April 2012

VOLUNTEER NEWS
Lourdes Hospice
Volume X Issue 3
April 2012
We Thank You
Dear Hospice Volunteers,
"In every community, there is work to be
done. In every nation, there are wounds to
heal. In every heart, there is the power to do
it." Marianne Williamson
Our Hospice Volunteers are a testimony to
that statement. You tirelessly offer your time
to see what needs to be done; through your
kindness and compassion, you help heal the
often invisible wounds felt by those facing
the end of life and in doing so you offer your
heart to our hospice patients and
families. Many of you hold a hand to
comfort our patients when they are afraid or
worried, console family members as they
anticipate the loss before them, drive many
miles to deliver urgently needed medications
to the farthest reaches of the counties we
serve, and call the bereaved to assure them
that they are not forgotten. In doing so, you
offer hope to those facing their final months,
weeks or days of life as we know it on earth,
and help prepare the patient and family for
their re-birth into eternal life. Lourdes is
forever grateful for your many acts of
kindness, the hours of your personal life that
you share without expectation of praise and
most of all the grace with which you do all of
this. May God bless each one of you! Anne Wolanski VP Risk Mgmt & Home
The theme this year for Hospice is ‘We listen,
We care’. I cannot think of a more fitting theme
that describes all of you! As volunteers, the
giving of yourselves is all about listening and
caring. Our patients, families, and caregivers
talk about their stories with you. Storytelling is
a way for the patient to make sure you know
them as individuals and that the lives they lived
was special and filled with happiness, sadness,
ups and downs. All of these stories made the
patient who they are and not the person you
may see that is at the end of their life. So your
volunteering validates the importance of our
patients’ lives that is exactly what hospice is all
about. Thank you for giving of your time to
give our patients the respect and dignity they
deserve through your listening and caring!!!
God Bless you all!
Debi Hick, Hospice Director
I would like to say thank you for all that the
volunteers do for our Hospice patients. and the
office. Like the mailperson who delivers mail
no matter what the weather is snow rain,
sleet, hot , cold, our mail that we look forward
to arrives in our mail box. Our volunteers do
the same plus more they bring their smile,
energy, love, caring, compassion and the list
goes on. A BIG THANK YOU
Sr. Fredrica Dunn, Spiritual Care
Volunteers are the Heart of Hospice Continued on page 3
Lourdes Hospice
April 2012
Dear Volunteers,
Page 2
Volunteer Happenings
Thoughts from Bettye
April is a favorite month of mine! Spring is just
starting to show its face…although, March felt
like Spring this year! Fantastic, I say!
But, April is also the month that Volunteers
are recognized. And, of course, anyone that
knows me, knows how much I appreciate all
that you do for our patients and their families.
You are the heart of Hospice. Whether it is
sitting quietly at the bedside, listening and
sharing stories, providing hand massage,
bereavement calls/support groups, providing
family members a much needed time for
themselves, office support to myself and other
staff, delivering medications…whatever your
gift is to our patients. You touch lives in a very
special way.
You hold the hands of many
Listen to the words of all
You become more than company
And are there at the slightest call
Your caring words
Your caring deeds
They mean so very much
For all you do for others
We can never say “Thank you” enough.
Bettye
Reminders: Attendance Sheets
Don’t forget to send in your hours? Please
remember that the reimbursement from
Medicare depends on our hours …so, carry
your pink sheets in your care, put a stick note
on your computer, keep a log of your visits in a
notebook….any helpful hint to remember! I
send in a monthly report to Administration that
is due the 3rd of each month. We must have a
5% ratio of volunteer hours to staff hours so it is
so important to send them in. When they are
submitted after the month, we lose those
valuable hours. Also, please remember BLACK
INK for any signatures on the attendance sheets
in the Nursing Homes or patient homes.
Home Care Volunteers
Please remember to call your patient/family the
day before to confirm your visit time. Situations
change so quickly with our families and it’s
always a good reminder for them. And your
might have to reschedule your visit if not a
‘good’ day for them.
Health Screens
Since the NY State inspection, we are
attempting to be more proactive with keeping
health screens current. When you receive your
health screen reminder and pink sheet to carry
to Employee Health, please call ASAP and
schedule your appointment. Then, please call
the Volunteer Office and relate the date of your
appointment.
