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Albert Lean Renae Horecka was working as a nursing director at a nursing home when she got close to one of the hospice representatives working with the organization.

“The hospice rep, she really opened my eyes to the services they can provide the patients,” Horecka said.

She decided to switch gears and be a part of the work and started working at St. Croix Hospice 10 years ago, first as a case manager, then the manager of the Mankato branch and now the regional director of clinical operations, overseeing all the patient care in southern Minnesota, including the Mankato, Rochester and Albert Lea areas.

She oversees about 95 employees, making sure that the organization is providing the highest quality care it can.

Horecka said hospice is an underutilized benefit that is covered by most insurances, Medicare and Medicaid for little to no cost for patients with a life-limiting condition and a doctor’s prognosis of six months or less. The care is provided wherever patients call home.

In addition to nursing services, it provides services for spiritual, social and emotional support for both patients and their loved ones, with a goal of improving comfort and quality of life for the patients.

Hospice care is made up of an interdisciplinary team of nursing and CNA services for physical and personal cares, along with a chaplain for the spiritual and emotional support, as well as social workers, music and massage therapists and volunteers.

“Every role I’ve been in … touches the patients’ lives in a different way,” she said. “It’s assisting them to bring peace and comfort and dignity to whatever time is left.”

She said patients who are on hospice tend to live an average of 29 days longer — quality days — because of all the care they receive.

St. Croix Hospice has been in Albert Lea at 2580 Bridge Ave. in Northbridge Mall for three years.