Manila Lions welcome Legacy Hospice representatives

Amy Bohannan, RN, and Kristen Owens, volunteer coordinator, with Legacy Hospice were guest speakers at the Manila Lions Club meeting held Wednesday at noon.

Lion Tony Crowell introduced the guests and expressed his appreciation to them for sharing information about Legacy Hospice serving in 17 offices in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Osceola office serves the Manila area.

Bohannan spoke about services offered to patients and families. She said they have five doctors on the board, they have nurses, chaplain, and personal care aides on staff.

Legacy Hospice was established to provide home care for terminally ill patients.

Patients are not billed for services. Reimbursement comes form Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.

"We treat our patients like they are our own family," she said.

Owens spoke briefly about the volunteers who work with Legacy Hospice. Volunteers can relieve the care giver so they can run errands, do light housework, provide companionship for patients who do not have family, and work in the office.

"We appreciate our volunteers," Owens said.

She said the bereavement volunteers stay in contact with families for 13 months after the death of a family member offering support.

They opened the floor for questions.

The Manila Lions meet at the elementary school at noon on Wednesday. School will be on spring break next week so the Lions will meet at the airport terminal building at noon March 21.