A N E W S L E T T E R F O R O U R H O S P I CE V O L UN T E E R S

Front page

Volunteer Department Message

Page 2

A Volunteers Journey

Staff Directory

Page 3

A Volunteers Journey (con’t)

Honoring Veterans

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Congratulations, Thinking of You

Continuing Education 2019

Spring 2019

At the

Volunteers

Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, Hospice & Palliative Care Lincoln

County, Hospice & Palliative Care Lake Norman, Hospice & Palliative Care Palmetto Region, Hospice of Laurens County, Levine & Dickson Hospice House Huntersville, Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster,

Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Aldersgate

Volunteer Department Staff

Elise Hurst - Director of Volunteer Services-supervises the department staff and manages the volunteers that serve Hospice & Palliative Care Palmetto Region

Volunteer Managers:

Colleen Carter – manages all documentation and compliance and the volunteer program at LDHH Huntersville.

Christy Gaskill - manages the Lake Norman team, the quarterly newsletter and the Community Awareness Team (CAT)

Anita Gluodenis - manages the Homecare South team, tuck-in program, volunteer personnel files, to include annual education and paperwork,

maintains RSVP’s for all events. Katie Hardin-manages the Homecare West team as well as the Hospice & Palliative Care

Lincoln County volunteer team. Melissa Peura—manages the office volunteers, the HART North team and the

Homecare Northeast team. Cindy Spain-manages the volunteer program at LDHH Aldersgate, the Union

County team, Kids Path and the HART South team.

Please join us in welcoming our newest Volunteer Manager,

Melissa Peura!

Hi, I am Melissa and I am so excited to begin this journey with you and

the organization as the Volunteer Manager for the HART North and

Homecare Northeast teams as well as the

office volunteers! I have been with HPCCR

for 7 years and I am currently the

Regional Program Coordinator for the

Fort Mill Office. I live in Indian Land, SC

with my husband, three year old daughter,

and our two crazy dogs. I can’t wait to

meet all of you!

Congratulations to Volunteer Manager

Colleen Carter on the birth of her son,

Waylon Brett Carter, born February 27,

2019 !!

As a team we have made some changes to roles and teams– please see below for an updated staff list!

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Please join us as we walk Dorcas’s journey through what brought her to volunteer with HPCCR…...

A VOLUNTEER’S JOURNEY

My 40 year old son, Nick, died in 2015 from brain tumors. His last 12 days were spent in the Levine Dickson Hospice House at Southminster. He and I were transported there from the hospital, where I had shared the news that his Drs. could do no more. Already paralyzed on the left side, his right side was now equally compromised. Hospice care: Memorial service: Irish wake: Nick Communications Network, all discussed. Difficult. We arrived at Hospice after being lowered from the medical transporter, he asked, “Will it trouble you to let me take in a few rays?” “Take as long as you like,” was the answer. We did. After a while he nodded, took one last look around and we rolled him through the doors. The two bed/two bath suite would have done any hotel proud. We checked in. Checking out, we knew, would be a whole different ball game. Trying to keep him alive and functioning had taken four brain surgeries, two rounds of radiation, chemotherapy, and a couple of new, experimental treatments. Helping him die was a new and different concept. I think we were more fearful than he. He put his trust in us and we in turn put ours in Hospice. We were not disappointed. His pain was kept at a minimum. Anxiety well managed. Personal nursing care, outstanding. Dave, my son Karl, and I were also included in this cocoon of caring. They understood the difficulties we faced watching a much loved, 6’3” athlete, fade to a 141lb. invalid. They made sure that he died in comfort and with dignity. After his death, volunteering to be part of this community became a heartfelt decision. Could I cope? Were my attributes and skills a match? What kind of work? There are lots of slots into which I could slide. I needed to identify my own skills – or lack thereof. Therapy? My dog is too lively for therapy. My musical skills nonexistent. I was actually “released” from a compulsory high school choir, so singing likely not appreciated. Office work? Out of the question. I am a “pecker” on the keyboard. Filing skill? Haphazard at best. Sitting dutifully behind a desk for periods of time difficult… fidgety after 10 minutes. Hiring me by an office manager? A mistake. Firing me after a week? A given. So! No office work.. Home/extended care facilities? Professors during my counseling education preached about avoiding “burnout”. Don’t get too emotionally involved. Try to stay detached. I listened. I heard. I understood. I failed! Personal detachment was not easy for me, especially with individuals I saw on a regular basis. Patients often live for extended periods of time at home and in care. I knew months of engagement with patients who would ultimately die might wear me out quickly. I wanted to be a long term volunteer. So I decided against that option, fully aware that emotional burnout a likely result. Hospice Facility? I’m a bit of a coward-or at least fearful of being inadequate in crisis situations. The very sick are often in crisis. Having a professional on hand at the press of a button was a very comforting feeling for me. Honest assessment of my skills and emotions steered me to a hospice care facility. In 2016, after my initial training, I started work at the Levine Dickson Hospice at Southminster. Entering a room for the first and often the only time, I am never sure what I will find. To be honest, in my early days, “comfortable” did not describe how I felt ministering to a patient who was close to death. I relied on my memories of Nick. “Hearing is the last thing to go”, we were told. We read to him. Poetry. Novels. Comics. Emails. Played music. Told him we loved him and would miss him. Held his hand. Stroked his arm as it “seized”. He was never alone…physically, emotionally or spiritually. And so it is that I find myself doing pretty much the same for patients who are alone. Of course, I’ve had my moments…good, bad and interesting.

(con’t on page 3)

He put his trust in

us and we in turn put

ours in Hospice.

