Our Story

The dream of Mr. Don Berlin, Dr. David Lion, and Dr. David Kahn became a reality when The Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge was incorporated in 1984.

Mr. Berlin and Dr. Lion were both diagnosed with terminal cancer and both knew they wanted to die in their own homes; however, there were no hospice services in the city at the time. Together with Dr. Kahn, their oncologist, these men succeeded in laying the groundwork for what is today The Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge, dba The Hospice of Baton Rouge.

Today, The Hospice of Baton Rouge remains the oldest hospice, the only nonprofit hospice, and the first to open an in-patient unit in Baton Rouge.

Since 1984, The Hospice of Baton Rouge has served three generations in 13 parishes with quality end-of-life care. Their mission is to provide quality care in a home or homelike setting so that patients will not die alone or in discomfort. As the oldest and only nonprofit hospice in the city, they provide the most experienced and most trusted care to any patient regardless of their ability to pay. With the recent relocation of their administrative offices to their in-patient unit, The Butterfly Wing, they are now operating even more efficiently and effectively.

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The oldest non-profit, Medicare and Medicaid certified hospice provider in this area.

Learn more about our holistic approach to patient care.

Patient Care

Our Experience

  • Over 35 years of providing hospice care to the Greater Baton Rouge community (since 1984)
  • The first inpatient unit in the Greater Baton Rouge Area, The Butterfly Wing®, was opened in 2005.
  • Pediatric support for children with terminal conditions for over 30 years.
  • For over 25 years, Dr. Gerald Barber has been the Medical Director for The Hospice of Baton Rouge.
  • Medical Directors are Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care
  • Our Medical Directors combined have 50 years of hospice experience

Our Support

  • Registered nurses make most visits. Small patient caseloads enable nurses to spend more time with each patient.
  • Prompt admission after referral.
  • Many Hospice and Palliative Care certified Nurses (CHPN) are on staff and helping families.
  • Bereavement support offered to anyone in the community, including short-term individual counseling.
  • Hospice aide is available up to 7 days a week, including holidays and weekends, based on patient need.
  • Registered nurse is available 24/7 including all nights, weekends and holidays for emergencies.

Our Care

  • Accepts ALL hospice appropriate patients. Medicare, Medicaid, ANY insurance and patients who have no provider.
  • Hospice care for all ages (youngest was 3 days old; oldest was 108 years old).
  • The first and ONLY non-profit hospice provider based in Baton Rouge.
  • Preferred hospice provider for all insurance companies, most assisted living communities and many nursing homes
  • We Honor Veterans® program to honor and serve veteran patients.
  • CHAP accredited; Medicare/Medicaid certified.
  • Pet Peace of Mind® program to support pets of hospice patients
  • Camp Conquer - Bereavement Camp of Kids