As a hospice in-patient facility is preparing to shut its doors,Brookhaven residents are being reassured that compassionate hospicecare will continue here.

“We have been here for two years, and we plan to continue ourhome care in this area. We want to do everything we can to help thesituation,” said Kimberly Hodges, director of Patient Services atHorizon Hospice in McComb.

Southern Hearts Hospice had one of only two palliativein-patient facilities in the state, with the other located inJackson. Even though they are planning to close the in-patientfacility, Southern Hearts Hospice. along with two other agencies,will continue to provide home hospice care in Brookhaven.

“We’re still going to provide the same compassionate care, butit will only be in the home,” said Paul Bessenbacher, executivedirector for Southern Hearts Hospice.

Hospice Ministries, which has been serving central Mississippifor 10 years, will also continue bringing care to the terminallyill in their homes. They also provide in-patient palliativecare.

“Hospice Ministries represents both in-home and in-patient carebecause we have an in-patient facility in Jackson, WhisperingPines, and we have served Brookhaven with home hospice since 1992,”said Rondah Marks, marketing-development director.

Although Whispering Pines, which has 30 beds, is currentlybooked up and has a waiting list for the terminally ill, officialsfor the non-profit facility are unsure if another palliative carecenter is in Brookhaven’s future.

Marks said the agency has been studying current trends inhospice, and they are looking at all resources to see what wouldbest enrich communities.

Brookhaven residents and some employees of home hospices aresaddened by the loss of a palliative care facility in the area.

“I really, really hated to hear about them closing, because theywere such wonderful people and the next closest one is in Jackson,”said Hodges. “It was so good for Brookhaven to have one because itwas close by. We referred a lot of patients there.”

The announcement to close the doors at Southern Hearts Hospice’sin-patient facility, located on North Jackson Street, is almostfinal, despite requests by patient’s families to keep it open.

Officials with the for-profit facility say the doors must closebecause they are unable to keep up with overhead costs.