A safe, comfortable, and peaceful home-like setting for underserved people who have been given a terminal prognosis and need somewhere to stay and someone to care for them in their final days and weeks.
Sound on…..
What is Catholic Comfort Care Homes (CCCH)?
CCCH is a 501c3 which was founded in September of 2022 by Kim Derrick. Kim worked as a registered nurse in the hospice field for over 11 years. Through her first hand experiences, she witnessed time and time again the disparities of the underserved who had been given a terminal diagnosis and were in need of hospice care. Medicare and other insurance agencies do not pay the cost of room and board. Nor do they pay for dependent care needs of the hospice patient.
CCCH is a response to an ever growing need in our community. The nonprofit organization creates and manages homes throughout Middle Tennessee. These homes are peaceful and home-like for the residents who call them home for the remaining days or weeks of their life.
Over the last two years, CCCH has managed a pilot project at 200 Thompson Lane. The home is called Heart of Mary House. This is a 900sq ft, 2 bedroom home. They have cared for 31 individuals with a terminal prognosis. The need for expansion grew very quickly, as 5 to 10 terminally ill people are turned away each week due to space constraints. The overall experience has been exceptional and extraordinary! The home rotates caregivers for 3, 8-hour shifts each day. Volunteers are welcomed and encouraged to be involved, as well.
The Residents who are served in the home do not pay anything for their stay or the 24/7 care. No payments are received from insurance. No government funding is received to operate the homes. The homes are funded through private donors and businesses.
The CCCH are not medical facilities and a license is not required. Medical care inside the home is provided by each Resident’s hospice team, which is overseen by their hospice Medical Director. The caregivers in the home become like family for the Resident, and they care for their needs much like a family member would do if the Resident were at their actual home.
Each Resident is:
- under the medical care of a hospice agency
- has a DNR
- has a prognosis of three months or less.
“In the weakness of the sick, I saw emerging evermore clearly a new strength– the strength of mercy. In a sense, the sick provoke mercy… by their illness and suffering they call fourth acts of mercy and create the possibility for accomplishing them.”
St. Pope John Paul II
Support Heart Of Mary House
Heart of Mary House is a 501c3 non-profit and is dependent on the generosity of volunteers and donors to fulfill its mission. Volunteers help with household needs like cleaning, cooking, laundry, companionship, praying, reading, and hands-on care if desired by the volunteer. All residents receive care free-of-charge. The non-profit relies completely on funds raised through community contributions.
