VOLUNTEER NEWS. musician and plays occasionally at the Cyber Café. She enjoys playing many instruments especially the guitar.

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1 VOLUNTEER NEWS Lourdes Hospice Volume X Issue 5 August 2012 New Volunteers Ready to Jump In Lisa Sokal Even as a teenager, Lisa felt she would become a hospice volunteer. At that age, it was not allowed, but when her job with City Court in Binghamton was recently downsized to part time, she immediately signed up to take the training class. Lisa s husband died 14 years ago. She and her three children, ages 16, 20 and 21 reside in Endicott. Marian Tewksbury Marian recently retired after working 32 years at Broome Developmental Center. When she was talking about retirement plans with a friend, Hospice was mentioned. She said that it resonated with her. The friend sent application information and she immediately joined the class. Marian lives in West Corners. She is a local blues musician and plays occasionally at the Cyber Café. She enjoys playing many instruments especially the guitar. Beth Hickey Beth is a Clinical Nurse Leader with Lourdes at Home. Beth is cross training into Hospice and will be doing marketing in the community for both Lourdes at Home and Hospice. Beth thought the training might give her a broader insight into the program. Beth lives in Apalachin with her husband and four children two of whom are planning weddings this year!!!!! Leslie Warner When Leslie was 19 her father died of cancer. Three years ago her mother died of a sudden heart attack. Leslie has compassion and heart for people going through similar situation and this led her to the training class. Leslie lives in Endicott. She has been a nurse s aide for 20 years with UHS, and is also a volunteer for the Union Ambulance squad as a driver and EMT. Bettye s footnote: While the Spring class was small in number, Lisa, Marian, Beth and Leslie made the class memorable with their experiences, life encounters, sharing their feelings and questions, questions, questions!!! They are almost ready to jump in. Their favorite part of the training was the Roundtable discussion when volunteers came to meet them but also to tell their stories and experiences with their patients and families. They will find their place in Hospice as all of you did.

2 2 Lourdes Hospice August 2012 Page Dear Volunteers, Thoughts from Bettye This summer is quickly coming to an end! Thanks for letting me know about your trips, days/weeks off for vacation and, keeping me in the loop! And, especially, thank you for letting me know when we need a substitute for your families. The more time you can give the office, the better for getting someone in a timely manner. You do a great job with that. I hope all of you had and continue to enjoy the summer. Please remember to recharge your battery! And, remember Volunteers are truly giving people. As the saying goes, A pessimist sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as a half full. But, a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty. As you might know, Sr. Mary Ann Brawley has relocated to Buffalo. She will begin her new journey on July 26 th. Hospice will miss her. I was amazed at the time she would carve out when I asked her to visit a patient. She was always willing to visit patients wherever the need or request. In the hospital for inpatients, if possible, she cleared her calendar to sit with patients. And, of course, being in the area for some many years, she would sometimes know family members, or, at time, even the patient. We wish her the best that life can offer. She has left her address if you wish to contact her. Sr. Mary Anne Brawley Sisters of Charity Residence 2157 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214! Thank you again for all that you do for our patients and their families. Thank you, Bettye Volunteer Happenings Friends! I had a wonderful surprise Friday. Who would walk into my office but Sue and Bill McCann!!!! Imagine! They were on their way up North to see family and stopped by Binghamton and we were lucky enough to have a visit! For those of you that knew Sue and Bill, they were so very active in Hospice. Sue, not only visited the inpatients and homes, but had a part in the volunteer training, as well, teaching hands on care, which were allowed by NY State Law at that time. She had been a Home Health Aide so was perfect in that capacity. She had a wonderful compassionate way about her. She gave her best to our patients. Bill enjoyed and was a perfect match with our home patients, esp. our male patients but was comfortable anywhere. And, always had a great story to tell in the true Bill fashion. They enjoy the South Carolina weather, esp. more time on the golf course for Bill. They both look wonderful! And, left their address, as well. Sue and Bill McCann 9 Hogarth Street Greenville, SC mccanns@gmail.com They would love to hear from you, I m sure, and can fill in more details of their life. Some sad news: As you know Alvie Bronson has been a volunteer for at least ten years. He and his lovely wife, Eileen, will be moving to Texas in August to be near their son. I was heart broken to hear the news. Alvie has always been so active and had done a variety of jobs since finishing training. I believe his first love in Hospice was sitting with the actively dying patient. He was comforting to the patient and their family. We will miss Alvie and wish him the best.

