I remember exactly where I was the day I got a text from my friend, Sarah Cooper, that Heritage Home Health & Hospice had created a new job position, the first of its kind. She thought I would be perfect for the job. You rock, Sarah! She told me I should apply for the job as soon as possible, but I was nervous. Up until this point, I had only worked retail jobs. What the heck did I know about home health or hospice? It was 2020, and I felt pretty lost at the time, just wandering aimlessly through life. I was trying to find some solid footing. I wanted purpose or direction for my life, as we all do.
I am no nurse. Trust me, you do not want me to be your nurse! I have shaky hands, and everything grosses me out. The position I was applying for was in marketing. Still, my doubts kept me up at night. How would I market something with which I was unfamiliar? I gave myself a little pep talk, “BAILEY! Step out of your comfort zone if you want your life to change! No one ever achieved anything great taking zero risks!” I knew that millions of people face these doubts every day, and still, they rise, face their fears, learn, grow, and evolve in the process.
I applied for the job reluctantly, interviewed twice reluctantly, and accepted the job offer, you guessed it, reluctantly! The last time I had been as nervous as I was on my first day at Heritage Home Health & Hospice, I was trekking down the hall to the principal’s office, knowing I was in deep trouble in sixth grade. But what I would give to go back and fully appreciate the blessing I was unknowingly walking into on my first day at this new job, trembling knees and all! Hindsight is truly 20/20.
My job is to be a bright, smiling face in the community representing Heritage Home Health & Hospice in and out of all their nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and memory care centers. I do my best to bring joy to residents’ days. Yes, that is my JOB! I cannot believe it either; it seems too good to be true.
When you think of hospice, you may think of death and nothing else. I say that bluntly because I used to believe the word hospice was synonymous with death, too. That can be pretty depressing and quite grim. When I started this job, I thought, how am I supposed to sell what we do to the world as something other than just being depressing? I am here to inform you that hospice does not equal death—some patients live receiving hospice care for years.
I guarantee you that the people I have met through our hospice services in these facilities are far from depressed. The wisdom, love, care, and guidance I have received around a domino table from these wonderful, empathetic, caring humans—not just patients—but human beings, is immeasurable.
We have put together various activities for these residents underneath the Heritage Home Health & Hospice name. We have had a snow machine at Christmas, margaritas, been on “Hawaiian cruises,” and made scarves. I even wore a turkey suit for Thanksgiving last year and let the residents shoot me with Nerf guns. Yes, that happened.
I never knew I could learn so much from these wonderful people. I have learned that life is so beautiful, and we should hold everything dear to us while we still have the chance. There are so many misconceptions about what home health or hospice is, which is why I am so proud to work for Heritage Home Health & Hospice. I now work in a different role as the digital media manager running their social media, but I can still see the positive impact our services have on these humans and their families. I am proud to educate my community on hospice and its importance.
Hospice is about transitioning from one chapter to the next. We are aid and comfort during the difficulty of that transition for both the patient and family. Before this job, I had never worked in anything healthcare related a day in my life. Through this process, I have learned that empathy and compassion will always be my top priority in any career field I choose in the future. Treating people with love, dignity, and respect is the Heritage Home Health & Hospice way, and I have now adopted it as my way too.
LOCAL EVENTS
October 1
Hospice of Texarkana Jeans and Bling
Texarkana Convention Center, 7 pm-10 pm
October 1
Texarkana Museums System
Twilight Tours
7 pm
October 1
United Way of Texarkana Battle on the Border
Dolly Parton Look Alike Contest
Battle on the Border, 6 pm
October 3-31
Williams Memorial United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch
Sunday-Friday, noon-dark
Saturdays, 9 am-dark
October 4
National Night Out Block Party for Pinson Park
6:30 pm
October 7
HandsOn Texarkana 14th Annual Tapas and Wine
Collins Home, 5 pm
October 7-9
Lucky Dog Barrel Racing
Four States Fairgrounds
October 8
Rockin’ That Extra Chromosome Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
Downtown Texarkana, 10 am-2 pm
October 8
University of Arkansas-Texarkana Casino Night
Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center, 7 pm-10 pm
October 8
Cosplay Crawl
Downtown Texarkana, 6 pm
October 9
Healthcare Express Fall Market
Silvermoon, 2 pm-6 pm
October 14-15
Gayble Moss Memorial Golf and Tennis Tournament
Northridge Country Club
October 14
Downtown Live!
Downtown Texarkana,
6-9 pm
October 14-16
Watson Team Roping
Four States Fairgrounds
October 15
Tough Kookie Breast Cancer Race
Texas A&M University-Texarkana, 8 am
October 15
Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimers
Spring Lake Park, 8 am
October 15
Oktoberfest on the Line
presented by Farmers Bank and Trust
11 am-10 pm
October 20
Book Club Sponsored by Texarkana Public Library, 3 pm-4:30 pm
October 21
Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk
Kress Gap, 8 pm
October 22
Mutts Gone Nuts
Perot Theatre, 5 pm
October 26
Orthopedic Specialists of Texarkana Lunch and Learn—Hip and Knee Pain Treatments
Silver Star Smokehouse, 11:30 am
October 27-30
The Little Mermaid by Silvermoon Children’s Theatre
October 28
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Perot Theatre, 8 pm
October 29
Bowie County Livestock Club Show
Four States Fairgrounds
October 29
Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk
Kress Gap, 8 pm
October 31
Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk
Kress Gap, 8 pm
For more events visit
LIVE MUSIC
October 1
Elvis
Redbone Brewery, 7 pm
October 2
Michael W. Smith WayMaker Tour
Perot Theatre, 7:30 pm
October 8
Zuill Bailey with the
Texarkana Symphony Orchestra
Perot Theatre, 7 pm
October 21
Monsterboy Lives
The Hideout, 9 pm
