710 Friends of Solace

Today, we are seeking friends and businesses in our community who will help us bridge the gap we currently face in keeping our doors open and staying ready and able to provide hospice care to those who need it.

Hospice is a specialty, much like cardiology, pulmonology, or oncology; and that is not something we take lightly. Hospice professionals established Solace Hospice, and our mission is one we hold fast to — At Solace Hospice of Southwest Virginia, we provide expert, heartfelt care for individuals and families facing life’s final chapter. Rooted in our community, we walk alongside you with dignity, honesty, and unwavering support — because no one should face this journey alone.

If you are in a position to help us keep this mission alive and allow us to move forward, please do. Click one of our donation links, hand a check to any member of the Solace Hospice team, or go to any Burke & Herbert Bank and ask to make a deposit to Solace Hospice of Southwest Virginia’s account. Donations are tax deductible, and we are thankful for each one.

Solace Hospice of Southwest Virginia has worked hard over the past 11 months to prepare to serve our community. We saw an opportunity and a need for a local, independent, nonprofit choice for end-of-life care and worked to make it a reality. We wrote the policies, trained the staff, obtained the contracts, had the survey, and got our license.

Only to face an unexpected obstacle two weeks later when a nationwide moratorium on new hospice enrollments was announced.

This blanket moratorium is in response to reports of fraud primarily in four states — none of which were Virginia. We believe in the need to fight fraud and ensure compliant care. This was one of the key factors in our decision to open an independent nonprofit. What we do not believe in is penalizing legitimate providers, who have not yet had the opportunity to prove themselves, for the actions of others.

Solace, along with other advocates, continues to communicate with CMS, Representatives, Senators, and more about the drastic unintended effects of such a moratorium. However, it could take weeks or months before we see a change in the policy, if we see a change. In the meantime, to keep our doors open and provide end-of-life care, we need the support of those who believe in the value of an independent, nonprofit hospice in rural Southwest Virginia.

Nonprofit does not mean bill-free. It takes almost $10,000 a month to keep the doors open and ready to serve any eligible patient who calls — much of this cost (66%) is rent and required insurances. Without an office space and the insurances required by the state and our contracted vendors, our license is void. And, because we are a startup without proven revenue, we are not eligible for traditional commercial funding.

Solace Hospice of Southwest Virginia has done everything required to be able to serve the residents of Wythe, Smyth, Bland, Grayson, Pulaski, and Tazewell counties, as well as the City of Galax. But because of the fraud of large companies in other states, we may have to close our doors before we ever get to serve our first patient. That is a decision that we do not take lightly and do not want to make.

So, this is our appeal to our communities to help us bridge the gap as we continue to fight for our right to enroll with Medicare and other payor sources.

What can you do to help keep the doors open?

A $100 donation from 300 community members or businesses would keep Solace Hospice of Southwest Virginia open for three months and available as a choice for those in our communities who need end-of-life care. And we know there are some who may be able to donate more. Likewise, there may be some who cannot afford $100 but believe in our mission and want to donate what they can. We mean it when we say that no donation is too small.

We do not make this appeal lightly. We know that times are tight for most right now. We have invested everything we have into building Solace and preparing to serve our communities.

Our vision, since even before we began this journey, has been simple: “We envision a community where every person facing the end of life has access to compassionate, high-quality hospice care — close to home, grounded in dignity, and shaped by the values of the people we serve.”

If it is within your capabilities, please help us keep this vision alive and Solace Hospice of Southwest Virginia ready to serve.

We commit to continuing to do our part and to always providing high-quality, compliant care to each patient and family we serve.

If you believe Southwest Virginia deserves a local, independent, nonprofit hospice option, please consider making a donation today.

If you cannot donate, please share this update. Sometimes the person who can help is only reached because someone else took the time to share.

And above all, please keep us in your prayers as we know many have done over the past year. 💙💛🕊️