Rosanne Schmidt has been involved in the medical field her whole career and is very familiar with the hospice program. “It’s a wonderful benefit to those at end of life, for both the patient and the family,” she said.
What Gaia Home provides that hospice does not is a home environment outside the home. Rosanne said, “This is especially beneficial to patients that may not have a home where they would be able to receive hospice services, or family members to help with their care at home.”
It wasn’t until Rosanne personally experienced hospice with the passing of her father that she realized how important a facility like Gaia Home could be. “Fortunately I am from a large family and several of us are health care providers, so we were able to care for my dad in his home, where he wanted to be at the end of his life,” she explained. “But my role as caregiver was difficult.
“Gaia Home is a wonderful option for people who can’t stay in their home or who don’t have available caregivers. Instead of being a caregiver, I could have been the daughter going through the end-of-life journey with my siblings.”
Rosanne is currently on the board of directors and operational board of Gaia Home. She said, “Gaia Home has given me an opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to me throughout my professional career. It’s an innovative and incredible concept, and I am honored to be a part of bringing it to our community.”