The mission of Pay-It-Forward House is to provide physical and emotional rest in a homelike environment to the loved ones of patients receiving medical treatment in DeKalb County, thanks to the hospitality of local volunteers and the generosity of donors from near and far. Pay-It-Forward House knows it has accomplished its mission when its guests are inspired to extend a kindness, large or small, to another person in need, not to pay back a favor, but to pay it forward just to help.
Before hospitality houses were built, it was not unusual to find family members sleeping in waiting areas, their cars, or patient rooms, because they were afraid to be too far from their loved one. These patients and their caregivers are confronted with many care and treatment decisions. Often underestimated during this time are the financial burdens associated with a family member’s illness or injury. Added expense of travel, food, lodging, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and the possibility of loss or reduction in wages is very stressful on the patients, caregivers and their families.
A patient’s experience through their continuum care journey is more than what just happens within the medical facility in which they are receiving treatment. It is a sum of all interactions the patient and their families experiences.
The Pay-It-Forward House, NFP has been serving patients and their families since 2005.
Last year alone