So many people right now—and for good reason—are celebrating the end of 2020, hoping that with the turn of the calendar, all the pain and struggle, grief and upset we’ve experienced this year will be wiped away. Although we, like you, have struggled with the challenges this year brought, we also want to take a moment and say “thank you”…
This holiday season is sure to be unlike any other as we all navigate as best we can through the continuing pandemic and the unthinkable grief and loss in its wake. Here at hospice we are well aware that loss is an important part of life and that it is possible to live through a time of grief in a…
As you can probably imagine, hope is a continual theme in our work in hospice. Often people say things like, “I could never do what you do. It must be such depressing work, so hard when there’s no hope.” That’s a common misconception about hospice work, because it’s not true that hope is gone when we are facing the end…
For many families, the end-of-life journey they make with their loved ones is among the toughest and most sacred times of their entire lives. Having the right team along for support helps not only in managing your loved one’s symptoms effectively but also in finding kind and compassionate care that helps your whole family get the most from the precious…
Greetings, everyone! It’s not “officially” fall yet, but have you noticed that there’s more yellow in the trees and the fields are looking golden? We’ve just finished preparing and mailed out our new fall bereavement newsletter. This issue includes a reflection on grief at the changing of the seasons, a book review of our favorite children’s book on grief, “The…
In our grief group this morning, one of our long-time members mentioned that not long after she experienced a terrible loss, a family member sent her a copy of The Mourner’s Bill of Rights and it was very helpful to her. This clear set of ideas was originally developed by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., a leading researcher and presenter in…
“Caregiver” is a big label that can encompass any number of things when you are caring for a loved one at home. According to the two-tiered study, Home Alone, and Home Alone Revisited, funded by the United Hospital Fund and the AARP, caregivers often feel as though they have taken on the labels of both “skilled nurse” and “home manager.”…
What a beautiful evening! Yesterday was our annual Circle of Life Luminary service, a special time when we gather with our hospice families to honor their loved ones during the holiday season. More than 100 people came to share refreshments, tell stories, and remember together. We enjoyed a brief service inside and then, at the culmination of the program, family…
During our morning meeting time this morning, several of our team members told stories about people who noticed their hospice name badges out in public and came up to say, “Thank you for what you do!” or to share a story about a loved one in their life who received hospice care. This is something we all share: Once hospice…
Are you achy? Do you feel stiff, like walking and bending is a chore? Sometimes grief makes us feel that way. Sometimes life makes us feel that way. What helps might seem counterintuitive, but it actually works: Move! Gentle morning stretches and deep breaths can help bring oxygen into your bloodstream and get blood flowing through muscles that have been…