Dorcas Zeeso MEd. was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. In 1970, after teaching for 3 years, she came to the

U.S. with $40, a one way ticket, and two suitcases. She met her husband David, who hails from Chicago. I had $40.

He owed thousands. I accused him of marrying me for my money! In 1971 whilst looking for work, our sedan broke

down in Charlotte. We have been here ever since. We had two sons, Karl and Nicholas. Nick died from brain

tumors in 2015. I am now semi retired, after a long and happy career as an educator, coach and school counselor.

Page 3

A Volunteer’s Journey continues… An irritated recoil of an arm when touched. A definite “No” when asking if I might sit and talk. Once, I pulled up a chair and chatted for about 5 minutes to a patient gazing up at the ceiling. He looked so comfortable and relaxed. Arms resting on top of his covers. Too comfortable? Nervous eyes tried to discern chest movement, as the dots and dashes of his robe seemed to move in and out of focus. I called a nurse…he had never heard me, but I do not think my time was wasted. How do people come to terms with their impending demise? Many different ways has been my observation. A much decorated flying ace came into hospice from his care facility. He still looked strong to me. Humor intact and only intermittent confusion. “I hear you have earned two purple hearts.” “Yes!” We meandered in and out of stories about his adventures as a pilot in the Korean War. He had faced death more than once in his life. The following week, his deterioration was very evident. His sons, who I sensed were conflicted, informed me that he had made his decision…no water, no food for some days now. He seemed to be quietly and calmly moving on to what (I imagine) he thought just another adventure to be faced. Brave! A different response came from a patient whose death was inevitable, but not imminent. She spent a couple of weeks with us. She knew she was not going to recover. She was the matriarch of a large wealthy family. I imagine losing the kind of perceived control that wealth and position allows is difficult to realize. Confusion, fear, depression, and anger probably linger below the surface. We witnessed a demanding, irritable, and cantankerous old lady. Notes to volunteers, meant to warn and be helpful, stated… “Can be mean.” My conversations with her (stated in a positive way) were “lively.” A lifetime of practiced social politeness, gone. She was not well pleased, and she let us know. Duly noted. I entered the facility the following week. The front desk personnel warned me…“I hear you’ve been a bit of a spitfire this morning,” I smilingly announced. From her wheel chair she looked me in the eye, then lowered them (slightly). “Yes.” Her reply. Resolute but somewhat contrite. “Under the circumstance, I think you’re allowed,” I replied with cheerful intent. She acknowledge my perceived understanding with a rueful smile. We moved on. One young man really pulled at my heart strings. He talked, without rancor but with obvious resignation, of his not too successful, 10 year navigation through our health care system. Numerous operations, and failed medical procedures resulting in many infections, left him skirting with the notion that death (which he could not actually say) might be an acceptable alternative. He was exhausted. Emotionally and physically. He could probably go home to parents who cared deeply. But he was conflicted. Hospice, he said, provided great comfort. People listened. His dignity, missing for some time, felt intact. I left him after an hour, with him telling me that he knew he needed to have a “difficult” conversation with his dad. We shook hands. It takes a whole village to raise a child” so the quote goes. It takes a whole Hospice to help them die with dignity. And they do.

Please travel with me next time visiting the needs of the “caregivers”.

“...he had never heard

me, but I don’t think my

time was wasted.”

...the birds at Levine Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville are well looked after! Many thanks to our bird feeding mother/daughter duo Marlene Katter & Libby Simonini.

It’s good to know…

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Congratulations!

Thinking of You...

Continuing Education 2019

Volunteers must still earn twelve hours of continuing education annually. You will continue to receive four hours from these quarterly newsletters, leaving eight hours that you must earn on your own. We continue to provide in-services, book clubs, movie showings and two volunteer retreats each year. Self-study opportunities are on the website. If you have questions regarding any of the education requirements, please feel free to reach out to your Volunteer Manager.

Judy Boutwell

Mercer Davis

Jerusha Fadial

Dona Foland

Barbara Guller

Marilyn Massimino

Elaine Olson

James Ostrowski

Chris Gleditsch on her new grandbaby

Marcus Flores on the birth of his son

Tim McAward on his upcoming marriage

Abby Towe on her music scholarship

Alyse Janosko on the birth of her son

If you visit your patient over the weekend, it is advised that you call

the home or HART facility first to make sure there have not been any

changes in the patient status. The Volunteer Managers will not always be

available to update you when these changes occur.

HPCCR has recently partnered with the Veterans Heart Group for Veteran pinning ceremonies. We have a great group of local veterans that will provide pinning ceremonies for our Veteran patients. This group was started by a local gentleman named Bobby Phillips. He is a Veteran and identified a need for supportive services for hospice patients in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. He and members of his group will come to patients homes, IPU’s or HART communities and do a pinning/visit with the patient one time. Their goal is to provide veterans of the same branch of service as the patient to do the pinning. They are not trained HPCCR volunteers, but rather a community resource. If you see them, thank them for making such a difference in our patients’ lives.

Care Retreat

Levine & Dickson Hospice House Huntersville Saturday, May 4, 2019, 9am - 2pm,

11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC

Center for Palliative Care Advancement

August 17, 2019, 9am - 2pm,

7600 Little Avenue, Charlotte, NC

Movie Showing—Collateral Beauty LDHH-H May 16, 2019, 1-3pm

CPCA May 21, 2019, 6-8pm

Asbury United Methodist, HLC,

May 28, 2019 1-3pm

RSVP to Anita Gluodenis at volunteermgr@hpccr.org

or 704-602-0890

Elsie Painter

Dick Quinlan

Diane Reel

Al Schierle

Ed Singletary

Karen Spencer

Sandi Walsh