Winter 2008

K L A M A T H
H O S P I C E , I N C .
K L A M A T H
Non Profit Organization
US Postage Paid
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
Permit Number 63
4745 S. 6th Street
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
Phone: 541-882-2902
Fax: 541-883-1992
www.klamathhospice.org
The mission of Klamath
Hospice, Inc. is to improve
the end-of-life experience for
the terminally ill and their
families.
T h a n k Y o u ! !
The following supporters have generously donated the funds for the printing and distribution of this newsletter:
Davenport’s Chapel of the Good Shepherd - 883-3458
O’Hair & Riggs Funeral Chapel - 884-3456
Eternal Hills Funeral Home - 884-3668
Ward’s Funeral Home - 882-4404
Thank you for your support!
I would like to make a donation of $__________________
In Memory/Honor of________________________________________________________________________________
Please acknowledge my donation to ___________________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________________________________________
I’ve enclosed a check made out to Klamath Hospice, Inc.
Please clip and mail your tax deductible donation to:
Klamath Hospice, Inc.
4745 South 6th Street
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
You may also make a donation online at www.klamathhospice.org. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.
Fall 2008
Reflections
K H I
M I S S I O N
If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, you may return your mailing label via fax
or US Postal Service, or you may email your request to [email protected].
H O S P I C E , I N C .
KHI serves its mission by
providing quality care to
patients and families in the
greater Klamath area and
northern
California
regardless of individual
circumstances and by
advocating for and providing
compassionate care,
bereavement support, and
public education.
In June, the Board of
Directors appointed Paula
Penn the new Executive
Director of Klamath
Hospice, Inc.
Paula has been with
Klamath Hospice for over
eight years serving in
various capacities including
Volunteer Coordinator,
Admissions Coordinator,
Human Resources Director,
and Compliance Officer.
Paula has a bachelor’s
degree in sociology and an
extensive background in
business management and
human resources.
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
Introducing KHI Staff
2
Website Changes
2
The Invisible Cloak
3
Every Dollar Counts
4
Camp Evergreen
4
Light Up A Life
5
Treasures Thrift Store
K H I A n n o u n c e s i t s N e w
E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r
6
future of our community.
Together, with the support
of the Board of Directors
and the skills of our
exceptional staff and
volunteers, we will continue
to provide the best quality
end-of-life care to patients
and families as we have for
the last 26 years.
Paula is excited about the
future of Klamath Hospice
and states “Klamath
Hospice is prepared to
succeed in the rapidly
changing field of healthcare
and committed to the
First up on Paula’s long list
of goals is to ensure
Klamath Hospice complies
with the recently published
revised Conditions of
Participation required by
Medicare before December
2, 2008.
N o v e m b e r i s
N a t i o n a l H o s p i c e a n d
P a l l i a t i v e C a r e M o n t h
November is National
Hospice and Palliative Care
Month, a time when care
providers across the
country are working to
educate people about
hospice care before they
are faced with a healthcare
crisis.
It is important for people to
communicate their wishes
to family and loved ones
early and often, before the
stress of a medical crisis.
Early discussions about
hospice can facilitate open
communication, avoid late
admissions and provide
patients a choice and sense
of control. Hospice is not a
place, but a kind of care that
provides pain management,
symptom control, psychosocial support and spiritual
care to patients and their
families. For more than 30
years, hospice has brought
comfort, dignity, hope, and
compassion to people on
life’s final journey.
The National Hospice and
Palliative Care Organization
reports that 1.4 million
patients were served by the
nation’s hospice providers
last year. Hospices helped
these patients and their
family caregivers live as
fully as possible - up until
the end of life. As hospice
professionals, our mission
is to serve patients and
families, and we’re committed to making sure they
receive the care they want.
Reflections – Fall 2008
Page
2
Introducing. . .
The Klamath Hospice, Inc.
STaff!
Reflections – Fall 2008
Page 7
TREASURES THRIFT STORE COUPON
Save
20%
KLAMATH HOSPICE, INC.
Treasures
A
U n i q u e
T h r i f t
S t o r e
SHOP. DONATE. VOLUNTEER.
