Enabling Excellent Care at the End of Life

Witnessing the compassionate care delivered to her parents at the end of life, Joy Lang gained a special appreciation for hospice care. Her father was cared for in his final days in the home, while her mother received hospice services in the nursing home.

“I saw how helpful and compassionate they were at the end of life for my parents,” Joy says. “I appreciated it so much that I decided I wanted to be on the other side of what they were doing and help those going through the same experience I had.”

When the opportunity presented itself for Joy to become a volunteer at Mary Greeley’s Israel Family Hospice House, she jumped at it. That was in 2001. Today, she continues to provide critical support at the house for staff, families and patients.

“I’ve enjoyed my experience here and view it as an opportunity for me to give back,” Joy says. “I intend to continue to volunteer as long as I can.” Joy was named Hospice Volunteer of the Year in 2019 and served as a past president of the Mary Greeley Auxiliary.

Joy and her husband, Dr. Allen Lang, retired McFarland Clinic and Veterans Administration orthopedic surgeon, have also made Mary Greeley Hospice a centerpiece of their giving, generously designating their life insurance policy to support the service. In doing so, the Langs join the Greeley Society, which is named in honor of Capt. Wallace Greeley and recognizes those who have invested in Mary Greeley Medical Center by making a planned or estate gift.

“Hospice has been a passion for us for some time and we were looking for an option that would provide needed support,” Dr. Lang says. “We have significant life insurance coverage and decided that was the most meaningful way in which we could give back.”

The Langs had a simple discussion with the couple’s financial planner and made the Mary Greeley Foundation a beneficiary of their policy, designating it to hospice. Their legacy will include a long-term impact on end-of-life care in the region.

“We are really lucky to have hospice care available in this area and to have this facility in Ames,” Joy says. “I have a passion for the kind of care that is delivered by our hospice staff, and I try to share that as often as I can to educate others. There is so much more to end-of-life care than just having a place to die. The staff is so caring in helping create a wonderful atmosphere to spend your final days. We want to be sure it is a service that is available long into the future.”

Dr. Lang says that it is important to continue to fund services like hospice as they evolve to provide critical care to patients and compassionate support to families.

“The view of end-of-life care has changed significantly since I started my practice in the 1970s,” he says. “The way we care for terminally ill patients is so much more comprehensive and a lot of those advancements come from the growth in understanding the role hospice can play. There is much better continuity of care and much greater support for the family. We recognize that and feel this is a worthy cause for us to support.”

Like the Langs, your thoughtful estate gift can help ensure Mary Greeley Medical Center continues to provide specialized care with a personal touch far into the future. Contact Sarah Heineman at 515-239-2421 or heineman@mgmc.com to learn more.