Life's Solutions Hospice Care, Inc. is Houston’s hometown hospice. Our agency was founded in 2001 as the fulfillment of one nurse’s life-long dream to serve those in their most crucial time of need. As first a nurse aide then as a registered nurse, Christine Fields worked in multiple arenas of health care in the Houston area. As she gained more experience, she learned the needs of the community and saw that there was a great necessity for compassionate end-of-life care. To this day, Life’s Solutions remains locally owned and operated by Christine Fields and her team of licensed clinicians. Every treatment decision is made using that compassionate, nursing-care, decision-making model first and foremost.
Since its inception, Life’s Solutions has grown to serve the Greater Southwest Houston Metropolitan area and surrounding communities such as Fort Bend county, Katy, Missouri City, Fresno, and wherever the need arises for hospice care. Life’s Solutions’ dedicated teams serve patients in all environments, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, personal care homes, hospitals, or family homes. We are members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and a certified provider for Medicare and Medicaid.
The Life's Solutions Hospice Care Team includes:
Physician Medical Directors
Registered Nurses
Licensed Vocational Nurses
Certified Nurse Aides
Licensed Masters-prepared Clinical Social Workers
Spiritual Support Counselors
Registered, licensed Dieticians
Volunteers
Facility Staff Members
Family Members
Ancillary service partners for Durable Medical Equipment, Pharmaceuticals, Ambulance transport care, Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapies
We are so proud of our team members and the care that we provide. Please let us introduce you to the people behind Life's Solutions Hospice Care:
Christine Fields is that one nurse with a dream outlined at the outset of this page. She obtained her LVN licensure from the Memorial City School of Vocational Nursing and proceeded to earn her RN from Wharton Community College, where she graduated first in her class. She quickly developed an appreciation for life-limiting illnesses and the unique care required for patients suffering from such conditions while working as a staff RN in a long-term acute care hospital specializing in the care of ventilator patients.
Since that time, Christine has served as Director of Clinical Services for two home health agencies, a premier assisted living facility (she also holds a certification as an Assisted Living Manager in the state of Texas), and Houston’s best known senior service program, Sheltering Arms. Through those affiliations and in her previous role as the Director of Medicaid’s Community Based Alternative Program, she refined her fervor for eldercare advocacy. This background enables Christine to see and balance the diverse perspectives of our multiple customers - patients, families, physicians, and long-term care operators.
Dr. John Smith Medical Director
Dr. Smith obtained his medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine, after which he completed an internship and fellowship at Ben Taub General Hospital and affiliated hospitals of Baylor College of Medicine respectively. Dr. Smith brings to our agency 39 years of experience, of which a majority of time was spent in geriatric medicine. Dr. Smith has been with Life's Solutions Hospice Care since 2006, and his guidance of our team and support of the hospice philosophy are indispensible. We are also very lucky to receive from time to time the added expertise of Dr. John Smith's son, Dr. Zachary Smith, who also practices in gerontology.
Miranda Cullins, RN Director of Clinical Services
Miranda earned her RN licensure in 2002, and she worked mostly in private practice and urgent care. In 2005, Miranda experienced a personal tragedy in the death of her father. In his final month, Miranda's dad received hospice care, and Miranda saw an entirely different side of nursing. She was struck by how hospice made it possible for her father to die at home surrounded by family, and she was touched by the true compassion and caring that she received from the hospice nurses. Miranda began looking for a career change, and in 2008, we were lucky enough to add her to our team.
As Director of Clinical Services, Miranda manages our team of nurses and is responsible for most new patient admissions. Even coming into our agency with no hospice experience, Miranda has excelled and has become one of our strongest patient advocates for compassionate end-of-life care.
Terrye Young, RN Case Manager
Terrye began her nursing career in 1981 when she completed nursing school in Virginia. She immediately moved to Houston to work under Dr. Michael E. DeBakey in Methodist Hospital's cardiovascular unit. Terrye knew however that her true calling was oncology, so she eventually began to work at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Throughout her career, Terrye has worked in other various settings, including home care, but her heart remained with oncology.
We were lucky enough to sway Terrye over to hospice in early 2009 from the Memorial Hermann hospital system. Terrye feels that hospice is a natural progression from oncology, and she has impressed our team and our patients with her limitless medical knowledge and ability to connect with patients on a personal level. Terrye is an exceptional nurse, and our patients feel blessed to have her touch their lives.
