The Hospice Movement

The modern concept of hospice was developed in England in the 1960s under the leadership of Dr. Cicely Saunders. Dr. Saunders recognized that many terminally ill patients were receiving inadequate care in the hospital setting. Also, families were facing challenges in providing home care for the dying. As a result of her research and dedication to improve the care of the terminally ill, St. Christopher’s Hospice was founded in London. In the late 1960s, Dr. Saunder’s philosophy of hospice care spread to the United States. In the 1970s, hospices were being established in cities across the country.

History of Hospice of Central Iowa

In 1977, a group of health care providers, clergy and civic leaders met to discuss the need they saw in the Des Moines community for a special kind of service. That service was caring for patients and families facing the end of a life. At the time, the concept of hospice care was being kept alive through the efforts of dedicated volunteers.

Volunteers were actively going to patients’ homes and assisting with care for the dying. They knew people wanted to remain in the comfort of their own homes during the end of life. However, the volunteers simply couldn’t keep up with the demand on a volunteer-basis.

From that meeting, a task force was set in motion led, in part, by Sister Eve Kavanagh. On February 7, 1978 Hospice of Central Iowa was incorporated under the laws of the State of Iowa -- the date that we officially recognize as the birth of our organization. That was the beginning of what today is Hospice of Central Iowa, a non-profit organization serving over 1,600 patients and their families each year throughout 35 counties in central and south central Iowa.

Hospice of Central Iowa · 401 Railroad Place, West Des Moines, IA 50265-4730 · (515) 274-3400 · (800) 806-9934 ·