Treasures Thrift Store
1229 East Main Street
-Must present coupon to receive discount541-880-0596
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Expires: December 10, 2008
HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Saturday, November 22, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
at the Community Lounge
*We are currently looking for donations of baked goods and crafts*
*Please call 882-2902 if you would like to donate*
HOLIDAY DROP-IN
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS
From left to right: Kelly Johnson, Kim Meyer, Dr. Ken Magee, Janie Steinbock, Rachel Throne, Patty Bodnar, Robin Cooper,
Barb Partridge, Beverly Sigo, Kelly Thomas, Sandy Dunn, Julie Solem, Paula Penn, Patrick Stroup, Trebor McCormick, Jeri
Icenbice, Kathy Smith, Rebecca Say, Becky Duke, Marcella Fenske, and Jill Williams (not pictured: Catherine Clark, Sandy
Frailey, Dr. Hollander-Rodriguez, and Dr. Marx).
Klamath Hospice’s website
g e t s a fa c e l i f t
We recently changed the look of our website www.klamathhospice.org. The website is a great resource for information about
hospice including the history of hospice, common misconceptions, the hospice services we provide, how hospice works, and our
service area. In addition, there is information about volunteer opportunities, Klamath Hospice news and events, making
donations online and links to additional resources.
You are invited to attend the
Widow & Widowers Social Group
Held every Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.
Find new friendships...chat...have coffee.
4745 South 6th Street
December 1, 8, and 15
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
4745 S 6th Street
Next 6-Week Session
Grief Support Group Starts
Monday, January 12, 2009
10:00 am to 11:30 am
Linkville House - 2437 Kane St
(call for details 882-2902)
*Support groups are facilitated by qualified and caring professionals and provide avenues for
learning and coping with the loss of a loved one.
Sessions are free to the community
K l a m a t h H o s p i c e
B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s
M e d i c a l
D i r e c t o r s
Charla Silverman, President
Rudy Hiley
Dr. Ken Magee
Cindi Faries, Vice President
Scott Rogers
Dr. Joyce Hollander-Rodriguez
William Wright, Secretary
Bonnie Ross
James Aslett
Jennifer Springstead
Dixie Carson
Mary Stiltner
Barbara DiIaconi
Shirley Voight
Dr. Geoffrey Marx
Reflections – Fall 2008
Page
6
Tr e a s u r e s
A
A l l
U niq u e
p r o c e e d s
b e n e f i t
p a t i e n t s
a n d
T h r ift
b y
I didn’t expect it. Not
now. Not when I had
rationally and intellectually told myself
over and over that my real grieving had
taken place when I knew he would not
get better. Wasn’t that when my
actual journey of widowhood had
begun - before death, when I began
losing my companion little by little? And
hadn’t God answered my prayers and
taken him gently and quickly,
surrounded by family love?
I n c .
SHOP. DONATE. VOLUNTEER.
Do you like designer clothing but can’t afford
to buy brand new? Are you looking for some
home décor items that will add a little zest to
your home but don’t want to spend a lot of
money? Would you like to decorate for the
holidays but don’t want to spend a lot of
money doing it? Are you an avid reader but
don’t like to pay full price for your books?
Look no further. Treasures is for YOU!
KITCHEN &
HOME
DÉCOR
L
C
I
R
N & A
E
F
N
T
S
S
SHOES
PURSES
JEWELRY
F
U
R
N
I
T
U
R
E
S
E
A
S
O
N
A
L
CDs
BOOKS
MENS, WOMENS
& KIDS
CLOTHING
Page
3
The Invisible Cloak
St or e
K l a m a t h
H o s p i c e ,
t h e i r
f a m i l i e s .
Reflections – Fall 2008
So why, after rather proudly keeping my
emotional equilibrium for several
months, did I suddenly burst into tears
upon entering the hospital where he
and I had spent so much time? I was
going to visit a friend, but I never even
made it to the elevators. I stumbled
back to the car to sit in shaken wonder
that such emotion had suddenly
bubbled out.
