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VOLUNTEER VOICES Whatcom Hospice Volunteer Newsletter—
A Prog ram of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medica l Center
Whatcom Hospice, 2800 Douglas Ave.,
Bellingham, WA 98225 360.733.5877
Fax: 360.788.6884 Editor/Volunteer
Coordinator: Dianne Gillespie
360.788.6892
Hospice House Volunteer Associates:
360.788.6885.
Noreen Fassler:
April Boyden: [email protected]
February 2017
“Love doesn’t die with death. Love is like liquid; when it pours out, it seeps into others’ lives.
Love changes form and shape. Love gets into everything. Death doesn’t conquer all; love does. Love wins every single time. Love wins by lasting
through death. Love wins by loving more, loving again,
loving without fear.”
― Kate O'Neill
Hospice Volunteer Informational Meeting
Saturday, February 25th 9:00-11:30 a.m. Hospice Admin. Conference Room
Do you feel the need for a refresher class? Do you have any friends interested in becoming a
hospice volunteer? You are welcome to attend any of the upcoming classes (a tentative schedule is attached). Indirect training will be held Saturday, March 18th and patient care training will start March 18th and end April 15th. Contact Dianne for more information at [email protected]. “Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.”
Terri - age 4
“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got ar-thritis too. That's love.” Rebecca- age 8
“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” Billy - age 4
“Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”
Bobby, age 7
Create A Valentine Workshop Monday, February 13th
3:00—6:30 p.m.* Downstairs Conference Room
Have a “special someone” you’d like to make a Valentine’s Day card or handmade gift for? Don’t have a “special someone” but would like to help us make valentines for hospice house patients and family members? Or perhaps you’d like to make a valentine for a relative or friend who is grieving.
Share the Love!
We will be working primarily with paper and cloth and will provide supplies and simple patterns for projects that anyone can do. Bring your imagination, lists of reasons you love someone, or supplies you’d like to share with the group. Miscellaneous jars with lids (clean with labels removed) are needed.
* Drop in when you can. Come after work. You don’t need to stay all 3.5 hours—unless you want to! Just let Dianne know when you plan to be there so we know there is enough interest and we don’t stay longer than we need to. We look forward to having some creative fun with you!
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Personal Rituals: January 20th, 2017, Volunteer Workshop INCREASING COMPASSION WHILE DECREASING BURNOUT AMONG HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS
71% of nationally surveyed hospice staff and volunteers use personally meaningful rituals. Those who did, felt they experienced less burnout and more compassion because of those rituals.
Take 5 with the Five “R’s”: Rituals to honor your Hospice Companion. Please add more that work for you!
1. REMEMBER & REFLECT on the person you cared for.
Was this person “your kind” of person or completely different from you? Could you appreciate the differences?
Were there both good and not-so-good aspects of the relationship?
Did you provide the best care you could? Do you have any regrets?
Be aware of your feelings. Any frustrations? Confusion? Over-attachment? Guilt?
2. REJOICE in the gifts this person brought to your life.
Contemplate the meaning or role the person had in your life.
What were the lessons for you?
Was there give and take in the relationship? If not, are you O.K. with that?
Again, be honest with your feelings. You may want to write or journal them.
3. RELEASE this person—and all the feelings—to the LIGHT. This can be literal--daylight, fireside, flame, candle, color, nature—or symbolic. Do what best fits you and your relationship with the deceased and make it a conscious act in honor of your companion.
Sit in silence, contemplate, imagine yourself releasing the person into the light.
Go outside. Take a walk. Open yourself to the sky. Watch the clouds. Sit in the sun. Look at the stars. Gather rocks or shells.
Release them all.
Color a picture for the person—something he/she would have liked or that reminds you of the person. Release it.
Journal. Write down the thoughts and feelings the person created in you—good or bad. Write down your thoughts and
feelings right now. Release them.
Light a candle or a fire in the fireplace. Release into the flames.
Find five unexpected beautiful things in your day’s travels. Release them to the deceased.
Read poetry to your companion or for yourself.