Welcome to new Hospice Staff:
Laurie Osborne, RN
Jana McPhail, Clinical Nurse Leader
Jenny Rudock, RN
Nancy Lainhart, Quality Manager
Christy Doing, RN, 12M-8am Shift
Thanks for joining of family!
Volunteers are Love in Motion
Lourdes Hospice
Dearest Volunteers,
We could not possibly do what
we do without what you do.
God bless you and thank you
so very much!
Barbara Ryder RN
When Bettye asked if anyone
would like to say a small
thank you to our volunteers, I
thought to myself absolutely
not!! A small thank you
would not even start to
express how we feel about our
wonderful, awesome
volunteers. We know that you
are there for whenever we
need help. From the littlest job
you are asked to do, to the
long consuming jobs we thank
you from the bottom of our
hearts. We love you all.
Cindy Katen, Administrative
Support
Hospice volunteers are the
backbone of the
program. You are generous
with your time and talent and
are appreciated so much.
Thank -you foe all you
do. Our Hospice could not
function without you!
Mary Guilfoyle, RN Case
Manager
What would we do without all
of you? I am in absolute awe
of the commitment,
friendliness and time you
give to us! I thank God for you
and believe in His blessings
for each and every one of you.
Nancy Lainhart, Quality
Manager
April 2012
We are truly Grateful for all
you do. Our job would not be
complete without your help.
Jana McPhail, Clinical Nurse
Leader
To all of our volunteersThank you for your time,
compassion, patience and
talents through your work
with Hospice! I know that I
could not do my job in
bereavement or with Camp
Hope without all of you!!!
Sarah Hopkins, Bereavement
Counselor
To all our wonderful
volunteers,
I want to thank each of you for
all that you do for our patients
and families. It's sometimes the
small things that mean the
most during a difficult time
and I hope you all know how
much of a difference you make
and how much our patients,
families and hospice staff
appreciate all that you do!
Keep up the good work!
Lori Canfield RN
God puts special people on
this earth to truly bless us.
You, the volunteers, bless so
many people by just being
there. Thank you for your
tireless work on gowns,
pillowcases and all the holiday
specialties. May God richly
bless you.
Love, Susan Payne, HHA
Page 3
“I would like to express my
heartfelt gratitude to Linda
Bush and Doris Roth for
letting me dress them up for
local health fairs and other
Hospice events! They are
such good sports and they
are a huge help to me
(especially when I am
supposed to be in two places
at once)!”
Speaking as the Nurse
Manager:
“I cannot express enough
“thanks” to each and every
one of our volunteers! We
are all driven to the mission
of Hospice but no one as
much as the Hospice
Volunteer! The staff could
not do our jobs without you
all. You give freely of your
time and yourselves and
always do it with such
caring and compassion! The
staff, the patients and their
families are all truly blessed
to have you touching their
lives in some way!”
Daniele Wagstaff, Nurse
Manager
Easter baskets ready for
delivery.
Lourdes Hospice
April 2012
Page 4
Working Through
Challenging
Situations as a
Hospice Volunteer
With Young
Patients
New Corner! New Segment! New
Information!
Each month will include a question that
perhaps you might be asked but were unsure
or sometimes we all need a ‘refresher’.
Questions and Concerns
When is the right time to ask about hospice?
Now is the best time to learn more about
hospice and ask questions about what to expect
from hospice services. Although end-of-life
care may be difficult to discuss, it is best for
family members to share their wishes long
before it becomes a concern. This can greatly
reduce stress when the time for hospice is
needed. By having these discussions in
advance, patients are not forced into
uncomfortable situations. Instead, patients can
make an educated decision that includes the
advice and input of family members and loved
ones.
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What is the age of patient and family?
Are there young children in the home?
How has family coped so far with
diagnosis?
Are they supports for the children?
Is their a religious/spiritual belief
system they follow?
Does family talk openly about illness,
dying, and life for bereaved once
patient has past?
What to do…
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Recognize your own limitations (Are
you able to be present with this patient
and family without becoming too
emotionally upset?)
