Celia’s House & OHSU Partnership: Focus on Thoughtful End-of-Life Planning
Cheryl French
Communications Committee Volunteer
Hospice care has a role in
end-of-life planning, but it is not usually where the process begins.
When Celia’s House Executive Director Dwight Wilson is invited to speak about the importance of end-of-life planning, he often begins with a personal story about his father. He says “One of the most important gifts my father left my brothers and me was a clear directive document and will. His desires and priorities for his assets were well defined, and as his executor, it was easy to manage and distribute them. He was less clear, however, in describing his wishes if he were to become physically and/or cognitively disabled, which he did during his last years of life.”
Dwight’s last sentence set the stage for a partnership that is already bearing fruit.
Recently, Dwight met with Heather Voss, Ph.D., RN, OHSU Interim Campus Associate Dean, to develop a rotating internship program for student nurses interested in hospice care to work with Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice and Celia’s House. The objective for this term is to assess the need in Jackson County for outreach and end-of-life education.
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The first two extraordinary students in this rotation, Nami Choe and Lacy Rhodes, have already begun a needs assessment to find out how much people know about community resources for aging and end-of-life care in Jackson County.
Nami achieved a Ph.D. in Marine Biology before switching her career to nursing.
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She was a caregiver in an assisted living facility and worked closely with hospice nurses. She was impressed with the nurses’ compassion and how they made people feel comfortable. Nami also saw first-hand the important care that family members play.
Lacy received a B.A. degree in Journalism prior to working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for ten years. During her work as a CNA, she observed that hospice care helps people feel more comfortable during their last days and avoids stressful medical interventions that don’t affect the patient’s outcome. She hopes to work in a critical care unit after graduation.
By the end of their term in June, Nami and Lacy will make a presentation to their class and a recommendation to Celia’s House about our community’s end-of-life information needs and awareness. They have already contacted over 30 organizations and religious institutions to learn more about this issue. They want to know:
- Is there is an awareness of end-of-life planning and resources?
- What is the level of acceptance of the presentation title, “The Importance of Thoughtful End-of -Life Planning?”
- Is there interest in hosting a presentation from Dwight?
- If so, what is the language preference (for interpreter needs)?
While both students caution that early findings are preliminary, they observe that the need for end-of-life education is greater than they expected. “Although many people are aware of Advance Directives, they give less attention to their care wishes and needs in the event of long-term disability,” Nami said.
In his community presentations, Dwight talks about the importance of delegating Power of Attorney (POA) for medical as well as financial needs. He advises his audience that before designating the responsibility for Medical POA, to ask the person: “Can you handle my decision?” He has seen situations where, for instance, a daughter might need to make the decision for a parent, but was emotionally unable to carry out her parent’s wish, such as removing her mother or father from resuscitation. “Making your wishes for your care known and talked about can help ease part of the anxiety and stress for your family or friends during your last days,” he added.
If you have any questions or know of an organization, religious institution, or special interest group that might want to learn more or might benefit from end-of-life planning and education, please call.
Dwight can always be reached at (650) 743-7997.
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April Volunteer Meeting
at Celia's House
Sudhir Gautam, RSV Volunteer and Board Member, originally from Solan, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas, tells about the passing of his father and the following 13 days of mourning and rituals. The detailed mourning involved extended family & community response to to loss and grief.
Monthly meetings are held to enhance both staff and volunteer's understanding and breadth of knowledge regarding the many aspects of dying.
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Care Fund Supplements the Resources of Those in Need
Lily Herwald
Development Director
Paying for end-of-life care can be challenging. Many of us assume that Medicare will cover all long-term and chronic illness care costs, but this isn’t true. Specific to Celia’s House, Medicare does not cover the cost of residential hospice care.
As mounting medical expenses occur with a terminal illness or the decline toward the end of life, many people who have worked hard may not have the resources for residential care. Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice aims to remove barriers to accessing Celia’s House when dying at home is not an option.
Our Care Fund is intended to supplement the cost of care at Celia’s House based on a resident’s ability to pay. Our need is to raise $200,000 for the Care Fund by July 31, 2022. We’ve made good progress, but we need your support today.
Recently, we heard this from a family who received financial assistance utilizing the Care Fund: “We are so grateful for this fund. Now my father’s social security is enough to receive the care he needs.”
Help us supplement the cost of care for those who need it so they can spend their last days at Celia’s House in peace, dignity, and respect by supporting the Care Fund.
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Please contribute by clicking this link to our website:
Please contact Lily Herwald at (907) 713-7814, with any questions.
We greatly appreciate your loving support.
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A Friend in Need: The HUB Partners with Yreka’s The Hospice Shop
P. Dean and Rebecca Reid, The HUB
Partnerships and collaboration go a long way in creating a strong and better community as well as pushing our mutual mission of compassionate end of life care forward.
Just as Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice depends on sales from The HUB to support Celia’s House, purchases at The Hospice Shop in Yreka, California help to fund residential hospice care through The Madrone Hospice House. Like The HUB, The Hospice Shop is an upscale resale shop located in a busy commercial area of town.
Recently, when donations waned at The Hospice Shop, Cheryl Fontanza, Store Manager, called Mary Kay Wells, a five-year HUB volunteer and past volunteer at The Hospice Shop. Cheryl wanted to find out if The HUB had any surplus donations that hadn’t sold at the store but that might sell well in Yreka. The answer, of course, was yes, yes and yes!
The HUB’s ability and enthusiasm to help fund another hospice house is the best of all outcomes. Our upscale, unsold furniture, hardgoods, clothing, accessories, art, housewares and so many other items will now be channeled to a wider community through The Hospice Shop and The Madrone Hospice House.
This newly forged partnership proves that our mission is one, and we are in this together.
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Rocky & Butch – HUB volunteers – make their first Custom upholstered dining chairs re-donated drop off to The Hospice Shop in Yreka, CA. These chairs by the HUB now shine at The Hospice Shop. |
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1618 Ashland Street, Ashland, OR
Store Hours:
Monday – Sunday, 10:30am – 5:00pm
(541) 488-7805
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- The HUB will be closed Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day
- The HUB accepts donations Tuesday - Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm
- Interested in volunteering at The HUB? Contact us (541) 488-7805
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Upcoming Newport Marathon Raises Money for Celia's House |
Saturday June 4th, eight Southern Oregon runners will be running in the annual Newport, OR Marathon & Half Marathon event.
These runners are active participants in the community–some of them students at Southern Oregon University, as well as members of the local Living Hope Church.
All donations on behalf of the marathon event directly support care at Celia's House. To make a donation, visit the DONATE section of our website sofriendsofhospice.org/donate-online Or you can mail a check to:
Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice
217 S Modoc Ave
Medford, OR 97504
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We are Here to Help. Please Give Us a Call
Caregiving at the end-of-life can be hard. For questions or support regarding admissions, please call (650) 743-7997.
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For General Information - Call Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice Administrative Offices:
(541) 500-8911
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Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice & Celia's House
Mailing Address: 217 S. Modoc Ave., Medford, OR 97504
Check Out Our YouTube Video Tour:
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