Hospice of Acadiana
Melissa Gerald Bagwell, MA, is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in mental health counseling and administrative roles. Currently serving as the Coordinator of Volunteers at Hospice of Acadiana since March 2020, Melissa previously held positions such as Office Associate at Acadiana Safety Association and Mental Health Professional at Insight Guidance Group. Additional experience includes roles as a Substitute Teacher at Lafayette Parish Public Schools and LPC Intern at Compassion Counseling. Prior work includes serving as an Intake Specialist at Sundance Hospital and as an Administrative Assistant, Receptionist, and Mortgage Servicing Specialist in various organizations. Melissa's educational background includes a Master of Arts in Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences in Psychology, both from Dallas Baptist University, along with an Associate of Arts with Highest Honors from Tarrant County College.
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Hospice of Acadiana
Following the death of his grandmother while he was a Seminarian studying in Belgium, Lafayette-native Father Louis Richard spent a summer working at St. Christopher’s House near London with British physician Dr. Cicely Saunders. Dr. Saunders is considered the founder of the modern day Hospice movement, and it was there that Father Louie developed a deep commitment to care for the dying. Returning home to Lafayette following his ordination, Father Louie met with other community leaders and, in 1983, helped establish Hospice of Acadiana, Inc. – a non-profit hospice committed to providing quality care at the end of life for all, regardless of their ability to pay for these services. Hospice of Acadiana, Inc. remains the ONLY non-profit hospice in our area. We have the longest record of continuous service of any hospice in Louisiana, and since our inception, we have served over 20,000 patients and their families. Our mission is focused on: - Enabling the terminally ill to live as fully and comfortably as possible - Emphasizing quality of life - Helping people deal with grief - Offering education and resources - Advocating appropriate care at appropriate time - Reaching diverse populations while honoring customs and values