Dear Hospice Supporters,

The first two weeks of May flew by in a flurry of fundraising activity! First we had the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign, which brought in just over $4500. That’s more than 3000 cookies sold! All kinds of volunteers, staff, board members and other supporters signed up for a shift or two decorating cookies. This was a great opportunity to work together and get to know each other. Thanks to all involved, and to all who purchased cookies that week!

We had great participation in Walk, Run, Hike or Bike for Hospice, and at this point we have received over $16 000 in donations. We expect to almost reach our goal once the final numbers are tallied, and then we’ll be able to announce our prize winners. 

One of our committees has been working with Claudia Medina, who is going to produce a series of short informational videos about Hospice, who we are, what we do and why we need a dedicated space for Hospice in our community. It will be exciting to see this come together!
 
Three of us met with the hospital director and the manager of long-term care late in May to talk about where we are with Hospice House. VCH would like to do another needs assessment and update all the numbers so we’re all working with current information. The last needs assessment was done more than five years ago and a lot has changed since then. This delays our capital campaign launch, but we all have to ensure we have current information and know how much we need to raise in today’s dollars.
 
Watch for the Four Tides Hospice Society table at PRISMA on the Beach, where we will be showcasing some of the beautifully crafted and artist decorated birdhouses that will be up for auction later this year.  Proceeds of this silent auction will be dedicated to the Hospice House building campaign. We will also have a presence at Canada Day and other local events over the summer.
 
We are almost finished rebranding everything following our name change and are poised to reintroduce ourselves to our community. Watch for articles in local media! At the same time, we will move to a new website and new e-mail addresses for staff and board members. This is an exciting time for us.
 
Thank you again for all you do in support of Four Tides Hospice Society. As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like further information on any hospice-related topic.

Cathy Fisher, President
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Update from Our Program Coordinator

The following is a list of upcoming and ongoing groups provided by Four Tides Hospice Society. For more information for any of the groups, or to register, contact the Program Coordinator at programs@prhospice.org or call/text 604-208-7221
 
Grief Walking Group
This informal walking group is for anyone who has lost a loved one, and needs a space to grieve. Meet new people who share a common experience, and find mutual support and acceptance. This group is led by a trained hospice volunteer.

First and last Tuesday of each month at 10am, weather permitting.

Meets at the Coast Guard/lower level parking lot for the Seawalk at the picnic table.

Caregiver Support Group
This ongoing support group is for anyone who is caring for someone elderly, palliative, or who has a chronic or acute illness. It is a space to share experiences, resources and relax. This group is facilitated by a trained hospice volunteer.

Every second Monday at 10am at the Hospice office.

Grief Support Group
The Grief Support group is a structured series over ten weeks. This series provides education, activities and resources for those who are grieving the death of a loved one.

Starting September 11th at the United Church 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. 
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Update from Our Client & Volunteer Coordinator

Remaining at home: Things to consider (Article Excerpts)

By: Simone Stenekes RN, MN, CHPCN(C), CNS and Lisa Streeter  
For Full article go to:
 
Many Canadians say they would like to die at home, probably because home feels comfortable and familiar. Yet, most of us aren’t aware of what supporting a death at home might involve. The purpose of this article is to outline some of the potential challenges and rewards that come with a home death. That way, both patients and caregivers can have a better idea of what might be expected.

Is there a “best” place to die?
Deciding where to provide care can be a difficult decision and you may find that you change your mind as circumstances change. There really is no one “right” answer. What is ultimately most important is that the person feels comfortable and you have the support that you need. If you try to stay flexible in your planning, you might be able to avoid feelings of guilt or regret if things change in the future. People often hesitate to make a change in location when they feel it means breaking a promise, either to themselves or to a family member. Instead of promising a home death, you might decide:
  • to stay at home for as long as possible;
  • to regularly review how caregiving is going with the health care team.

Things to think about
If you are considering a home death for you or a member of your family, there are some basic elements that will help make that possible:
  • The patient and the family support the idea of a home death.
  • More than one family caregiver is available.
  • Skilled medical support is available at any hour of the day.

After these basics, there are some practical considerations:
  • Does the family have the resources to support a home death? For example, is there wheelchair access into the home? Is there a bedroom on the main floor? Can caregivers afford to take time off work, or are they eligible for caregiver benefits?
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  • Is the patient able to perform some tasks, such as transferring to a toilet or holding a spoon for eating, or does the caregiver need to help with all tasks?
  •  
  • If the patient is having physical symptoms, like pain or trouble breathing, has the caregiver been provided the needed resources and information to make the patient comfortable?
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  • Is there enough room in the home for medical equipment that would help in providing care?
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  • Is the family comfortable with health care providers coming into the home to help with caregiving? Home care workers, palliative care nurses or doctors may be some of the people who visit the home.

Perhaps one of the most important considerations when thinking about a death at home is ensuring that you have the support you need to provide quality care. You will need support from health care providers, friends and family, and perhaps your faith community and your place of work.

Whatever decision you make about the location for the death of someone close to you, remember that there are always other options available to you. You can’t always anticipate what will happen and neither can your health care team. But, working together as a team, you can make sure the approach you’ve taken is still right for you.
Connect With Us!
604-223-7309
PO Box 33 Powell River, BC V8A 4Z5