×

Hearts full of compassion

Neighbors: Profiles of our community

Dr. Nancy Long, a board-certified hospice and palliative medicine physician, is driven by the power of compassionate care. “I get close to people very quickly during an important time in their lives,” she said. “That is a gift.”

Years before she made the leap to medical school, Dr. Nancy Long did what anyone might do with a bachelor’s degree in geography: She grabbed her passport and headed to the airport.

But somewhere between her home state of Massachusetts and the other side of the world, Long says she realized medicine was her true calling.

“I wanted to do something of service,” she said.

So, she applied to the University of Massachusetts Medical School and began taking prerequisite courses.

But life took an unexpected turn that year.

In December, Hospice Maui debuted the long-awaited Hospice Maui Hale, a 4,500-square-foot, five-bedroom inpatient hospice care facility.

“My mom got sick,” Long said.

As she cared for her dying mother at her family’s home, Long says there were many unanswered questions.

“We didn’t know what to do, what to ask for — nor who to ask,” she said. “I wish I’d known where to turn or how to ask for hospice care. I know now that hospice would have helped.”

The experience left an indelible mark on Long, who decided to specialize in hospice and palliative medicine during her first year of medical school.

“It was the only place I felt I fit in the medical field,” she said.

In 2002, after completing her residency at Brown University, Long became the associate medical director of Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island. There, she ensured that patients with life-limiting illnesses spent their last days in comfort, while embracing the family in her efforts.

“When we care for people who are dying, it’s not a medical event, it’s a person- and family-centered experience,” she said. “The family is the unit of care.”

In 2008, Long visited Maui for the first time and was instantly smitten with the island.

“I remember thinking: “I’d love to live here,'” she said, yet it seemed improbable at the time.

But serendipity followed her home to Rhode Island. One afternoon, she opened her mailbox to find a letter from Hospice Maui; it was seeking a full-time physician.

Long says she was immediately struck by the letter’s emphasis on compassion, along with one phrase that seemed to jump off the page: “low tech and high touch care.” She figured it was a long shot (the letter had been sent to an entire network of palliative care physicians), but decided to apply for the job anyway. As it turns out, it was a good decision: The following year, Long was settling in as the new medical director of Hospice Maui.

“It has been a life-changing experience to do this here on Maui,” she said. “I feel so blessed to be a part of this community.”

Since it was founded in 1981, Hospice Maui has provided care, companionship and compassion to terminally ill patients on Maui, helping them live their final days in accordance with their wishes. The organization’s impact cannot be overstated: It brings comfort, peace and dignity to those with advanced illness, and assists families in their time of grief and bereavement.

“The end of our story, the final chapter of our life, is so important. It’s an experience that affects people physically, emotionally and spiritually,” Long explained. “We hold the space for all of that.”

In December, Hospice Maui debuted the long-dreamed-of Hospice Maui Hale, a five-bedroom, 4,500-square-foot inpatient facility for seriously ill patients. The homelike design features a full kitchen, living and dining room, seven bathrooms (including three private bathrooms that open onto enclosed lanais) and laundry and storage rooms.

“We are so grateful to the community, because the community made this happen,” Long said.

When she joined the Hospice Maui team in 2009, Long says she was caring for up to 20 patients at a time. Eight years later, she and her staff now care for close to 70 patients wherever they live — in their homes, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities or the Hospice Maui Hale.

Long cherishes the connections she’s formed with her patients and their families, as well as the perspective she’s gained as a hospice physician.

“I am constantly reminded of how precious life is,” she said. “This experience has enriched my life in ways I never expected. I receive so much more than I give.”

Long routinely dispels common myths and misconceptions about hospice care, including its cost. Hospice Maui is a Medicare-certified hospice provider, and Hawaii’s major health insurers, including Medicare, HMSA, Kaiser and Medicaid, all offer a hospice benefit.

Even so, the nonprofit organization provides care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. That’s where the Hospice Maui Kokua Fund steps in to help: The fund supports patients and families who require assistance not covered by insurance, such as room-and-board expenses for those staying at the Hospice Maui Hale or Hale Makua Health Services. Every penny donated to the Hospice Maui Kokua Fund will help someone on Maui, Long explained.

“We exist to serve the needs of Maui,” she said. “Hospice Maui was born and raised here . . . it’s Maui’s hospice.”

Long acknowledges that talking about death is rarely easy, but says it’s the most important conversation you’ll ever have.

“It can be scary and uncomfortable,” she said. “But you should know what resources are available to you and your loved ones. If you have questions, call us directly. We are here to help.”

For Long and the rest of the Hospice Maui team, every day — every patient, every family, every situation — is different. But the one constant is compassion.

“That’s what drives us,” she said. “Our hearts are full of compassion.”

To learn more about Hospice Maui or to inquire about donor or volunteer opportunities, visit www.hospicemaui.org or contact 244-5555 or mail@hospicemaui.org.

* Sarah Ruppenthal is a Maui-based writer. Do you have an interesting neighbor? Tell us about them at missruppenthal@gmail.com. Neighbors and “The State of Aloha,” written by Ben Lowenthal, alternate Fridays.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
     
Support Local Journalism on Maui

Only $99/year

Subscribe Today