Evaluating when and how to choose hospice is difficult for anyone facing a life-limiting illness. It’s a time when care and compassion matter most.
Lutheran Senior Services Hospice Care is a faith-inspired agency with a holistic and comprehensive approach to hospice. Together, our staff has over 100 years’ experience in providing hospice-related services. We have helped many people and their families find a peaceful path through end-of-life concerns, and we can help you too.
Call 314.446.2539, e-mail us today, or scroll down to learn more.
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Hospice Care
1150 Hanley Ind. Ct.
St. Louis, MO 63144
314.446.2539
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When We’re Needed
Hospice care is for anyone whose life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its normal course of progression. It is needed when treatments that emphasize a cure are no longer effective, when the focus shifts to pain and symptom relief to make the remaining time of life comfortable. Cancer, congestive heart failure, ALS (Lou Gehring’s disease), end-stage kidney or liver disease, chronic lung disease, AIDS, and / or a stroke are all familiar diagnoses in which hospice care is appropriate.
People can enter hospice at various stages during their illnesses, but beginning services earlier can provide greater benefits and an extended period of support. In most cases, it creates increased comfort for the patient and allows a greater opportunity for the family to prepare for the future.
Where Hospice Is Provided
We offer care in the place the person calls home, whether that is in a private residence, a retirement community, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home.
Why Choose Lutheran Senior Services Hospice Care?
Our strongest attribute is our staff. Each member of the Lutheran Senior Services Hospice Care team believes wholeheartedly in touching lives and making a difference during a person’s remaining days. Each family we assist becomes part of our family. Our commitment to well-being extends beyond helping you through this difficult time and continues with an ongoing bereavement program. We promise to:
- Communicate honestly and help everyone involved understand what to expect.
- Use our expertise to allow a natural, peaceful, and dignified death.
- Be there to listen, grieve, celebrate life, and show the love of Jesus Christ to all we serve.
When Care and Compassion Matter Most.
Hospice is a philosophy of care that embraces a holistic approach to health and well-being. This all-inclusive care focuses not only on physical needs, but also on family relationships, spiritual comfort, and emotional health.
During this time, faith traditions become increasingly important. A Lutheran Senior Services Hospice Care Chaplain is always available to offer scripture readings, prayers, rites of confession and absolution, along with any other rituals vital to a person’s beliefs. Our chaplains strive to include each patient’s church community in the care provided, encouraging as much involvement as possible.
And while Lutheran Senior Services is rooted in the Lutheran tradition, our care reaches beyond to all faiths and beliefs, and we meet each patient and family on their own terms.
Our Chaplains
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Rev. Nathan Ruback
Chaplain & Bereavement Coordinator
ph 314.446.2538
nruback@lssmo.org
Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator, Rev. Nathan Ruback is an ordained Lutheran (LCMS) Pastor with three years’ experience in hospice care. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Pre-Seminary Studies and Theological Languages from Concordia University Wisconsin, a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary – St. Louis and five units of Clinical Pastoral Education; CPE Summer Unit with LSS at Laclede Groves and CPE Residency with the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. He joined the LSS team in 2007. Currently, he lives in Florissant, Missouri, with his wife Amanda and son Ian.
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Rev. Patrick O’Neal
Chaplain
ph 314.446.2386
poneal@lssmo.org
Rev. Patrick F. O’Neal is a hospice chaplain for LSS. Prior to his current position Patrick served in LSS’ Affordable Housing Communities for four years. Patrick is a 2004 Concordia Seminary graduate and received Clinical Pastoral Education training in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Village at Manor Park. Raised in Philadelphia, a graduate of Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, Patrick now calls St. Louis home. He and his beautiful bride, Sara, recently celebrated 11 years of marriage. Their two children Miles and Sophia are a daily reminder of God’s wonderful love to all. Patrick’s passions and hobbies include being a father, reading, yard work, and receiving joy through making others laugh. His favorite scripture passage is Philippians 1:3.
Getting Help
Call Lutheran Senior Services Hospice Care at 314.446.2539. Our staff is always available to answer questions and support you in any way possible.
Service Areas
We serve St. Louis city and county as well as St. Charles and Jefferson counties.
LSS Hospice Care is under the leadership of…
Cheri Murphy, RN
Director of LSS Hospice Care
ph 314.446.2564
cmurphy@lssmo.org
Cheri Murphy, RN, director of Hospice Care, joined LSS in 2007 because she strongly believes our organization lives its mission and for the opportunity it gave her to start a faith-based hospice agency. She graduated from St. Louis Community College at Meramec in 1992 and has over 14 years experience working in home health and hospice. Her favorite pastime is being a grandma to her grandchildren. Hospice is her passion because it gives caregivers the ability to spend as much time with patients as they need.
Volunteer Opportunities
LSS Hospice Care is always seeking caring and compassionate volunteers to assist patients and their families in a number of ways. Look below for some ideas of how you can help:
- Companionship – friendly visits, casual conversations, reading books or the newspapers, or writing letters
- Support for families – grocery shopping, running errands, or other necessary household tasks that caregivers would perform under normal circumstances
- Sitting with patients – providing a caregiver with needed time away from the house
- Office support – typing, filing, and other administrative tasks
- Other – please contact us if you have a particular talent or interest you’d like to share (playing a musical instrument, caring for a family pet, etc.)
We match each volunteer with patients and their families depending upon skills, interests, and availability. To make sure you are comfortable, a thorough orientation to volunteering for a hospice agency is provided.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact 314.446.2528 or e-mail rfees@lssmo.org.
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Lutheran Senior Services serves older adults of all faiths, regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or handicap, except as limited by state and federal law.
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