First row, Pat Flowers, hospice social worker, Carey Ryon, RN hospice nurse, Kesha Clark, hospice social worker; second row, Christy Bonner, hospice chaplain, Pam Billingsley, hospice CNA, Helen Smith, The Partnership, Leah James; standing, Trish Carney, hospice nurse manager, Carol Schmissrauter, RN hospice nurse.
The care team at Hospice of Chattanooga helped one of its patients celebrate her 104th birthday with cake and punch on Tuesday, July 29. The group sang "Happy Birthday," looked through scrapbooks, and ate cake. Leah James also sang to her visitors.
Ms. James also had a surprise visit from representatives from The Partnership where she worked. Ms. James was the first executive director of the former Family Service Agency now Partnership for Families, Children and Adults where she held that position from 1944-1966.
Helen Smith, Partnership agency writer said Ms. James was the first masters’ level social worker in Chattanooga. During the early years, very few people were professional trained in social work. Ms. James had a dream to improve the social work field.
Upon her retirement in 1966, the staff at the agency surprised Ms. James with the establishment of the Leah James Foundation to make scholarships available to graduate students in social work and to honor Ms. James for her work in the community.
Attending the celebration were Hospice Nurse Manager Trish Carney; Hospice social worker, Kesha Clark; social worker, Pat Flowers; certified nursing assistant, Pam Billingsley; registered nurse, Carey Ryon; Chaplain, Christy Bonner; Ms. James's son, Roy James; Holly Ashley, The Partnership; Helen Smith, The Partnership and Sandra Hollett, CEO, The Partnership.
Hospice of Chattanooga provides end-of-life care to adults and children with terminal illnesses. While attending the symptom management needs of the patient, Hospice also nurtures patients and their families through medical, social services, nursing and spiritual care for all involved.
Each of the clinical teams consist of physicians who make regular visits, registered nurses, social services, bereavement counselors, chaplains, certified nursing assistants and volunteers.
Hospice of Chattanooga, started in 1981, is the largest hospice agency in East Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. The non-profit agency serves 18 counties and has satellite offices in Dayton, Jasper, Cleveland, Chattanooga and Rossville.