SouthernCare Jackson

About Us

SouthernCare, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest hospice providers. SouthernCare was founded in 1995 and is based in Birmingham, Alabama. Today, SouthernCare, a privately owned company, has over 75 offices in 15 states and provides care to over 3000 patients each day.  SouthernCare offices are located in non-metropolitan areas which have a demonstrated need for hospice services. SouthernCare provides hospice services to patients who reside in private homes, group homes, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities.

Each SouthernCare office is managed by a Clinical Director and a Community Relations Director. Each of these individuals lives and works in the area served by their office. In addition, each SouthernCare office employs a dedicated Care Team composed of Registered Nurse Case Managers, Social Workers, Hospice Aides and Chaplains. Volunteers also provide valuable support to our staff and our patients in the office as well as in the patient’s home. SouthernCare currently has over 1400 full and part time employees.

Long Term Care & Hospice

Americans are experiencing a longer life span than ever before. It is estimated that by the year 2030, one in five Americans will be over 65 years of age. The number of elderly individuals who do not have a support system which can provide residential care continues to increase - long-term care helps to fill this critical need in today’s health care community.

In contrast to the rapid decline that precedes death from cancer, individuals typically found living in senior living environments generally suffer from multiple chronic conditions which cause a slow steady decline in functional ability that culminates in extreme debility and ultimately death. Often as the result of their slow decline the chronically ill patient’s terminal status is not recognized and adequate support prior to death is delayed or never obtained.

The hallmark of hospice care is that it is provided wherever you live – this includes group homes, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities. Unfortunately, hospice services are generally underutilized in long term care environments. When utilized, hospice, working in conjunction with the long term care facility staff, is able to support the patient and their family as they move through end of life challenges.

When a long term care resident is enrolled in hospice, the hospice staff focuses on managing the patient’s symptoms, reducing the need for hospitalizations and improving patient and family satisfaction with care. Pain management is often a critical issue. Many elderly individuals who live with daily pain either are not receiving adequate pain management or are getting treatment that is inconsistent with current pain management guidelines. Hospice staff possesses the needed expertise to comprehensively evaluate and manage pain and other symptoms.

The hospice-long term care partnership allows patients to receive care from a team of end-of-life professionals that specialize in humanizing the very difficult task of dying. Hospice care provides psychosocial and spiritual support in addition to pain control and symptom management. Hospice staff also provides education and skills building to family members and facility care givers to assist in decreasing the concerns and anxiety which exist when individuals are dealing with death and dying. Family members of patients who received hospice care report improved satisfaction with the care their loved one received and their overall end of life experience

Grief & Bereavement

Grief is the normal response to loss, whether that loss is a person, an animal or even an object. Terrible! There are multiple reactions to grief; altered sleeping habits, loss of appetite, physical illness, emotional instability, family conflict, to name but a few. Grief experiences have similarities but there is no right or wrong way to grieve.

Stages of Grief

While several stages of grief have been identified they occur in no particular order and not everyone will experience these various stages:

• Shock: Emotional and/or physical shutdown
• Denial: Disbelief “I can’t believe they’re gone”
• Anger: Mad at someone; self, family, medical profession, even the deceased
• Bargaining: Attempt to recover the loss
• Depression: An overwhelming sadness
• Testing: Seeking realistic solutions to recovery
• Acceptance: Beginning to live again

No two individuals grieve the same. While there are similarities in the grieving process, grief is intensely personal. There is no right or wrong way to grieve.