LaVorne Smith, RN Case Manager
LaVorne has seen nearly every side of the medical profession in her career, and we were lucky enough to add her to our team in January 2009. LaVorne began her medical career as a unit secretary at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital in 1986. From there she went on to become a phlebotomist, a certified nurse aide, and finally, a registered nurse in 2002. LaVorne spent nearly 10 years living in Anchorage, Alaska, and when she returned to Texas, she resumed her work with the Memorial Hermann hospital system.
While working in the hospital, LaVorne was an oncology nurse and worked with many patients in the hospice inpatient unit. After attending a seminar on palliative care, LaVorne realized that she was being called to do hospice work to help patients and families in coping with death and transitioning to what lies beyond. LaVorne helps our patients and their loves ones to accept the end-of-life process so that the dying can go with no regrets and the living can move on knowing that they have done all they could do.
Ha Hua, LVN
Ha began her nursing career in California in September of 2006. She shortly moved to Houston and has been involved in elder care, including nursing home care and hospice care, during her time as a licensed vocational nurse. Ha has been with Life's Solutions Hospice Care since January 2009, and she is a valuable and trusted member of our nursing team. As an LVN, Ha works out in the field seeing our patients during the week.
Rina Ulloa, CNA
Rina joined the Life's Solutions Hospice Care team in 2004, and her strong leadership skills led her to become our Head CNA. In her position, Rina manages our other home health aides while still maintaining her own patient load. Rina's fluency in both English and Spanish allows her to communicate with a diverse population, including our patients and caregivers. Our CNA's do the real physical labor of hospice - helping patients with their activities of daily living such as bathing, changing, using the bathroom, eating, and so on. We are all constantly in awe of how much physical and emotional strength our CNA's have in order help our patients find comfort in their every-day activities.
Quein Uyatede, CNA
Quien (pronounced "queen") has been with Life's Solutions Hospice Care longer than most of our team members. Quein joined our team in 2002, and she has become one of our most dependable players. We are proud to provide our patients with the most loving and caring CNA's in the industry, and Quein embodies those characteristics in all of her actions.
Rita Borjas, CNA
Rita joined our team in early 2009, and she has fit into our hospice family effortlessly. Rita is also fluent in both English and Spanish. Life's Solutions Hospice Care is proud to add Rita's many years of caregiving experience to our team.
Joseph Roberts, LMSW Social Worker
Joseph graduated from the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work in 2008, and he immediately joined our hospice family. Joseph's experience ranges from working in psychiatric hospitals to counseling troubled young people in Harris County's TRIAD Prevention Program. Joseph also has a background in elder care, and he sought out a career in hospice because he believes in the hospice philosophy and thinks that hospice is a peaceful and comforting alternative to traditional end-of-life care. Our staff and our patients are so impressed with Joseph's kind spirit and the gentle way in which he communicates. Joseph is a true asset to our team and a strong advocate for our patients.
Jeanne Duplantis Chaplain
Jeanne has led a diverse and varied life travelling around the country and the world with her involvement in community service organizations.Her passion has always been elder care, and Jeanne has spent the majority of her community service and pastoral experience counseling and enjoying time with elderly populations.
Jeanne's clinical pastoral training began 10 years ago, and in 2003 she graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. After completing the course requirements for the Clinical Pastoral Education Certificate, Jeanne entered her career as a hospice chaplain. Jeanne has been with Life's Solutions Hospice Care since the end of 2008.
The role of a hospice chaplain can be challenging, both for the chaplain herself and the patient or loved one receiving the support.Jeanne wants families to know that her role in the hospice process is not to judge them or their faith, nor is it to direct them to a certain faith or denomination.Jeanne's only goals as a hospice chaplain are to support our patients' spirituality, to provide, upon their request, community resources for their particular faith or denomination, and to be available as a listening ear, shoulder to cry on, or simply to provide a spiritual presence for our patients and their loved ones.
Katie Vaziri Volunteer
Katie joined the Life's Solutions Hospice Care team in August of 2008 during her last year of high school. As a member of her high school band, Katie organized jazz band performances for our patients in local nursing homes, and those concerts were well-loved by our patients and their families. Katie is a dedicated and dependable volunteer, and she is able to communicate effectively with our patients regardless of their ability to speak or understand. In the summer of 2009, Katie spearheaded an internship program for area high school and college students and brought to our team an unprecedented number of volunteers. We are so lucky to have been able to offer our patients the love and companionship of so many volunteers through Katie's tireless efforts.
Katie is currently attending St. Edward's University in Austin, but she still shares her time with us on holidays and weekends. Katie plans to use her hospice expertise in medical school and pursue a career in gerontology.
