The Oasis Foundation is making a significant impact on the lives of hospice patients and nursing students in the Cook, Will, and DuPage counties of Illinois. Founded in 2021, the foundation provides essential support for individuals facing the end of life, helping them fulfill their last wishes while also investing in the future of healthcare through scholarships for aspiring caregivers.
The foundation, linked to Oasis Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., offers resources to enhance the remaining time for patients and their families. “Anything a patient wants to do, go to a restaurant, go to a holiday party,” said Gabrielle Bello, director of the Oasis Foundation. For some, the assistance can be as simple yet meaningful as providing a doll for companionship. “Now she has it with her wherever she goes,” Bello shared, highlighting the personal nature of the foundation’s support.
Oasis Foundation’s initiatives extend beyond immediate patient needs. The organization raises funds for education, community events, transportation, funerals, and wellness programs. One notable program is Hearts Desires, designed to fulfill patients’ last wishes, which can often be small but impactful gestures.
Investing in Future Caregivers
As part of its commitment to education, the foundation offers $2,500 Pathways to Purpose scholarships for students pursuing careers in healthcare or social work, especially those with an interest in geriatrics or personal experience with hospice care. The scholarships aim to attract individuals to the field, where there is a growing need for compassionate and skilled professionals. “We’re trying to invest in the future caregiver,” Bello emphasized.
Bello’s parents, Sade and Hakeem Bello, founded Oasis and serve as CEO and CFO, respectively. Gabrielle’s journey began with volunteering for Oasis, where she conducted wellness checks. This experience revealed a critical gap in services that the foundation aims to fill. “I realized there was a lot of need for wrap-around services,” she noted, reflecting on the foundation’s mission.
Families who have utilized the services of Oasis express gratitude for both the compassionate care provided and the educational opportunities made available through the foundation. Afrika Rouselle, a resident of Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, shared her experience with her mother, who received hospice services. “It’s critical. I think it’s just as critical as having the proper staffing and proper medication services,” Rouselle stated, highlighting the importance of skilled caregivers in hospice settings.
Rouselle has also benefited from bereavement counseling and transportation services funded by the foundation. Her mother, who suffers from dementia and has undergone multiple heart surgeries, has made Rouselle’s visits easier. “It’s been very helpful to have the bereavement counseling because my mom is fading,” Rouselle said, expressing the emotional weight of her situation.
Community Impact and Future Aspirations
Another advocate for the foundation, Bethy Beno, has volunteered at Oasis for three years. After her mother received hospice services at home last year, she encouraged donations to the foundation in lieu of flowers at her mother’s memorial. Beno is pleased that contributions will support the education of future hospice workers. “It’s an exceptionally important field because the people who have been with Oasis for a long time really feel it is their calling to deal with very sick people,” she remarked.
Beno emphasized the importance of experience for new hires in hospice care, noting that many may leave shortly after starting. “The more experience they have when they come to us for employment, they know what to expect,” she explained.
The Oasis Foundation continues to foster a nurturing environment for patients and their families, reflecting its mission in every aspect of its work. The facility’s commitment to care is evident in its operations and the support it offers to both patients and future healthcare providers. The foundation’s website provides further details about its scholarships and services at www.oasisthefoundation.org/pathwaytopurposescholarship.
Through its compassionate approach and dedication to education, the Oasis Foundation is shaping the future of hospice care while offering comfort and dignity to those at the end of life.