C
O
L
L
E
C
T
I
B
L
E
S
Apparently grief can sometimes be like
an invisible cloak that you may
unwittingly wear. It can cover from head
to toe, keeping emotion hidden in its
folds. Nor can anyone else see it. I
heard over and over again, “My, you
seem to be doing so well!” And I began
to believe it as my unconscious act of
normalcy fooled everyone, even me.
Then that day my cloak fell open. Its
lurking emotions finally burst through to
envelop me with feelings so intense that
I literally felt raw inside. My outpouring
of tears lasted well beyond the meager
supply of tissues I had in my purse.
More than one passerby looked my way,
but left me to my obvious grief.
Finally my sobs subsided into hiccups,
and I began the process of practicality ...starting the car, finding my way out
of the parking garage, paying the ticket,
and then driving home through rainy
streets to my empty house. Strangely
the house had never seemed emptier,
starting the cycle of tears again, until
all I could do was lie down on my
much-too-big bed and soak the pillowcase through.
Underlying all the outburst was still the
element of surprise. I was sure I hadn’t
cloaked my grief. Because concerned
family and friends thought I should, I
had read booklets on the grief process
and had even attended a grief support
group several times. But all the time I
thought… “I don’t need this. I’m fine.
Sure, I’m lonely, but I’m handling it.”
I suspect now that any grief counselor
would recognize this as a classic case
of unwitting grief denial and wouldn’t
have been at all surprised at my
experience.
Afterwards, when I was calmer, I
returned to the literature I had shoved
back on a shelf, and read again the
wise words that now held a great deal
more meaning for me.
“Grief is painful. Grief
is unpredictable. Grief
involves surprises. The
way out of grief is
through it.”
All this advise I had first skimmed over
with a “Yeah, yeah, yeah” attitude.
Convinced that I had absorbed my loss
in a dignified and admirable way, I had
dismissed the wisdom of experts.
But with the sudden lifting of my
invisible cloak, I had finally experienced
the gritty pain of grief, but thought I
must find a way around it. However, to
get to the other side of it, I had to walk
through the door that opens on
acceptance of a new path. I had hidden
grief from myself, wrapping the pain so
tightly as to squeeze the life from it,
trying to bypass the door.
L i n d a
T i p p e t t
Yes, it was unpredictable and
surprising, but now I know it’s
inevitable. It’s just a matter of when.
Sooner or later I would have to gird
myself for the roller coaster ride that
often characterized the healthy grief
process. I didn’t understand that it is
normal to fall apart even months after
the funeral, or find Christmas, birthdays,
anniversaries, or just “a year ago today”
passages difficult. I was convinced that
keeping it all cloaked was the brave
thing to do. It was certainly easier on
family and friends.
But I learned that this is MY grief and
how I handle it has nothing to do with
anyone else. Many people do not give
others the freedom to grieve in a way
that is right for them, but I am unique.
My situation and lost relationship are
unique, and I must surrender to the
process in my own way.
There’s an ancient “Warrior Song” that
says, “There is meaning only in the
struggle. Triumph or defeat is in the
hands of God. So let us continue the
struggle.” It’s a mandate, indeed, as I
now know what battles need to be
fought to light up my forward path and
throw off the invisible cloak.
Reprinted
by
www.webhealing.com.
permission
of
Reflections – Fall 2008
Page 4
Reflections – Fall 2008
Page 5
Every Dollar Counts!
When
thinking
about charitable
donations
that
make a difference, it’s easy to cite
the million dollar gifts as examples. While large donations are
certainly welcomed, it is important
to remember that it is not only the
large donations that have a major
impact on Klamath Hospice.
Small gifts can have the same
transformative effect, because
every gift makes a difference!
The cumulative effect of several
small gifts can be very significant
to our programs. An initial small
gift can help fund a small part of
the services we provide. For
example, just $10 can fund a
patient’s medications for a day or
one hour of respite care for the
very tired and worn out spouse of
a patient. Making multiple small advantages to structuring and
gifts over time can continue to planning your gift.
fund our projects and programs. In
this manner, the
$5= Hospital Bed for 1 Day
power of small gifts is
$10= 1 Day of Medications
magnified
many
times over.
