For generations, there’s been major distrust between our community and a racist medical system – and for good reason. But many of us may be missing out on important end-of-life care, and low-cost alternatives are hard to come by.
Hospice is an end-of-life service meant to care for patients with six months or fewer to live. Data from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization shows that Black Medicare patients and their families don’t use hospice as often as they should!
But one Black-owned Hospice agency is working to change this.
Heart and Soul Hospice in Nashville opened with the sole intention of serving our community. In Nashville, only 19% of hospice patients are Black, although Black people are 27% of the population.
Hospice could be a great option – especially over expensive nursing homes – because it’s usually free and paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private healthcare plans.
We should all know this: "Just as you are entitled to unemployment, as you are entitled to Social Security, you are entitled to a hospice benefit," says Keisha Mason, Heart and Soul's Director Of Nursing.
Leaning on a Black-owned hospice agency like Heart and Soul could ease the anxiety associated with medical mistrust, and provide culturally-comfortable service at the end of our loved ones’ lives. Our community deserves medical care made with us in mind.