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Hospice lends hands, hearts
Record-Courier staff report
"What Hospice in this community has done for my family and me is beyond words. I am forever changed by this experience," said Ann M. Marcy, whose former husband, Roland, was a patient of Robinson Visiting Nurse and Hospice.
Hospice care is widely considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care at the end of life.
Research by the National Hospice Foundation found that Hospice Care offers all that Americans say they want at the end of life - to have their wishes honored, to die at home, to die free of pain, to have support from aand for their family, and to have care customized to meet their needs.
"I want people to be aware that there are programs than can make life better and they should not dwell on sickness because there is hope and there is a life besides cancer," said Harry Spencer McDaries, a Hospice patient from Garrettsville who has prostate cancer. "Hospice because available and it is a great program. It provides everything I want and need."
Approximately 150 people with a terminal illness and their families were admitted to Hospice of Robinson in 2000. The most common diagnosis for a Hospice patient is cancer, however, other non-cancer diagnoses include end-stage dementia and Alzheimer's disease, lung and heart disease and others.
Robinson Visiting Nurse and Hospice had 57 hospice volunteers in 2000. "Volunteers complete the circle of caring that is Hospice," said Robinson Hospice volunteer Bernadette Thomas. "These dedicated individuals come to serve and are open to all aspects of that service. They are compassionate, genuine and nonjudgmental individuals, whose only desire is to help."
According to Thomas, the majority of Hospice volunteers provide respite care. "Their presence with the patient gives the caregiver a much needed rest or break to run errands, keep appointments, grocery shop, do yard work or anything they would like or need to do," Thomas explains. "This may even include taking a bath or sleeping for a few hours or attending church, a wedding or other special occasion.
"During this time with the patient, the volunteer may then be able to offer companionship and support, as well as keep the patient safe and comfortable and see to his or her needs."
To help meet the needs of Robinson Hospice patients and families, Hospice volunteers are thoroughly interviewed, then trained in a 25-hour, comprehensive program that is held twice yearly.
Sessions include "Hospice History and Philosophy," "Living Wills and Durable Power of Attorney," "The Hospice Patient and Family," "Infection Control" and "Communication and Relaxation Skills," as week as "Signs and Symptoms of Disease," "Spiritual Care," "The Funeral Process," "Death and Dying" and "Bereavement." Volunteers must complete 3,590 hours of volunteer service and go through training before attending to patients.
"The main purpose of this extensive program is no only to educate our trainees, but also make them comfortable in their role as Hospice volunteers," Thomas said.
"They are not expected to have all the answers to a patient's or family's questions or concerns, but to provide comfort, presence and support." Another vital role that the volunteer plays is in providing information and feedback to the rest of the Hospice team. Many times the volunteer is with the patient and family for an extended period of time and may be able to forward information that is important in their Hospice plan of care.
Because Robinson Hospice volunteers are so involved in the work that they do, ongoing education and support are a priority. "Volunteers meet every other month for Volunteer Interchange Meetings and ongoing educational presentations," said Thomas.
"These sessions increase their knowledge of Hospice and issues surrounding Hospice care. They also offer a platform for volunteers to voice opinions and concerns as well as support each other."
"Our Hospice volunteers and staff are always looking for new ways to improve the quality of life for our patients," said Ken Wasiniak, manager of Hospice at Robinson Memorial.
Along with those duties volunteers also deliver "relaxation baskets" to patients. These baskets include items such as a walkman, tapes, books, slinky, journals, lotion, cards and other items.
"I didn't realize the services Hospice provides," said volunteer Jean Tonsing, "until my sister was in Hospice. Everyone was so caring. That was my inspiration to become a volunteer."
The Medicare Hospice Benefit has more to offer terminally-ill patients than standard Medicare with home health. If a patient qualifies for the Medicare Hospice Benefit, all staff visits, medications, supplies and home medical equipment related to the illness are completely covered.
Hospice at Robinson Memorial relies on financial resources from not only Medicare, but Medicaid, private insurance, donation and gifts. After a patient has died, the Hospice care does not stop. Hospice provides bereavement services called "Journey's of Life" to the patient's family and friends for 13 months following the patient's death.
These services include family and individual counseling, grief support groups, Camp Falling Leaf for Children, a retreat for widows and a holiday "In Memory" tree. "Social workers, his doctor, the nurses, community volunteers, were there through it all, but surprisingly to me, they were still there after," said Marcy, who lives in Shalersville.
"There were phone calls 'How are you doing? The children? Is there anything we can do for you?' Notes arrived kind and thoughtful, handwritten and signed by nurses and social workers and counselors."
Tonsing values the friendships she made as a volunteer. "I have met wonderful people," she explains. "Hospice patients and families as well as the staff, provide a good family feeling. I'm still in touch with caregivers of some of my early patients."
For more information on Robinson Visiting Nurse and Hospice call (330) 673-5314 or (330) 297-7623.
This is the tenth part of a 15-part series on death and dying. The series is sponsored by Knight-Ridder News Service, the Record-Courier, and Robinson Visiting Nurse & Hospice.
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