2013 Annual Report

Joy
Comfort
Smiles
Love
Making every moment count for those touched by serious illness and loss…
for over 30 years, JourneyCare has helped people with advanced
illness and their families define what’s most important to them
and live life to the fullest, on their journey.
It’s about making each day the best day possible, however they define it. It
can be about writing a book about the love of a lifetime, experiencing new
adventures at age 96, finding comfort and friends at camp, the inspiring
smiles of a 16 year old who refuses to let challenges define him or being at
peace knowing your wishes will be honored.
For JourneyCare, making moments count when
they count the most is our passion.
Estelle Pociskk
96-year-old
does not let struggles keep her down. “Estelle Pocisk is one
of those special patients that teaches life lessons without even trying,” said Karen Steffens, her
JourneyCare hospice nurse. When Karen first met Estelle, her daughter, Robin, and son-in-law,
Paul Johnstone, Estelle was in a lot of pain and did
not want to go on anymore. Paul asked what he and
“Estelle Pocisk
Robin could do to help Estelle. Karen replied, “Help
is one of those
her to live life to the fullest.”
Once JourneyCare’s palliative care team got Estelle’s
pain under control, Robin and Paul decided to take
Karen’s advice, literally. “JourneyCare inspired us to
think outside of our four walls,” commented Paul.
“That triggered something in us to find ways to make
Estelle’s life as good as possible.”
special patients
that teaches life
lessons without
even trying.”
Even though she is primarily wheelchair bound,
Estelle has been up for most anything. “She’s doing
things now that she didn’t even do when she was
80,” added Paul. Estelle has been out and about
touring downtown Chicago on the top level of an
open air double-decker bus, dressing up as a witch to hand out Halloween candy, singing Elvis
duets with Chaplain Jon, playing the piano for the first time and even cruising the Chain of Lakes in
a motor boat.
Robin and Paul’s enthusiasm and creativity in making these special moments and memories inspired
JourneyCare to create “Estelle’s Adventures,” a social media campaign featured on Facebook,
Twitter and Pinterest. “Estelle is inspiring other caregivers with ideas on how to make the most of
every day for a loved one,” said Robin.
“From pain management to the nurses, social workers, chaplains and massage
therapists, everyone helped to maximize Estelle’s physical, emotional and mental
potential, which allowed us to focus on making Estelle’s life as fulfilling as possible.”
According to Paul and Robin, “Estelle’s Adventures” was possible because of the care, support and
encouragement they received from JourneyCare. “From pain management to the nurses, social
workers, chaplains and massage therapists, everyone helped to maximize Estelle’s physical, emotional
and mental potential, which allowed us to focus on making Estelle’s life as fulfilling as possible.”
Camp Courage
When Laura Korkus was 12 years old, she attended
to help her deal with the
death of her stepfather. Ten years later, she returned as a counselor. “At Camp Courage, I was able
to express myself without fear of being rejected by friends who did not understand what I was going
through,” she explained. “I was allowed to cry and laugh at the same time and not feel bad about it.”
For 20 years, Camp Courage has been bringing children together who have lost a loved one to help
them understand they are not alone in what they are feeling. “Children attending camp can share
their feelings with other kids their age who are going through the same thing, and realize it’s OK,”
explained Mary Ann Greene, JourneyCare’s Director of Family Support Services.
The success and
longevity of Camp
Courage can be
credited to “the right
mix of therapy,
activities and fun.”
The week long day camp offers classic summer
activities like swimming, boating, playing games
and singing songs. Specialized activities such
as building memory boxes, constructing grief
gadgets and painting memorial bricks to help
campers learn to cope with their feelings and
celebrate the memories of their loved ones.
“Camp is about finding the courage to grieve,”
shared Mary Ann. “Grief is a unique experience
for each child.”
This summer, JourneyCare’s Camp Courage
celebrates its 20th anniversary. Since 1995,
over 500 children grieving the loss of a loved
one have found hope and healing in a safe,
supportive and fun environment. Mary Ann
credits the success and longevity of the camp
to “the right mix of therapy, activities and fun.” Camp Courage is open to any child who has lost
a loved one, even if their loved on was not cared for by JourneyCare, and there has never been a
charge to attend, thanks to generous support from the community.
As Laura returns this summer for her fourth time as a counselor, she continues to be driven by the
lasting impression that Camp Courage had on her. “I love helping give the children a glimmer of hope
for the future,” she explained. “These children, who have lost someone so dear to them, are the
purest example of strength.”
“At Camp Courage, I was able to exp
express myself
without fear of being rejected by friends who
did not understand what I was going through.”
