When Hospice Becomes Home: A Gilchrist Manager’s Personal Journey
When Hospice Becomes Home: A Gilchrist Manager’s Personal Journey
With a career spanning 27 years at Gilchrist, where she now serves as the Inpatient Business Manager, Nickie Carroll-Smith recently encountered a personal transition when both her grandmother and mother came to need hospice care. The journey began in April of 2023, when Nickie noticed her 95-year-old grandmother’s health was declining. A few months later, Nickie faced another challenging decision regarding her mother’s deteriorating health. “I knew we needed some extra support and resources. Just working at Gilchrist for the time that I have…I knew it was the right decision. I knew that if I wanted anybody to care for my family, it was the Home Care Team at Gilchrist.”
It was important to Nickie for her mother and grandmother to receive hospice care together at the home they have shared for decades and where Carroll-Smith was raised. “We laugh because I always call them Thelma and Louise,” Carroll-Smith says with affection. This flexibility was a key factor in Nickie’s decision. “It’s important for me to keep them together,” she explains, “They always are looking for each other- really feed off of one another.”
Unfortunately, Nickie’s mother and grandmother were not the first experiences that her family has had with Gilchrist. In 2010, her father was admitted to Gilchrist Towson with terminal cancer. “Things escalated really quickly. It was very short before he went in transition to the inpatient unit. But his last days were his best days.”
Gaining trust in the diverse staff caring for her family was additionally important for Carroll-Smith. “For African American people, trust is really big. So, coming into this, you always have that sitting in the back of your mind,” she says, “My mother struggled with the loss of her independence; it’s difficult to ask for help when you’re at your most vulnerable. So, her ability to trust them… that was really huge. I think if people took the time to really be educated about hospice, they might change their minds,” Carroll-Smith states, “That’s why I thought it was important for me to tell my story. Because I think having a different face…seeing people that look like you, helps. I want people to understand you can trust us and we’re going to help you through the process and just answer any questions that you may have.”
A common misconception is that hospice care is unaffordable. Nickie aims to correct this view. “One thing that Gilchrist does, and they do well is meet people where they are. It doesn’t matter their financial status or their inability to pay,” Nickie explains, “A part of my work now is I handle a lot of the finances and I can tell you, a lot of times, it’s charity. When family members realize this, it’s like a burden is lifted that it’s not going to cost them anything because nobody wants at the last minute to have a huge bill, right?”
Nickie’s mother and grandmother have profoundly influenced her, and she understands the importance of ensuring they live every moment. “My mother and my grandmother are a huge part of who I am today. I can never repay them for all they’ve given me. So, when we did call Gilchrist, it was really important for me to make sure that they know that we’re going to be on this journey together. I don’t know what’s ahead of us, but I do know we’ll face it together.” *Note: Regrettably, Nickie’s grandmother, Shirley E. Coates, passed away on January 14, 2024, following the completion of this article. She was cherished throughout her lifetime and will be deeply missed by her five children, fifteen grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, as well as by her nieces, nephews, and numerous friends.