Jun
11
2016
Hospice Atlanta Center Opens Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Library to Celebrate its 20th Anniversary
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Library Opens at Visiting Nurse Health System’s Hospice Atlanta Center
Information to help with grief and loss now available to the public
On June 10th, Visiting Nurse Health System hosted a reception at the Andrew and Eula Carlos Hospice Atlanta Center, recognizing the twentieth anniversary of the 36-bed inpatient hospice facility located in Buckhead. The celebration culminated with the formal opening of the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Library in the Center. The honor of cutting the ribbon on the library’s door was given to former Atlanta mayor and Buckhead Coalition president Sam Massell. Accompanying Massell was Visiting Nurse’s new CEO, Norene Mostkoff, who was introduced to guests and spoke about the future of the organization and its Hospice Atlanta division.
The library’s namesake is Swiss-American psychiatrist and hospice and palliative care pioneer Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who revolutionized the study of death, dying and grieving. The library houses publications from her personal collections, international awards received in recognition of her work and personal mementos. The library is open to anyone wanting access to her materials, and additional resources related to grief and bereavement are available on Visiting Nurse’s website. Kübler-Ross’ first book, On Death and Dying, published in 1969, became a guiding resource for those working with the terminally ill. Prior to her efforts, the topic of death was often avoided in healthcare settings.
“Visiting Nurse is honored to be one of two Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Libraries in the nation,” said Nancy Mauldin, Executive Director of Hospice Services. “We invite the Atlanta community to visit the library and website, whether for personal enlightenment or academic research, to better understand the challenges of interacting with the dying and dealing with the grief that follows their death.”
Hospice Atlanta Center—Georgia’s first and largest hospice facility—has provided comfort and care for more than 10,000 patients over the past 20 years. The Center’s genesis was the result of the vision and significant contributions made by four founders: Dr. Arthur Booth, Eula Carlos, Mary Gellerstedt and Warren Jobe. These visionaries brought together corporate, board and community partners to make the Center a reality, and all four and their families will be honored at Visiting Nurse’s annual fall gala, In the Moment—A Celebration of Life to be held October 27.