Be a listening ear and support to
patient and family
Allow them to participate in life
review
Do encourage family to talk, prepare,
and have children part of process (offer
bereavement counselor or social
worker to family for continued
support)
Know when you need to take a break
Set good boundaries
Hospice is hugged by
the faithful arms of
volunteers.
Hospice
Frequently Asked
Questions
The Easter Bunny can’t compete with the beautiful
baskets Doris, Linda, Judy and Jean put together for
our patients. Great job ladies.
2
1
Lourdes Hospice
Actor and Hospice
Advocate Torrey DeVitto
Designs T-shirt to Raise
Awareness of Hospice
All Proceeds of T-shirt to Benefit
NationalHospice Foundation
(Alexandria, Va) – As part of her role as the
very first Hospice Ambassador for the
National Hospice and Palliative Care
Organization (NHPCO), Torrey DeVitto has
designed a special t-shirt to celebrate the spirit
of hospice and help raise awareness—
especially among her young following who
often are not familiar with this
The short-sleeve t-shirts feature the
hospice message, “Comfort – Love – Respect”
compassionate kind of end-of-life care.on the
front. The message on the back is a reminder
that “hospice is about how you live” and
reflects Torrey’s passion for hospice.
Torrey is an accomplished actor currently
appearing in the CW hit-series, The Vampire
Diaries, where she plays Dr. Meredith Fell, and
on the ABC Family TV series, Pretty Little
Liars, where she plays Melissa Hastings. She
has co-starred in One Tree Hill, the series
Beautiful People, and has been seen on shows
such as Castle and CSI-Miami.
What many people are not aware of is
Torrey’s work as a hospice volunteer. For
more than four years, she has been serving as
a volunteer at Mission Hospice in Glendale,
California.
Last year, Torrey began working with
NHPCO to help raise awareness of hospice
care among young people. NHPCO was
honored to have her present the 2011
Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice
awards at its annual clinical team conference
in San Diego. Soon after, NHPCO welcomed
Torrey as its first Hospice Ambassador.
April 2012
Page 5
What did the Hospice Volunteers
do in January & February?
Task
Hours
Admission Packets
35
Baskets of Love
33
Bereavement Buddy Calls
4
Bereavement Calls
64
Bereavement Groups
19
Bereavement Mailings
17
Bereavement Office
40
Delivery of Medications
53
Miscellaneous
25
Office (main & volunteer)
246
Sewing Gowns
82
Support to Home Care patients
1,212
Support to Inpatients
154
Support to Nursing Home patients
50
Total
2,034
Value
$39,046.00
Mileage
6,352
Amazing!!! Thank you.
Newsletter on Website:
The Volunteer newsletter is on the website.
Please check it out:
www.lourdes.com
Scroll to bottom of page under "Employment"
Click on "Volunteer at Lourdes"
Click on "Hospice Volunteers" on left side
Click on Newsletter on Right side
In talking about her work with hospice,
DeVitto said, “I have found such a light in
being a part of hospice, one I would have never
have thought I’d discover. Being a volunteer
helps me appreciate things in my own life so
much more.”
Lourdes Hospice
April 2012
Page 6
April Birthdays
Melanie Riese
Rich Lupold
Maryann Caroompas
Susie Miller
Debbie Epstein
Penny Bowen
Maria Carroll
Rev. Larry Hendrickson
Bonnie O’Hara
4/4
4/5
4/10
4/12
4/14
4/20
4/24
4/26
4/27
Hospice Facts and Figures for January – February 2012
Jan
Inpatient Census
Nursing Home Census
Home Census
Deaths/Discharges
Died in 7 days after admission
Died in 30 days after admission
Average Length of Stay
% of patients admitted with Cancer Dx
% of vol hours to staff hours
Feb
2
7
74
62
23
39
56days
25%
8.2 %
8
6
69
52
20
33
44days
59 %
9.2 %
Volunteer News
Lourdes Hospice Volunteer Office
4102 Old Vestal Road
Vestal, NY 13850
Phone: 607-584-9159
Fax: 607-798-5345
Email: [email protected]
Volunteer News
A monthly publication by and for
Lourdes Hospice Volunteers
Newsletter Committee
Gail Goldberg
Bettye Canestaro
Maureen Darling
Bill Schneider photographs
The next newsletter
will be published in May.
Please submit all articles
and items of interest
By April15.