topic Re: Hospice in Community Chat

Hospice

~moxie~ — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:29:45 GMT

When my husband decided to go to hospice I was impressed with the nurses and care takers. When he passed we gave them $5000. Since that happened they call me several times a week asking for donations. It has gone to the point that since I have caller ID I don't answer their calls. Has that happened to any of you? I told them several times that I am okay. But they end their conversation with a request for another donation.

Re: Hospice

muttmom — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:32:30 GMT

This happens with almost all organizations we've supported. You almost have to get rude before they'll stop soliciting for more.

Re: Hospice

croemer — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:34:19 GMT

Shame isn't it. You should not be hounded. We too had to use their services when my father became so ill with cancer(11 days). They were wonderful and have never called us.

Re: Hospice

MaggieToo — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:37:26 GMT

Yes, it never stops either. I have returned their mailings with the request to take me off their list, but that has not worked.

Re: Hospice

serenity4ever — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:42:08 GMT

We give a yearly donation to the hospice my dad was in. I was getting frequent literature in the mail soliciting donations and phone calls too. I just explained that our donation would be yearly and make a notation that we would no longer accept phone calls. They listened and now we just get an occasional mailing but no more phone calls...

Re: Hospice

kdgn — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:43:43 GMT

For the first year we received materials from them but no phone calls. I don't remember that we personally were asked for donations. That request was always included in the printed materials, more along the lines of "if you wish to donate".

Re: Hospice

Krimpette — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:48:45 GMT

I hate that. You try to do something kind and generous and then end up getting hounded for more. And if you don't answer the phone, you still get hounded with the mailings. It just seems so wrong to me. Most recently I had that with St Jude's. I finally wrote them and said that if they didn't stop the incessant phone calls, they'd never get another donation from me. Their phone calls have stopped.

Re: Hospice

CelticCrafter — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:50:55 GMT

We used Hospice when my brother was at the end of his life and the only time they called after he passed was to check on how we were doing.

I have received letters from them asking for a donation, but no phone calls.

The Hospice nurses were the kindest, most caring medical professionals I ever encountered.

Re: Hospice

goodstuff — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:59:46 GMT

Call their central office and clearly ask that the calls stop. Also request in writing that they take your name off their donor list. Instead of passively enduring their calls, actively take the battle to them.

Re: Hospice

DoneTryin — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:01:36 GMT

Yes, that's happened to me though not from Hospice. I once donated to Habitat for Humanity & now they call me every day, including weekends. Same with a couple of other major charities to which I have donated small sums. I also have Caller ID & don't answer. I understand that they have to do that to raise funds, but most of us out here can only donate a little every now & then, as we can afford it. I quit feeling guilty about it when I realized that I simply can't save the world. I do what I can, when I can.

Re: Hospice

QP Doll — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:06:31 GMT

This has happened to me when I gave to breast cancer. They phoned several times a week until I told my husband to tell them that I did not live here anymore!

Re: Hospice

bathina — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:14:17 GMT

I cared for my aunt in my house until she died of pancreatic cancer. We had hospice the last 3 mos of her life and they were excellent. I donate to them yearly and never receive solicitations. I do, however, receive a yearly invitation to their memorial service, held for all those who have passed.

Re: Hospice

lulu2 — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:25:43 GMT

On 4/4/2014 Krimpette said:
I hate that. You try to do something kind and generous and then end up getting hounded for more. And if you don't answer the phone, you still get hounded with the mailings. It just seems so wrong to me. Most recently I had that with St Jude's. I finally wrote them and said that if they didn't stop the incessant phone calls, they'd never get another donation from me. Their phone calls have stopped.

Sadly St Jude's is one of the worst when it comes to these calls. From now on our donations will be anonymous, but we will no longer be able to use them for tax purposes.

Re: Hospice

Krimpette — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:34:12 GMT

On 4/4/2014 lulu2 said:
On 4/4/2014 Krimpette said:
I hate that. You try to do something kind and generous and then end up getting hounded for more. And if you don't answer the phone, you still get hounded with the mailings. It just seems so wrong to me. Most recently I had that with St Jude's. I finally wrote them and said that if they didn't stop the incessant phone calls, they'd never get another donation from me. Their phone calls have stopped.

Sadly St Jude's is one of the worst when it comes to these calls. From now on our donations will be anonymously, but we will no longer be able to use them for tax purposes.

If you're interested, you might try contacting them. I'm thinking that I went to the "contact us" section of their website. As mentioned, my message to them was successful in stopping the calls to me. It's just such a shame that worthwhile charities use these tactics. I stopped donating to a particular charity at Christmas time because when I didn't respond to their first mailing, the subsequent mailings were increasingly aggressive. All these folks should realize what a turnoff their ploys are

Re: Hospice

adelle38 — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:34:39 GMT

Unfortunately, these organizations are in dire need of money and have to over solicit. I'm sure the people on the other end of the phone don't enjoy doing it.

Re: Hospice

AnikaBrodie — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:41:35 GMT

DH and I used hospice the last five days of his mother's life. They were fantastic and so caring and called us often with updates on her health status. When she passed they called us monthly for a year just to talk. They never asked for additional donations but we give to our local hospital and sometimes earmark it for the hospice program.

Re: Hospice

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:45:31 GMT

On 4/4/2014 lulu2 said:
On 4/4/2014 Krimpette said:
I hate that. You try to do something kind and generous and then end up getting hounded for more. And if you don't answer the phone, you still get hounded with the mailings. It just seems so wrong to me. Most recently I had that with St Jude's. I finally wrote them and said that if they didn't stop the incessant phone calls, they'd never get another donation from me. Their phone calls have stopped.

Sadly St Jude's is one of the worst when it comes to these calls. From now on our donations will be anonymous, but we will no longer be able to use them for tax purposes.

I agree. Once I made my first donation, not only did the calls start but almost weekly I receive some type of "freebie" in the mail whether it be note pads, return address labels, etc. and there is always an envelope for a donation.

I noticed the minimum donation amounts they have pre-printed keep getting larger with every donation I make as well.

Re: Hospice

foundinlv — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:55:13 GMT

I never gave hospice a donation. They told me my dad was in a coma when he wasn't (he lifted his arm when I spoke to him). They gave him a barbiturate for pain when he was not in pain. The end quickly came after that. They called but I told them to stop and it did.

edited:typo

Re: Hospice

lulu2 — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:59:42 GMT

On 4/4/2014 adelle38 said:
Unfortunately, these organizations are in dire need of money and have to over solicit. I'm sure the people on the other end of the phone don't enjoy doing it.

Organizations like St Jude's use paid phone solicitors. They may not enjoy it but it is their job.

Re: Hospice

happycat — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:00:56 GMT

This has not happened to me with Hospice, but has with a few other organizations. To me, it has seemed like harassment.

It's sad that you cannot give a donation without being bugged to death.