Dennis Depcikk
Following the death of his wife, Maggie,
wasn’t really interested in bereavement
counseling. “I felt I didn’t need to hear about the stages of grief and healing, and how it is cyclical,” said
Dennis. “After all, I had a Master’s in Social Work and over 36 years of experience helping people deal
with problems.”
He did, however, want to talk about Maggie. “I wanted so badly to talk with family and friends about my
loss, my anger and my sadness,” Dennis shared. “Many were reluctant to let me tell them how I was
really feeling about her death. I know they were afraid of opening healing wounds.” He then decided to
make an appointment with Cathy Fine, JourneyCare bereavement counselor, simply to be able to talk
more about Maggie. “I had to have someone listen to me. It had to be someone who genuinely cared
about what I was feeling,” Dennis continued.
“Cathy was an outstanding listener…just what
I needed.”
Several months later, Dennis was going through
Maggie’s closet. In doing so, he discovered a
shoebox filled with over 100 letters they had
exchanged when he was a soldier stationed
in Europe.
Reading the letters helped him relive their love
story and begin his healing. “Going through the
letters was such a therapeutic thing,” Dennis
said. “It brought her back to me. It was like
falling in love all over again.”
Dennis Depcik with Cathy Fine
“It was Cathy’s strong, positive reaction to my
story and her interest of my writing the book
that helped make me feel I not only had a story
to tell, but that I could tell it in a way that
could touch someone’s heart.”
During his sessions with Cathy, Dennis shared several narratives that he had started writing as a way
to help deal with his grief and his idea of writing a book about the letters with her. “It was Cathy’s strong,
positive reaction to my story and her interest of my writing the book that helped make me feel I not
only had a story to tell, but that I could tell it in a way that could touch someone’s heart,” he shared.
“My original idea was to write the book for our children and grandchildren. I wanted our children to
know how their mother and I fell in love, and I wanted our grandchildren to know what a wonderful
grandmother they had,” he explained. Cathy’s continued encouragement and support helped Dennis
decide to share the love story with a larger audience.
I wanted my children to know how their mother
and I fell in love, and I wanted my grandchildren
to know what a wonderful grandmother they had.
“Wouldn’t It Be Something,” was published in November, 2013. Dennis is now speaking about
how writing helped him through the grieving process with grief groups and at libraries, retirement
communities and Rotary Clubs to help others heal.
Matt Chimis, a sophomore at Schaumburg High School (SHS), takes classes in math, science,
reading and P.E. He also has two jobs: selling flavored beverages from the Coffee Cart and collecting
recyclables from the classrooms at school. “I want Matt to be as normal a 16 year old as he can,” shared
Donna Chimis, his mom. “He is an extremely social boy. He just wants to be part of what everyone does
every day at school.”
Kristen Drago, manager of JourneyCare for
Children’s Pediatric Palliative Care Services,
began caring for Matt in 2010 following a complex
surgery. “Mattie is always happy and has a smile
on his face,” said Kristen. “We talk about school
and his classes, and I tease him about girls.”
“Even though there are tubes
and a trache, it doesn’t matter.
Matt goes wherever the family goes.”
Matt has a tracheotomy. JourneyCare provides
care and support, focused on keeping him healthy,
pain free and comfortable, while making sure all
his needs are met. The Chimis family refuses to let
challenges prevent Matt from being a part of their
everyday life. “Even though there are tubes and a
trache, it doesn’t matter,” explained Kristen. “Matt
goes wherever the family goes.”
Ashley, Matt’s older sister, is a gymnast and volleyball player at SHS. Matt is her biggest fan and rarely
misses the opportunity to cheer her on. When both Ashley and Matt were honored with the volleyball
program’s top award, the Coaches Award, Donna had tears in her eyes. “It was a proud and
emotional moment for me, both my kids being honored with this award,” said Donna.
“Matt Chimis is a student who positively influenced our volleyball program,” said Jeanette Pancratz,
SHS Varsity Volleyball Coach. “He would often bring positive messages to the team, and sometimes
even cupcakes! Matt reminded our coaches and players that life is not dictated by the challenges we
face, but rather by how we respond to the challenges in our lives.”
Donna’s wish is that people take time to get to know Matt and realize he does have something to say.
“They don’t realize there is a typical 16 year old boy sitting in that wheelchair that totally gets what’s going
on in the world,” shared Donna.
“Matt reminded our coaches and players that life is not
dictated by the challenges we face, but rather by how we
respond to the challenges in our lives.”
Our mission:
Make every moment count
for those touched by
serious illness and loss.
Formerly Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois
2013 Annual Report
57.5%
Friends of JourneyCare,
Home
Hospice
Making every moment count for those touched by serious illness and loss…this is
JourneyCare’s mission, at the heart of everything we do. We are honored and blessed to
walk this journey with you each and every day.
