Good Shepherd Hospice Lakeland, FL

Good Shepherd Hospice gave us such comfort knowing there was someone we could talk to at any time. The staff are so caring and patient with both the family and the patient. It gave my sister and I needed reassurance and helped us with bathing, home visits, medical equipment. You are all such wonderful angels to our loved one. Thank you so much.

I was very happy with our experience at Good Shepherd hospice. They were very professional and caring. The RN who was in charge of my fathers care during his last day explained in detail exactly why he was experiencing the symptoms that he was. She explained the dying process in full to where I could understand. She explained that understanding the dying process makes it easier to accept. She was correct.when my father passed she was in the room and stayed to comfort my stepmother and I. She also provided us with a beautiful poem, 'I'm spending Christmas with Jesus this year'. The loss of my father was and is devastating, but Good Shepherd Hospice did their best to make it a little easier. Thank you.

My family has been totally left on it's own to figure all aspects of hospice out (I had to actually google morphine, respite care and all the other basics). The nurse managers were miserable and took it out on their aids. Presently my father has transitioned into the active dying phase and the on call nurse told me they are too busy to send a nurse. A friend had to tell me about the emergent morphine pack and had me call hospice back to get dr to give us a dose. They are on complete skeleton staff shut down on the weekends. When my dad was still able to ambulate and take a warm shower he was not taken into the shower for three days because the nurse manager 'forgot' to update his orders. There were two great aides and one superior on call nurse. Everyone else didn't want to hear from you...the annoyance was palpable over the phone. Several times, not just once, the secretary allegedly did not pass on messages regarding the social worker and request for a call back regarding a pharmacy order not delivered. I cannot tell you how this experience has totally clouded my view of hospice. Yesterday a friends dad died in another hospice care provider in Lakeland and, honest to god, I cried at the difference of their experience. I am actually a present client and I will never forget the lack of organization, compassion and professionalism these people displayed. It's a money making business, and don't think you don't feel it at every turn. When an aide is in your house a 'supervisor' actually calls them over a walkie talkie type device to ask them questions about other clients.

The absolute best nurses I've ever encountered ... Extremely competent, compassionate, and caring people!