify for hospice,” said Hamlin. “She didn’t have cancer. She had lost most of her hearing and had occasional lapses in memory, but she wasn’t sick. She was able to use a walker to get to the bathroom, but was becoming more unsteady on her feet.
“Then the doctor told us that mom’s condition was called ‘failing to thrive’ and put us in contact with Parkview Hospice. They have been a godsend!”
Parkview Home Health and Hospice came out and did an assessment of Hamlin and Morr’s home and helped Hamlin set up a first floor bedroom for her mother that was right next to the bathroom. “They adjusted our home so that mom is still at the center of things,” says Hamlin.
Each weekday, a Parkview Hospice nurse comes to the Hamlin home to help Morr with activities of daily living such as bathing and visiting the bathroom. They also provide four hours a week to allow Hamlin to get out to do grocery shopping, visit the hairdresser, or just spend time with a friend. Hospice has helped train several of Hamlin’s nieces and nephews on how to assist Morr on the weekends.
“We just couldn’t do this without hospice,” said Hamlin. “Their caring and kindness means everything to us.”