Trellis Supportive Care: Built by the community for the community

Trellis Supportive Care began as a grassroots organization over 40 years ago by local pioneers of the hospice movement. They were inspired to improve the quality of life for patients facing advanced illness, and their families. They believed in a team approach to high quality, compassionate care provided at home – wherever the patient calls home.

This group, affectionately known as the “Back Porch Gang,” started meeting in 1977 on the back porch of Rev. George Bowman’s home. Before long, support came in from local foundations and medical professionals; and Hospice of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County was established, providing care to the first hospice patient in NC in 1979.

That inspiration lives on as teams of supportive care professionals find meaning and purpose in bringing comfort and peace of mind to the patients and families being cared for today.

Deep roots and community partnerships strengthen the mission

Grateful for the trust from the medical community, the long-term care community, and the many businesses and donors who believe in the mission, this community organization has grown and evolved over its forty-plus years.

Not all hospices are alike.

As a nonprofit, Trellis Supportive Care (formerly Hospice & Palliative CareCenter) places one hundred percent of its resources into serving the community. With partnerships and ongoing support, Trellis Supportive Care offers so much more than traditional hospice care. In the 13 counties it serves, some of the offerings may surprise you.

  • Grief Counseling – for anyone in the community facing the challenges of losing a loved one.
  • Complementary Therapies – for patients who can benefit from massage or music therapy.
  • Advance Care Planning – open to all people to discuss and document their wishes for future care, including naming who you would want to make healthcare decisions if you were unable.
  • Veteran Care and Outreach – a very specialized approach to caring for veteran patients. An unappalled outreach effort, including a host of Veteran Coffees throughout the Piedmont Triad, brings untold numbers of veterans together for fellowship and access to resources.
  • Collaborations with hospitals and long-term-care facilities – working together to create communities where people have completed advance care plans, and where partnerships enhance the care of hospice and palliative care patients.
  • Volunteerism – training and utilizing the compassion and talents of over 400 volunteers.
  • The Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home – a “home away from home” offered to hospice patients and families when around-the-clock care is needed for patients’ quality of life.
  • A promise of care – Access to care for all who need it is a commitment from Trellis Supportive Care. No one is ever turned away because they do not have Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.

 

Embracing the Piedmont/Triad

From humble beginnings in donated space at Forsyth Memorial Hospital (as it was known in 1977) to serving 13 counties from offices spread throughout the region, Trellis Supportive Care serves over 425 patients and their families every day. As a nonprofit organization, Trellis has treasured the strong support from the communities it serves for over 40 years, and remains committed to being an independent, responsive organization that thrives on going above and beyond.

Calls are encouraged

Far too many hospice patients and families only wish they had hospice care sooner. That is one reason the supportive care team encourages families to call with questions, or simply to learn more. Understanding how to navigate serious illness is overwhelming, and this organization wants to help provide guidance and peace of mind.

To learn more and get help, call Trellis Supportive Care at 336-768-3972, or visit TrellisSupport.org

 

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