Planned gifts are also
$50= 1 Bereavement Group Session
significant to our
$150= Hospital Bed for 1 Month
operations. They can
$400= 1 Child at Camp Evergreen
be made by anyone
$1000=
1 Palliative Radiation Treatment
and occur in many
$4600= Hospice Care for 1 Patient for 1 Month
different ways such
as bequests through
wills and trusts, and they can For Klamath Hospice, a gift
occur during your lifetime or after received, regardless of the
death. A planned gift can occur amount or form in which it is
once or over a period of time. The m ad e, m eans t hat yo u
gift can take many
different acknowledge the importance of
forms, such as cash, stocks, Klamath Hospice and the
bonds, real estate, or
personal services we provide to the
property. In essence, planned community. Please remember
giving is extremely flexible and can no gift is too small. No matter
be customized to your needs and the amount, all gifts touch some
wishes. In most instances, there aspect of Klamath Hospice and
c a n b e t r e m e n d o u s t a x the patients and families served.
C a m p
A u g u s t
Klamath Hospice held their annual
youth bereavement camp at Green
Springs Box R Ranch. The camp
was headed by Marcia Hale and
provided 39 community youth
ages 8-18 with the unique
opportunity to grieve in a safe,
supportive and understanding
environment.
Each youth had
suffered the loss of a loved one.
$15= Patient Medical Supplies for 5 Days
$30= Portable Oxygen for 1 Month
E v e r g r e e n
1 7 - 2 2 , 2 0 0 8
in a hurry to get through their grief,
but to process it in their own way.
Just like grief, the goal of a
marathon is not to win but to keep
going.
When training for a
marathon, a person may need a
training partner and training skills.
At camp, the kids were buddied up
with a “training partner” (another
camper) and taught “training
skills” (coping skills).
This year’s theme was “Life is a
Marathon” in correlation to the C a m p a c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d e d
2008 Olympics. The underlying expressive art projects like
message was that grief is a like a painting and making banners,
marathon and they should not be trust building activities like rock
climbing, crazy obstacle courses
and relay races, campfire storytelling, swimming and hiking. Highlights of the camp included Project
Linus presenting each youth with
their own homemade quilt, Dr.
Hale answering medical questions
about death and dying, and a visit
from this year’s Miss City of Sunshine and Miss Klamath County.
Because of generous community
and volunteer support, there is no
fee for the camp. If you would like
to refer a child to next year’s
camp, please call 882-2902.
Light up a Life
Light up a life,
Please join us for our
annual Light up a Life and
Remembrance Ceremony!
by dedicating a light in honor of
someone you admire or in
memory of someone you miss!
A meaningful gift,
The Light up a Life and
Remembrance Ceremony will
be held at the:
Senior Center
2045 Arthur Street
Sunday, December 7 at
2:00pm.
your contribution will help
celebrate the life of your loved one
during the holiday season and
assist us in caring for hospice
patients and their families all year
long. A card acknowledging your
generous gift will be sent to the
person you choose.
If you are unable to attend the ceremony, the tree will be available for
viewing until the first of the New Year.
We invite you to stop by the Senior
Center to look at the beautiful display.
Your contribution of $10 or more to
Klamath Hospice will illuminate a
symbolic light during the holiday
season. In addition, your loved
one’s name will be read at our
Light up a Life and Remembrance
Ceremony.
Brighten the holiday season with a gift of a light!
Please Return bottom portion to:
Klamath Hospice, Inc.
4745 South Sixth Street
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
Please place a light in honor of:
Please place a light in honor of:
Please place a light in honor of:
Name: _______________________
Name: _______________________
Name: _______________________
Send acknowledgement of this gift to:
Name:__________________________
Address: _______________________
City: __________________________
Send acknowledgement of this gift to:
Name:__________________________
Address: _______________________
City: __________________________
Send acknowledgement of this gift to:
Name:__________________________
Address: _______________________
City: __________________________
Payment: Check __(Payable to Klamath Hospice, Inc.)
Visa___ MasterCard___
My Name:____________________________________
Account Number_________________________Exp. Date ______ Address:
____________________________________________
Signature___________________________ Date _____________
City/State/Zip Code:___________________________