Making Moments Countt shares stories about moments of joy, comfort, love, and smiles.
The stories are about JourneyCare patients and families...a 96 year old hospice patient
living life like never before; children finding hope, healing and comfort after losing a loved
one; a 16 year old boy with a radiant smile and actions that speak louder than words; and
a grieving husband who makes an unexpected discovery that helps him begin healing.
These stories, woven together, are the fabric of JourneyCare.
This past year we were honored to touch the lives of more patients and families than
ever and to share in more meaningful moments. To continue meeting the growing needs
of the communities we serve, JourneyCare welcomed many experienced and talented
professionals to our care teams, and focused on strengthening our team, systems,
infrastructure and reserves to ensure we are resilient through change and we will be here
to care for all those who need our care now and in the future.
Management
& General
1.8%
Other
14.5%
Uses
of Funds
Inpatient
Hospice
3.0%
Palliative
Care
$2.0 Million
Charity Care &
Unfunded/Underfunded
Services Provided
Last March, we changed our name to JourneyCare. It has been exciting to see how
the new name has been embraced so positively...helping to strengthen the message of
what we do, guiding patients and families on their journey, helping them to navigate their
choices, their goals and their wishes.
Even though our name changed, our mission has and always will remain the same.
Because of your support and generosity, we are able to keep our promise to our
community...thank you for helping JourneyCare make moments count!
16.4%
3.2%
Fundraising
3.6%
Pediatric
76.3%
Medicare
Sources
of Funds
12.6%
Commercial Insurance & Other
1.8%
Medicaid
Sarah Bealles
JourneyCare President
& Chief Executive Officer
W Bradley
W.
B dl SStetson
Chair, JourneyCare
Board of Directors
Patrick Moughan
President, JourneyCare Foundation
Board of Trustees
9.3%
$3.3 Million*
Contributions & Grants
Contributions Raised by Our Foundation
*Includes financial contributions of $828,000 for long term purposes
Our audited financial statements are available upon request.
Maggie Callanan,
author of Final Gifts
and Final Journeys,
and Dr. Ira Byock,
a leading palliative
care physician and
author of The Best
Care Possible, were
featured speakers
helping educate
community partners
and healthcare
professionals
about hospice
and palliative care
at JourneyCare’s
Spring and Fall
Symposiums.
Over 200 people attended
JourneyCare’s Tree of Lights
Celebration of Remembrance in
December to honor their
loved ones who have died.
U.S. Marine
Corps Reservists
delivered
holiday gifts for
JourneyCare for
Children patients
and their siblings
through the
Toys for Tots
program.
JourneyCare hosted 10 Memorial
Day services at area senior living and
assisted living communities to honor
veterans and their families.
The Strong HeARTs Exhibit created by
Jessie Schmit, a junior at Lake Zurich
High School, showcased artwork by
JourneyCare patients & families, as well
as local high school students to educate
students and the public about hospice.
Vince and Pat Foglia made
a leadership gift in support
of current and future
JourneyCare programs.
2013 JourneyCare Board of Directors
W. Bradley Stetson
Chair
Sarah Bealles
President & CEO
Bruce Carlson, M.D.
Annette Kenney
Greg Dowell
William Kesler
David Van Dam, M.D.
Vice Chair
Patrick Moughan
Foundation Board President
Matt Gensburg
Thomas Liebman
Alison Harkins
Anne Miller
Elizabeth Hayden
Howard Pulsifer
Zina Jacque
Aaron Shepley
Jeffrey T. Boundy
Treasurer
Pamela Althoff
Marianne Araujo
Roy Gibson
Secretary
Judy Balcitis
2013 JourneyCare Foundation Board of Trustees
Frederica Pederson
Honorary Chair
George Yapp
Treasurer
Dee Beaubien
Sam Oliver
Lynda Bollman
Roxy Pepper
Patrick Moughan
President
Carol M. Nelson
Secretary
Catherine Brod
Arch W. Shaw
Russell E. Feurer
Hal Stinespring
Rick Hardy
Jo Williams
D. Russ Brown
1st Vice President
Sarah Bealles
Executive Director
Susan Kainz
2nd Vice President
W. Bradley Stetson
JourneyCare Board Chair
James Lancaster
Frank McGovern
2013 JourneyCare Administrative Leadership Team
Sarah Bealles
President &
Chief Executive Officer
Kelly Fischer
Chief Operating Officer
Michael Grembowski
Chief Financial Officer
Greg Belback
Vice President Human Resources
Kathy Erickson
Chief Marketing &
Communications Officer
Dr. Tracey Hashemi
Vice President Palliative Medicine
Formerly Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois
405 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington, Illinois 60010
847-381-5599 / www.journeycare.org
Jason Leppin
Foundation Director