Keeping Them Warm: Clothing Collection For Hospice Patients

It’s a problem that caught the attention of those helping to care for hospice patients, and the need was so great, that they knew that they had to do something to help.

“I would say that probably sixty percent of our residents that we see in long-term care facilities do not have family members that come to see them,” said Sarah Coquat, with Choice Hospice.

Coquat has seen many hospice patients and long-term residents with very few resources, specifically clothing.

Kristen Thomas with Senior Care Referral Services of Oklahoma works with families to find the best facility for their loved ones, and even though she works with families she has seen her share of patients with nothing.

“If they go to the hospital they may get a hospital gown. When they go to skill nursing, there’s no clothing for that,” said Thomas.

Realtor Jeannie Wheeler has seen the challenges firsthand, and she jumped at the opportunity to help.

“A lot of those clothes get soiled to the point where you really don’t want to re-use them. You can only launder them for so long,” said Jenne Wheeler with Providence Realty.

“I had a patient who was out of the hospital and had no clothes, she had a hospital gown for two weeks that they were rotating,” said Coquat.

Out of her compassion in the past, Coquat purchased clothes with money out of her pocket, but then she had an idea.

“Have people donate to us, so that we can put care packages together for patients that we are seeing, even if they are not on our services,” said Coquat.

This Friday she is asking anyone with new or slightly used clothing items to donate them to help long-term care and hospice patients.

“Pajama pants, t-shirts, robes, nightgowns, athletic shorts, even some cardigans are nice for the older ladies because they get cold all the time,” said Coquat.

Even socks and house shoes. They are asking for items with no stains or holes to be dropped off at one of their Choice hospice locations or Providence Realty. “It will be this Friday from 10 am to 3 pm, we’ll have boxes set up outside of our offices,” said Coquat. 

Volunteers are needed for the collection dates. There are two collection dates planned, May 3 and 30, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Drop-off locations are Choice Hospice Norman: 2760 Washington Street, Suite 100. Choice Hospice OKC: 4045 Northwest 64th Street, Suite 205. And Providence Realty 4101 Southeast 85th Street.