Tell us about your organization: Circle of Life is an independent not-for-profit organization and the largest provider of hospice services in Northwest Arkansas. We have been honored to serve the community for more than 25 years.
Mission: Our mission is to provide compassionate end-of-life care for a person's body, mind, spirit and family when there is no longer a cure. We do this through a variety of programs including care navigation, home and inpatient hospice care, pediatric hospice and palliative care, perinatal transitions in care and grief care.
Art of Hospice
Who: Circle of Life
What: Multi-course dinner, wine pairings inspired by artworks
When: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2
Where: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville
Tickets: $250
Attire: Black-tie
Information: (479) 750-6632 or nwacircleoflife.com
Service area: Circle of Life serves all of Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties. Most of the people we care for are in their homes, nursing homes or assisted living, but we are also blessed to have two beautiful inpatient hospice facilities, one in Bentonville and another in Springdale.
Average number of people served annually: Our two largest programs are hospice care and grief care. In 2017, we provided these services to 3,428 people in Northwest Arkansas.
How is your organization's mission unique? Our mission is unique because we have the opportunity to engage with patients and families during a precious and sacred time. Our team is focused on helping people improve their quality of life and find peace and comfort during the final chapter of their lives.
Why do you work for a nonprofit organization? Do you have a personal connection to the mission? If so, what is it? I work for a nonprofit organization because I have a passion for serving my community and ensuring the highest quality health care possible.
What have you learned on the job that you didn't expect? When I joined the Circle of Life team almost 10 years ago, I was immediately impressed by how patient focused everyone in the organization was, from the nurses to the housekeepers and the accounting staff. Everyone is laser focused on what is best for those we serve, and it is a blessing to be able to be a part of and help support that kind of culture.
What challenges face your organization? Our greatest challenge is helping people understand what hospice care has to offer and that is it not only for the final days of life. It is intended for the last six months of life, but we typically have people under our care for much less time than this. We hear all too often that people wish they had known about us sooner, so we do a lot of education and outreach in the community to inform people about our services and how we can support them when they need us.
Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization? What are they? Absolutely! We have opportunities to fit just about anyone who would like to join our team. Volunteers help provide companionship to patients, greet people at our inpatient facilities, help with events and assist with office work or special projects.
What upcoming fundraisers and/or other events does your organization have planned? Art of Hospice is our annual fundraising event scheduled for Nov. 2, and it is held at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Circle of Life could not provide the exceptional care we are known for without the help of the community. Their generosity allows Circle of Life to serve patients regardless of financial constraints because we believe everyone deserves high quality end-of-life care. Funds raised during this event help support the Earlene Howard Hospice Home in Springdale, the Hospice Home at Legacy Village in Bentonville, and all those we serve in their own homes, nursing and assisted living facilities.
If anyone would like information about Circle of Life services, please visit our website at nwacircle oflife.com or call us at (479) 750-6632.
-- Carin Schoppmeyer
cschoppmeyer@nwadg.com
NAN Profiles on 10/20/2019