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Spring 2018
Sharing our special moments
with
you.
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IN THIS ISSUE
Virtual Reality at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House
2018 Thresholds Conference:
Making Space for Grief in Our Lives
Thank you -
10 Years of Care Campaign
Update
Spotlight: New Board Members
HSM in Print!
QUICK LINKS
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Virtual Reality at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House
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The University of New England and Hospice of Southern Maine recently partnered with research staff from
Embodied Labs
, a Los Angeles-based educational technology company, for their upcoming virtual reality simulation project focused on end of life.
For two days in January, researchers from Embodied
Labs immersed themselves at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House to learn first-hand what a patient experiences during end-of-life decisions and conversations.
Embodied Labs creates virtual reality trainings that simulate the physical and emotional feelings patients experience when facing a diagnosis. Working with healthcare institutions and universities across the country, the company aims to create better patient-centered care.
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During their time at Gosnell, Embodied Labs researchers were able to observe and experience the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of end of life from both the patient’s experience and the perspective of the HSM care team. They learned about the support our staff provides and the interdisciplinary model of hospice care that we use to support patients and their families. The simulation, expected to be available to UNE students in May, will provide both the hospice patient’s perspective as well as that of the healthcare provider.
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Left-Right: Keirsten Littlefield, GMHH House Manager; David Desbrow, Head of Programs at Embodied Labs; Erin Washington, Head of Curriculum at Embodied Labs; Daryl Cady, CEO of HSM
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“It was a privilege to be at Gosnell and shadow their staff. We were blown away by how they work together and the care they give to patients,” said Erin Washington, co-founder and head of customer experience at Embodied Labs. “We hope that when these labs are used in training it helps the care team feel more empowered and equipped to use care practices that make a difference in the lives of patients and their families.”
From their observations, Embodied Labs will create a virtual reality simulation that allows users to experience the full range of emotions and thought processes that occur when one is experiencing end of life. Their past simulations have included “The Alfred Lab: Hearing & Vision Loss” and “The Beatriz Lab: Alzheimer’s disease.” To read more about this exciting partnership, check out this article recently published by Mainebiz:
Virtual reality enlightens medical students about end-of-life care.
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Thresholds Conference 2018
Making Space for Grief in Our Lives
with
Kate Braestrup
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Wednesday, May 2
9 am - 1 pm
Hannaford Hall, USM Portland Campus
$25 /
Lunch & Free garage parking
Woven in and out of every life, grief is the faithful companion we don’t want when someone we love dies. It inserts itself in our relationships, it follows us into the workplace, and it changes us forever in ways we could never have imagined. The other side of grief is its potential to be our greatest teacher, the source of our strength, and the catalyst for growth.
Join us for real conversations about grief, professional advice on coping, and tips for helping friends, co-workers, and family members, and perhaps even yourself.
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Kate Braestrup, bestselling author and chaplain with the Maine Warden Service will give the keynote address. Daryl Cady (CEO, Hospice of Southern Maine) and Carol Schoneberg (Bereavement Services Manager, Hospice of Southern Maine) will discuss the impact of grief in the workplace. The Conference will conclude with a community panel sharing poignant stories of loss. Tickets are $25 and include a light lunch.
To register and for more information,
click here
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10 Years of Care Campaign
Update - THANK YOU!
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2017 marked the 10 year anniversary of Gosnell Memorial Hospice House’s founding. To mark this milestone, in September we launched the
10 Years of Care Campaign
and asked our community to come together in support of Gosnell like they did in 2007. We were
blown away
by your response!
651 donors
helped us exceed our goal, an amazing accomplishment that will make a real difference for the patients and families we serve.
Thank you very much for your continued generosity and belief in our mission of compassionate care, it is sincerely appreciated.
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Spotlight: Meet Our New Board Members
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Theo Kalikow, PhD
Theodora J. Kalikow is President Emerita of the University of Maine, Farmington, where she served from 1994-2012. She also served as President of the University of Southern Maine during 2012-14. Kalikow holds degrees from Wellesley College, MIT, and Boston University. She is an active educational consultant and serves on the Boards of Directors of Maine Media College and Breakwater Learning.
When asked why the hospice mission inspires her, Theo responded, "Hospice is a unique social service that supports people and their families in the final stages of life. Of course it provides comfort, but perhaps more important, it creates a strong and reliable social framework within which the dying person can do their important final work, and the family and other caregivers can do theirs, without distraction, pain, or other worries. My brother Dan died in hospice care several years ago, and our entire family was enabled by Hospice to participate in his passage with loving acceptance."
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Laura Madigan-McCown, Ethicist
Laura is a clinical ethicist at Maine Medical Center where she conducts ethics consultations and helps to coordinate the hospital ethics committee. Laura also serves as faculty for the Maine Medical Center Nurse Residency Program and the Palliative Medicine and Clinical Ethics rotation for medical students and fellows. Laura has a Masters in Social Work from Boston University and a Masters in Theological Ethics, with a concentration in Bioethics, from Boston College. She has also completed advanced course work and training at the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics.
When asked why the hospice mission inspires her, Laura answered, "Compassion, care and comfort through end of life is a mission that inspires me because it is so important for a person approaching the end of life to receive care that ensures their dignity is respected. I believe that we, as individuals and as a society, are ethically obligated to care for those who are experiencing the physical, emotional, and existential challenges that often accompany life limiting conditions, and to support their loved ones in the process. It is inspiring to see and hear stories of the diverse services provided by hospice staff who work with those nearing death, and who do so with great compassion and dedication. It is truly a privilege to have the opportunity to assist in advancing the mission of Hospice of Southern Maine."
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HSM in Print!
HSM chaplain Larry Greer recently wrote an
op-ed
for the Portland Press Herald about the importance of self-care when acting as a care partner for a loved one. It's a great reminder that self-care is not selfish.
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Tech Update
Your security is our priority. Due to a security software software update on March 15, you may experience issues accessing our donation page. If this occurs, please check that your operating system and browser are updated to ensure that your payment is processed safely and securely. Please call us with questions or for a list of updated browser versions that are compatible with the upcoming security change.
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Hospice of Southern Maine 180 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074
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