Jackie Dudkowski Volunteer
Jackie joined Life's Solutions Hospice Care in early 2009, and she is a true angel to our patients. Jackie is always willing to provide comfort to our patients who need it the most. Jackie came to us with many years of hospice volunteering experience, and we are so proud to offer her support to our patients and their families.
Adrianne Wilson Business Office Manager
Adrianne is the true backbone of Life's Solutions Hospice Care. When she joined our team in 2005, she brought with her many years of experience in medical records and office management. Adrianne knows everything about our office and practices, and she is always the first person we turn to for questions, favors, complaints, and more. Adrianne is jokingly known around the office as our AT&T specialist, as she is the person who most often enjoys long hold times and the expertise of "Elvis" in Bangalore while trying to solve our recurrent telephonic hassles. We are able to provide our patients with such outstanding care because we know that Adrianne is back at the home office watching out for us and keeping us in line.
Anca Adams, Esq. Legal and Community Services
Anca has been with Life's Solutions Hospice Care since Day 1. She worked as a volunteer while she attended college at Rice University, and she stayed on with us during her time in law school at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Anca joined our team full-time in August of 2008, and she chose to stay in hospice in lieu of pursuing a legal career. Anca's legal background is indispensible, and she keeps the agency updated on regulatory changes and compliance issues. Anca is also involved in community education efforts, and she is usually the team member who conducts initial informational sessions with our patients and their families.
And while we’re telling you about us, we’d like to explain our logo and the name of our company. We believe that every decision must be made with the kindness of the heart, and we realize that by allowing us to join you and your loved ones in this journey, you are literally entrusting your hearts in our hands. We treasure and respect that relationship.
And in end of life situations, we realize that it feels like life is puzzling and comes with more that its fair share of problems. And it is for life’s puzzles and problems that we commit to provide and to be Life’s Solutions. We want you to know that every time we see our logo, we renew that commitment to you and to ourselves.
"I tell my patients that just as we celebrate the beginning of life, we should celebrate the end of life. I try to remind patients and families that this time can be joyous, and that along with the pain and suffering of terminal illness can come a peaceful and graceful transition to what lies next." LaVorne Smith, RN, Case Manager
“Hospice has given me the opportunity to change people's lives, and that, in turn has changed my own. I find volunteering with Life's Solutions Hospice Care to be the most rewarding and incredible experience in which I have ever had the pleasure of participating.” Katie Vaziri, Volunteer
"I left the legal field to work in hospice, and I've never looked back. Hospice is the most rewarding career I have ever had, and I truly feel that our work is valuable and needed in the community. Even though we work with people who are nearing the end of their lives, most of our patients and their families are able to embrace the dying process with dignity, respect, and even a sense of relief that the worst is over and the best is about to begin." Anca Adams, Esq., Legal and Community Services
“Life’s Solutions staff made the whole experience beautiful and peaceful. I learned from what they taught me and now feel I can teach others because of my experience.” Brenda, RN, patient’s sister "You don’t know what a difference you make in people’s life.” Nursing Facility Director of Clinical Services "When I refer to Life's Solutions I have peace of mind. I know the resident and family will be seen promptly and will receive the best of care. The staff they provide works so well with our existing team, it is just like having extra eyes and hands in the whole place. Their coordination of care is seamless with our own and that is in large part due to their excellent communication skills." Alzheimer’s Assisted Living Director of Health Services “Life’s Solutions' staff is extremely accessible. When families have questions regarding their hospice care, it is always possible to reach someone from the agency. The referral process can at times be confusing with hospital case managers, our employees, and hospice employees all involved. There has been no confusion in these referrals to Life’s Solutions - they have been timely in the delivering of equipment, medicines, and all-around coordination of care for our residents.” Continuing Care Retirement Community Director of Social Services “Life's Solutions Hospice Care plays an integral role in the health and well being of people residing in Tomball and neighboring communities. Its business ethics practiced include a genuine commitment to providing personal, loving care to patients while offering a wide variety of educational opportunities for growth and development to both enduring individuals and their families in times of stress and crisis. Life's Solutions Hospice Care excels in service and is a leader in the hospice care industry. The Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce is privileged to have the active involvement of this fine organization.” Bruce Hillegeist, President, Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce (name used with permission)
And while we’re telling you about us, we’d like to explain our logo and the name of our company. We believe that every decision must be made with the kindness of the heart, and we realize that by allowing us to join you and your loved ones in this journey, you are literally entrusting your hearts in our hands. We treasure and respect that relationship.