3 Lourdes Hospice May 2012 Page 3 What did the Hospice Volunteers do in April & May? Task Hours Admission Packets 18 Baskets of Love (Easter Baskets) 12 Bereavement Calls 65 Bereavement Mailings, Office, Funerals 39 Delivery of Medication 50 Miscellaneous 49 Office (Volunteer & Main) 268 Sewing Gowns 50 Support to Home Care Patients 228 Support to Hospital Patients 116 Support to Nursing Home Patients 115 Spiritual Care 19 Telephone 4 Total 1,033 Value $19,881 Priceless!!! Health Screens: Thank you for being so prompt in scheduling your health screens and calling the volunteer office with the date. We have a new method of, hopefully, keeping more accurate track of the due date. The State and Joint Commission look carefully at your yearly competencies, Infection Control, Safety, etc. and esp. your yearly health screens so thank you again for keeping current. Annual Picnic August 30, 2012 The annual picnic at Highland Park is Thursday, August 30 th at 5:30 at Shelter #6 by the tennis courts. This is always a fun night to get together and re-acquaint friendships and meet new faces.. Please bring a dish to pass. Soda, water and paper products will be provided. Come join us for some fun!!! If this is your first year, the Pavilion is covered so even if we have Binghamton weather, we can still enjoy a few hours! Hope to see you there. Save the Date: Volunteer Retreat at Sky Lake September 20, Guest speaker is MSW from St. Lawrence Region Hospice. Her presentation is Walking the Fuzzy Line. All about boundaries! Reminder: Please remember that when you visit in the Nursing Homes or homes, please sign the attendance sheets. In the Nursing Homes, in the patient s chart under the Hospice section, you will find the attendance sheet. In the homes, if you don t see the Hospice folder, please ask the patient/family member and sign the sheet. Thank you. Annual Picnic August 30, 2012 The annual picnic at Highland Park is Thursday, August 30 th at 5:30 at Shelter #6 by the tennis courts. This is always a fun night to get together and re-acquaint friendships and meet new faces.. Please bring a dish to pass. Soda, water and paper products will be provided. Come join us for some fun!!! If this is your first year, the Pavilion is covered so even if we have Binghamton weather, we can still enjoy a few hours! Hope to see you there.

4 4 Lourdes Hospice August 2012 Page Cultural Corner While we might ask, Why bother to learn about other peoples religions? the most obvious answer would be that as we live in a world that seems to be getting smaller and smaller, it would benefit all of us to find out more about what our world, and for us at Hospice, our patients and families believe in. Some of our patients come to us with a strong religious belief; others are very Spiritual; others, with no religion at all. Ours is not to judge but accept them into our program. Thank you, Maureen Darling for an excellent job of the research for these articles. Hospice Facts and Figures for April- May 2012 April May Inpatient Census 3 2 Nursing Home Census Home Census Deaths/Discharges Died in 7 days after admission Died in 30 days after admission Average length of stay % of admits w/cancer diagnosis 76.6% 48% RN visits Home Health Aide visits Social Work visits % of volunteer hours to staff hours 9.2% 9.5% Death at Home Catholicism Beliefs: Catholics believe in the Trinity (The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Central belief is focused on the Eucharist or Holy Communion. A Priest, Deacon, Nun, Monk can only give Communion or Catholic lay person. The Church has Seven Sacraments or Religious ceremonies. They are Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. Holy Orders are a sacrament whereby a person commits to serve the faith for life. Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites is a sacrament for those about to die. Our Priests are called for this Sacrament. You might encounter this while you are visiting your patients. The Priest will bring a white cloth, oil, candles, etc. for the ceremony. It can be received more than once and maybe be for emotional as well as physical. In the home you may see a crucifix or rosary beads (used for praying the Rosary) or other religious articles. Sometimes our patients might be wearing medals of their favorite Saint. The Virgin Mary is revered as the mother of God and holds a unique devotional position in the Catholic Church. Catholics gave her the title, Queen of Heaven. The church permits either burial or cremation. Death at Hospital Death at other facility 4 11

5 Lourdes Hospice August 2012 Page 5 June Kristen Olsian 6/8 Doris Roth 6/11 Rev. Robert Peak 6/12 Kit Hartman 6/20 Dan Murphy 6/20 Diane Stephens 6/27 Rev. Tim Dodd 6/29 July Judy Corin 7/11 Jan Fiore 7/13 Beth Levy 7/17 Laville Williams 7/17 Sr. Mary Catherine 7/19 Delores Sinchak 7/23 Margit Roder-Walter 7/25 Mary Olshefski 7/26 Jean Schneider 7/27 Gail Abbott 7/31 August Val Kelly 8/2 Tricia Titman 8/4 Patricia Clowers 8/6 Beth Holden 8/6 Pat Walls 8/12 Diane Olivet 8/23 Andrea Antos 8/29 Carmen Mills 8/31

6 Volunteer News Lourdes Hospice Volunteer Office 4102 Old Vestal Road Vestal, NY Phone: Fax: Volunteer News A monthly publication by and for Lourdes Hospice Volunteers Newsletter Committee Gail Goldberg Bettye Canestaro Maureen Darling Bill Schneider, Photographs The next newsletter will be published in September. Please submit all articles and items of interest By August 15.