Work in the garden; put your hands in the dirt.
Plant something in your companion’s honor.
Take a drive, a bath, or have a good cry.
4. RESTORE, REFRESH & REJUVINATE yourself as you continue to care for others. Take time to heal.
Heal in the SOUND:
Go to the silence within.
Listen for the sound within all sounds. Allow it to heal you.
Drop your awareness into your heart. Imagine yourself speaking with your companion. Say goodbye or whatever you need
to. Send your limitless positive regard. Listen to your companion’s message to you.
Take a walk. Listen to the wind in the trees, a babbling brook, the crashing of waves. Let it soothe your heart and renew
your spirit.
Remember your companion’s voice or the special things he/she said to you.
Sing. Listen to uplifting music.
Oxygenate yourself; take 3 deep breaths.
Inhale the smell of the outdoors, an essential oil, or a smell that uplifts you.
Drink a toast to your companion.
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Heal in MOVEMENT:
Practice yoga
Dance
Do an activity in honor of the person—something he/she would have liked to do. Watch an old movie or listen to a song the
deceased loved.
Do something kind for someone else—tend your garden (Mother Nature), help a loved one or neighbor. Open a door for
someone, carry groceries, etc.
Stroke a pet; spend time with animals.
Carry a “touchstone” in your pocket. Think of your companion when you touch it.
Donate to a favorite charity in your companion’s honor.
Heal in HUMOR:
Goof off—indulge in a moment of “play.”
“Get down and boogie” to your favorite music.
Have a good laugh. Read a comic; listen to a comedian.
Do one thing because it makes you happy.
5. REMAIN open to growth, to learning more. Ask for help. You are valued and appreciated, and you have an entire hospice team behind you who understands this process and supports you.
RITUAL BAGS Dianne made ritual bags for all the attending volunteers. We gathered items for inside the bags (see
below) and some even decorated the outsides. Find items that resonate with you but that can be quickly implemented and used as often as needed.
“Love is the bridge to everything.” --Rumi
The ritual bag symbolizes the healing power we each hold within us. If we fill it with love, the love will return to us when
we need it.
Fill it with “treasures” that “speak” to you or fit who you are. Be open to adding or replacing them as you grow and
change.
The treasures symbolize one or more ways to remember, honor, release, or heal a loss. The item itself may invite healing
from comforting touch or smell, or it could represent an action such as walking, listening, or recording one’s feelings.
Our “treasures” included stones, beads, charms, feathers, buttons, hearts, ribbon, soft cloth, and paper items such as book
marks and symbolic cards (the size of playing cards = 2.5” x 3.5”) you can color, add quotes, or pasted with pictures. The possibilities are endless, as long as they fit who you are, and what fits you.
One of the treasures we offered were these beautifully handmade felt hearts created by Sheila A., Whatcom Hospice volunteer. After sewing them, Sheila offered the following observations:
A white heart is the universal symbol of nursing since 1999. White is the presence of all color and therefore it embodies the ideal of acceptance and caring for all people. The color white symbolizes Peace, purity, caring, knowledge and humanity.
As I look at these hearts, each is different. They are a little ragged around the edges, just as our hearts become ragged with the challenges of living and caring for others. They are not perfect in shape just as all of us are not perfect, even if we strive hard to become perfect. On some of the hearts the sewing has gone off the path a little, just as most humans tend to do. We come back and knit those spaces back together again.
The Aqua ribbon represents Calm, Harmony and Trust. It is a version of blue which has MANY meanings. But for me the Aqua is a softer and gentler reminder.
The many buttons and trinkets attached are decorative that is true, but look at the words on those charms. We can all find meaning and connection with those words and use them to describe our goals, abilities or our past.
Sea glass is a perfect reminder of weathering the storm of life. Each piece has been tumbled around, scrubbed in the sand, beaten on the rocks, pounded in the waves and has come through that time more beautiful than before. Perhaps even unrecognizable as what they once were.
There are several different scents. All meant to be calming, renewing and energizing. Enjoy all of them.
