Lourdes Hospice Volume XI Issue 4 April 2013

VOLUNTEER NEWS

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When I look at the Easter baskets, I see the bright colors of the flowers and bags and it gives me a warm, happy feeling! The same feeling I get when I think of all the wonderful gifts you all bring to hospice! Thank you for doing those extra special things you do for our patients! You all make our patients feel like they are the most important person in the world and for that I am eternally grateful. Happy Volunteer Month! Debi Hick, Director

Thank you so much for all the volunteer work that you all do. You are appreciated more than you can imagine. Keep up your hard work and dedication to our patients.

Wendy Singer, Home Health Aide

Our patients and caregivers will always remember your many, many acts of kindness. God bless you! Carolyn Norris, Home Health Aide

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I could not imagine Hospice without our volunteers. Their up-front and behind-the-scene's support makes our work in Hospice so much easier. I am grateful for each and every aspect of volunteer assistance and know I could not be as successful in what I do without their help. Thank you for being a wonderful part of the team.

Stephanie, Social Worker

I truly appreciate all the help from our most generous volunteers. From filing to delivering meds to making up and delivering baskets to sitting with patients---you give such comfort to our patients, families and the staff here at hospice. Thank you for all you do! Nancy Lainhart, RN, Quality Manager

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Dear Bettye, I want to thank you and all your wonderful Volunteers for all that they do for the Bereavement program at Hospice. And, Especially the beautiful Easter baskets they made for our patients. They were so delightful and awesome to look at. Just like your Volunteers. Please let the Volunteers know that I wish them all a most blessed and grace filled Easter as well. From a Grateful Heart, Sister Joanna, Coordinator of Counseling Services

Thank you, Volunteers To those of you that work in the office, medical records, filing; data entry for our family surveys; sewing gowns and crocheting and knitting lap robes; Christmas caroling, Christmas stocking and Easter bags. visiting with our home, nursing home and hospital patients; thank you to the Spiritual Care volunteers. I could do on forever. And, all done with a smile. Thank you, Sr. Fredrica Dunn, Spiritual Care RN

Continued on page 3.

We Thank You

Lourdes Hospice Volume XI Issue 3 March 2013

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Dear Volunteers,

Volunteers…Hands That Serve, Hearts That Care

As we begin the National Volunteer Appreciation Month, I want to thank you, once again, for your generous hearts and for all that you do for our patients and their families and your constant support of Hospice.

All of the services you provide – visiting our home, hospital and nursing home patients, delivery of medications, office and medical records work, all of the packets that are required, etc. would never be accomplished in such a timely fashion if it were not for all of you.

Your work is Special…as you are. Not many can do the work you do. Or, perhaps some could, but many don’t.

As we approach the recognition luncheon date, it is one way we can say, “Thank You.”

Thank you again.

Bettye Canestaro

Volunteer Happenings

Mark your Calendars

April 17th – 10:00 – 11:00AM Refresher Course: Conference Room C – Sr. Fredrica Dunn will present, “Signs and Symptoms of the Dying Patient”. This is the informational session, that she presents in the volunteer training but I think it’s a good reminder and refresher for all of us. Sister will also cover the “Dehydration Process- Compassionate Treatment.” This is a subject that is sometimes difficult for our families to realize. So, join us!

April 20th – Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at the Binghamton Country Club, Robinson Hill Rd @ 12Noon!!!

Submitting Hours Thank you for sending in your hours promptly. As you know, the federal law requires at least 5% of patient care hours to be provided by volunteers…for Medicare reimbursement. So, it is so very important that you send those in monthly and before the beginning of the month as these are reported to Finance and Administration.

Confidentiality Reminder: Phone Messages – HIPPA Privacy Rule Please remember when you are in a home and take a phone message, don’t give out information about the patient. Take the name and phone number and the best answer if someone asks how the patient is doing is “I’ll have the family member call you back when they are home.” Also, when you call to confirm your visit with the family, use caution if you have to leave information…name and phone number. This assures that the privacy of our patient is upheld.

Volunteers  a re   the  

Heart    

o f  Hosp ice  

Lourdes Hospice Volume XI Issue 3 March 2013

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Continued from page 1

You are all beautiful souls who give to our patients and us without asking for anything in return. When I walk by the conference room and see you all swarming, making up bags for Christmas, Easter and other occasions, it makes me smile, but it also makes me proud of your group for you. I know that a blanket made for me from material my Mom had, deeply touched me. I am not sure if you are pixies or angels, but you are pretty special. Thanks for everything you do.

Jana McPhail, RN

I cannot begin to tell you how much the Volunteers do at

Hospice. Yes, the list is that long. They are kind, gentle and so willing to do whatever is asked of them, and without pay! What ever is needed, they do it. We are all blessed to have such talent amongst us.

