Local representatives explain hospice services, benefits to Senath council

Rodgers explained to the council that most individuals believe that the program is for people who are imminently dying.

"That's not true," Rodgers said.

She noted that hospice does not go by time of life but by criteria. The criteria includes some terminal illnesses that hospice frequently works with, according to Rodgers.

She added that the definition of terminal illnesses is "an incurable disease that could lead to death."

The criteria examines where the specific individual is in terms of the level of the illness and a physician makes the judgment to place the patient on hospice, according to Rodgers.

"People do not need to wait on a physician, they need to take their health care into their own hands," Rodgers said. "They are spending their life savings and are missing out on the things that we provide."

She noted that the organization tries to bring the patients on as early as possible and that their were no restrictions on mobility.

"We have some that work a job, travel, golf, fish, shop, and anything they feel like doing," Rodgers said.

If an individual is on oxygen 24-hours per day then they are probably eligible for hospice, according to Rodgers.

"We need to find these people and let them know there is something out there for them," Rodgers said.

She added that once the individual has Hospice, all of their medical supplies, medical equipment, and medical attention is provided.

This is a Medicare benefit, although Medicare is not needed for the service, according to Rodgers.

She noted that the company takes care of all ages and has had a couple of infants in the last year.

Hospice is paid for through Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, and the costs not paid are absorbed by the company, according to Rodgers.

"It doesn't cost anything to have Hospice," Rodgers said. "We never bill a patient or their family, no matter the circumstance."

Of the eligible people in Southeast Missouri, 77 percent are not using Hospice, according to Rodgers.

"That's because they are not informed or misinformed," Rodgers said. "We need to find those people and let them take advantage of it."

Mayor Joe Lane noted that he had seen Hospice in action and that he believed it was a "very good thing," and that he was "very impressed."

Also during the meeting, Lane noted that a house had been donated to the City of Senath located at the corner of Maple and South Main Streets.

He added that City Attorney Johnny Dalton was working on getting everything completed.

"Our plans are to demolish the building," Lane said.

Alderman Patsy Davis and the Senath Women's Club were also commended by Lane during the council meeting for their recent work with the Senath Christmas Parade.

Davis noted that the first place prize went to Faith Baptist Church, second place went to Chris Droke, and third place went to Hornersville Baptist Church.

"I would like to personally thank the police department for everything they did," Davis said. "They made sure the roads were restricted and taken care of and they did a good job."

Lane noted that the police department also did do a good job and also commended the Park Board for their work in the park.

"I think it looks great," Lane said.

Following this discussion, Senath Fire Chief Kent Montgomery explained to the council that the Senath Volunteer Fire Department had a total of 13 calls in the month of November.

He added that the calls included nine calls for a first responder, one vehicle fire, one cotton picker fire, and one grass fire.

The department, so far, has had 140 calls for the 2009 year, according to Montgomery. He added that last year's total was just 97.

"The first responder is really picking up and a lot of towns north of here are doing this," Montgomery said.

"I think it is a good thing, but we do not need 12 people to go pick somebody up and out of the floor," Lane said.

Montgomery noted that some of the dispatchers in the county had been screening the calls.

Lane reiterated, "I do think this is a good thing."

Police Chief Omar Karnes followed Montgomery with the police report.

Karnes noted that the department had 87 calls logged with 26 traffic stops resulting in three DWI's, four no license, three no insurance.

Also the department had 10 medical assists, one fire assist, three prowler calls, two burglaries, four motorist assists, seven dog calls, three meth searches, one possession of marijuana, 11 peace disturbances, two assists to Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, and one shoplifting, according to Karnes.

"It was a very busy month," Karnes said.

He added that in January he would provide a yearly total of calls.