Five People Move After Twin Falls Hospice Closes

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A Twin Falls hospice has closed, requiring five patients to move to new providers. Owner Audrey D'Orazio tells The Times-News that A Promise of Hope Hospice closed on Nov. 22, laying off eight full- and part-time employees.

The center helped with the spiritual, mental and physical needs of patients whose doctors had given them six months or less to live. D'Orazio says operating as a private, for-profit hospice care center was difficult. She says Hope Hospice staff gave pro bono care and paid for services out-of-pocket until the business could no longer sustain itself.

Former Hope Hospice branch manager and chaplain Tracy Armstrong says D'Orazio had trouble finding qualified people to run the billing portion of her offices. A Boise hospice, owned by D'Orazio, closed about a month ago.