RESTON, Va. – Compassus recently sent a team of local medical volunteers, including Bogalech Kebede, CNA, of Reston, to assist Living Hope, the company’s sister hospice program in South Africa. The Compassus team, which included two physicians, five registered nurses, two certified nursing assistants, a social worker, volunteer coordinator and chaplain, spent a week in Cape Town educating and assisting the Living Hope staff.
“I was truly blessed to be a part of the Compassus Living Hope team this year. It was a wonderful experience to see firsthand what the organization is doing to bring hope and change to the people of Cape Town,” said Kebede, a certified nursing assistant for Compassus – Reston.
Through a partnership started in 2011, Compassus donates monetary aid, medical supplies and healthcare expertise to support Living Hope’s healthcare and hospice services in the impoverished township communities of Cape Town, South Africa.
“I am so impressed by the achievements already made by Living Hope, from home-based care to door-to-door services to provide residents with much-needed healthcare services,” she continued. “But there is still more work to be done to fight poverty and diseases so apparent in the communities. I am committed to help Living Hope, and encourage others to do the same.”
Living Hope, a ministry-based nonprofit, offers healthcare services, counseling and education to more than 200,000 underprivileged residents in Cape Town. Living Hope’s programs focus on improving general health and hospice care, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, and economic empowerment. Living Hope provides healthcare for more than 36,000 South Africans annually through in-home visits, medical clinics and a 22-bed inpatient hospice center.
Compassus supports Living Hope in three ways: funding, education and hands-on medical assistance. The company matches voluntary employee donations to the dollar every year and will also assist Living Hope with necessary medical supplies and equipment.
“As members of the hospice team, we have a calling to deliver compassionate care not only in our local communities, but also to those around the world. This partnership allows us the opportunity to do both,” said Colleen Swick-Ordini, regional vice president of Compassus. “We are proud of our team of volunteers and the work they did on this recent trip, and look forward to continuing to support the program in the future. We encourage other organizations and individuals to join in the effort.”
For more information about Compassus — Reston, visit compassus.com or call (571) 262-5200.
About Compassus
Compassus is a nationwide network of community-based post-acute care services focused on hospice, palliative and home health care. The Nashville, Tennessee-based company was founded in 2006, but its roots in hospice reach back to 1979. Today, the company operates more than 96 hospice, palliative and home health programs with 151 locations in 31 states across the U.S. The mission of Compassus is to honor life and offer hope to individuals facing serious or terminal illness by supporting them with a common culture focused on three core values: Compassion, Integrity, and Excellence. Compassus employs more than 4,500 colleagues who provide a range of home health, hospice and palliative services and other resources to benefit patients and families. Our primary goals are to provide the highest quality post-acute care in every community in which we operate, and to be both the provider and employer of choice. For more information please visit our Chantilly, Virginia page or follow the company on Facebook or call (877) 377-1607.
Media Contact: Carol Fite Lynn
Director of Communications
(615) 480-0335
Carol.Lynn@compassus.com
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