Russell and Fern de Greeff Hospice House

Russell and Fern de Greeff Hospice House, now known as St. Anthony's at de Greeff Hospice House, in St. Louis, Mo., provides traditional hospice care to terminally ill individuals who do not have a caregiver available to care for them at home. Patients requiring de Greeff Hospice House services may have a caregiver who is unable to care for them any longer, symptoms that cannot be managed at home or no caregiver or resources to hire outside help.
History
The hospice was greatly expanded in 1969.
In 1998, Russell de Greeff was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was admitted to St. Anthony's Medical Center, St. Louis, Mo. He and his wife, Fern, saw a need and established an endowment for a freestanding hospice house to care for terminally ill individuals who had no one to care for them in their homes. Russell de Greeff died in June 1998, one year before the hospice house opened in 1999.
In 2006, the Hospice House expanded to care for 18 patients from the original 10 patients. Fern de Greeff died at age 100 in January 2010. Her name is now synonymous with generosity and hospice care in St. Louis, Mo.
Hospice Services
A coordinated, interdisciplinary team provides medical and support services from one plan of care. The program includes:
* Physician services
* Nursing services
* Home health aide services
* Social services
* Pastoral care
* Bereavement care
* Volunteer services
* Inpatient care
* Respite care
* Nutritional counseling
* Medications related to the terminal illness
* Medical supplies
* Medical equipment
Facilities
St. Anthony’s at de Greeff Hospice House is located on 3-1/2 acres of wooded property on the campus of St. Anthony's Medical Center. It provides a secure, home-like setting for patients at the end of life.
* 18 private bedrooms
* A kitchen and two dining rooms
* Sitting and family rooms
* A chapel
* Beautifully landscaped grounds, outdoor trail and patio with BBQ facilities, walkway and stone grotto
Awards and recognition
Hospice House has been the recipient of numerous awards and a best practice study of scores of national and international delegations of health care professionals.
* Co-founder Fern de Greeff has been recognized by numerous organizations throughout the community for improving the lives of others.
* In 2004, Fern de Greeff received the St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award.
* In 2005, St. Louis County proclaimed Feb. 23 as Fern de Greeff Day.
* In 2006, Fern de Greeff received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care Association.
* In 2007, Fern de Greeff received the prestigious Medal of Honor from the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with the DAR Missouri state award for Outstanding Women in American History, honoring women who have made America a better place to live.

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