By Emily Enfinger | The Selma Times-Journal

SouthernCare Hospice Services has opened a local office next to Vaughan Regional Medical Center.

The hospice offers care for patients with terminal diagnoses of six months or less to live and who have chosen to focus on pain and symptom management.

“We care for their normal daily needs,” said Mary Susan Crovato, hospice care consultant of SouthernCare.

Crovato said hospice isn’t a place but a plan of care, which allows patients to receive care wherever they call home.

“I remember reading a quote from Billy Graham one time. He said, ‘I’m not scared of dying, I’m scared of the dying process.’ For me, that’s where hospice comes in … it takes fear away,” said Beverly Morgan, registered nurse and director of operations at SouthernCare.

The company is based out of Demopolis and serves surrounding counties. Crovato said even though the hospice already served Selma and Dallas County, the company saw a need for a local office.

“There were so many patients in this area that could benefit,” Crovato said. “We wanted a local hospice with local nurses that could help these people.”

Morgan said having local nurses and staff matters to patients and their families.

“Having people who are known in the community, patients like that,” Morgan said. “They don’t want a stranger from another city coming in to take care of them. They want local girls and guys.”

Since hospice is a Medicare/Medicaid benefit, the services provided are at no cost for the patient or their families.

“No one is ever denied of this benefit, even if they don’t have insurance,” Crovato said.

Crovato said she and Morgan both grew up in Selma.

“We believe in Selma and want the community to be taken care of,” Crovato said.