Chris Kovac, Home Health Aide Scheduler

I would like to send a big thank to all of the volunteers that help the Administrative Support Staff. They always do such an awesome job! I don’t know what we do without them. Thank you to all of you. Felecia Wagstaff, Practice Manager

In honor of Volunteer month, I would like to say a special “Thank you” to all my

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volunteers who have been our savior’s for the past year. You are doing a fabulous job! Thanks so much! Donna Lindhorst, Medical Records Specialist

Book Review Corner:

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat by David Dosa, M.D.

Oscar holds court at Steer House Nursing and Rehab Center in Rhode Island amid a number of residents living with Alzheimer’s. On most days he does his usual haughty cat gig, but occasionally he hops into action: he knows instinctively when the end of life is near and he vigils with the patient until the end. The author begins his story about Oscar with the usual skeptical doctor gig, but listens to the stories of nurses and grateful family members who have witnessed the attention given by this gentle animal. Whether you consider cats to be gods in disguise or the other white meat, this book and Oscar himself will charm you.

Thank-­‐you  so  much  for  all  the  love  

and  devotion  you  give  to  our  Hospice  

patients.  We  could  never  exist  without  

you.  I  hear  only  good  things  from  

our  patients  when  you  visit  or  take  out  

medications.    And  to  you  volunteers  

who  work  behind  the  scenes,  a  special  

thanks.  Without  your  hard  work  

making  up  charts  and  the  holiday  

bundles,  you  bring  a  special  joy  to  the  

patients,  and  certainly  make  our  jobs  

so  much  easier.  I  cannot  even  conceive  

of  having  to  make  up  my  own  

admission  charts. May  God  grant  you  

His  most  special  blessings  for  all  

eternity.                                                                                                                                                  Barbara Ryder RN

You  cannot  do  a  kindness  too  soon,                                        

for  you  never  know  how  soon                                                                                          

it  will  be  too  late                                                                                            

Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  

Lourdes Hospice Volume XI Issue 3 March 2013

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Cultural Corner Cultural Consideration in End of Life Care in the Buddhist Faith At end of life, the family may ask for a “teacher” or specific monk. Family may bring religious implements, incense, flowers, fruit, prayer beads and/or images of Buddha. There are no daily practices dictated but chanting meditation or rituals might help the person attain “enlightenment.” Placement of the patient in a room may need extra attention when hospice care is being provided in a group living or long-term care facility. A room farthest away from the nurses’ station with a quiet roommate or preferably a private room. If at home, the surroundings are kept quiet. Sometimes even leaving the dying patient alone. So, if you might be volunteering at that time, the volunteer might be asked to leave. Incense is lit in the room. Organ donation may not be permitted. After death, the body is undisturbed for as long as practically possible. Buddhist believes the dying process continues for 3-4 days after what is usually accepted as “dead”. To prepare the body, the family may choose to wash the body. Cremation is preferred. Bereavement visits may or may not be requested during the 40-day interval. Support in the year following death will be typical.

May I be the medicine for those who are sick, A partner for those who are lonely,

A bridge for those who need to cross over, And a light for those who are blind.

~Buddhist Prayer

What did the Hospice Volunteers do in January and February?

Task Hours

Admission Packets 41 Baskets of Love 13 Bereavement Calls 56 Bereavement Group 15 Bereavement Office 4 Delivery of Medications 23 Miscellaneous(meetings, in-services, etc.) 33 Main Office 266 Sewing Gowns 24 Spiritual Care 10 Support to Home Care Patients 232 Support to Hospital Patients 65 Support to Nursing Home Patients 116 Volunteer Office 89 Total 987 Awesome!!!

Study: More Use Hospice, But Too Late “Twice as many elderly people died in hospice care as compared with a decade ago, but hospice is often treated as a last resort and used too late to benefit patients and their families.” This study lead author, Jaon Teno, professor of health series at Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University in Providence states, “For many patients, hospice is an add-on to a very aggressive pattern of care during the last days of life. I think every person needs to make a decision based on what is important for them in the last months of life. All too often, I see doctors take aggressive approaches with treatment and only talk to patient about hospice when there is futility. This country has invested heavily in building up ICU centers over the past 20 years. That’s not what patients really want. By investing more in hospice care, we can truly meet the final wishes of our patients.”

Lourdes Hospice Volume XI Issue 4 April 2013

April Birthdays

Richard Lupold 4/5

Maryann Caroompas 4/10

Susie Miller 4/12

Debby Epstein 4/14

Rev. Larry Hendrickson 4/26

Volunteer News Lourdes Hospice Volunteer Office

4102 Old Vestal Road Vestal, NY 13850

Phone: 607-584-9159 Fax: 607-798-5345

Email: Bcanestaro@lourdes.com

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 April 15.