Caring for Families in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties Coastal Hospice NEWS In this issue... Page 3 Page 6 Page 10 Page 12 Page 18 Page 19 Caregiver's Anticipatory Grief What is a Hospice Chaplain? Highlights from Taste of Finer Things Continuing Education for TheProfessionalsFourLevels of Hospice Care 2021 Annual Report Cover Photo: A serene scene of the Pocomoke River, captured by Candace Rutter, Coastal HospiceCoordinator.Education
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President Coastal Hospice Board of Directors Executive Board: Rick Laws Chair Andy Kim Vice-Chair Morgan Fisher Secretary Madalaine L. How Treasurer Stephen R. Farrow Immediate Past Chair Michael P. Dunn Member at Large Monica Escalante President & CEO Board Members: Colleen "Cam" Bunting David "Buddy" A. Dykes Parisa Gholamvand Roger L. Harrell Lakeisha Harris Robert M. Purcell Tina AnthonyReidS. Sarbanes Sharon MargaretWashingtonM.Whitten Address: Coastal Hospice Inc. PO Box Salisbury,1733MD 21802 410-742-8732 www.CoastalHospice.org Coastal Hospice News is a quarterly publication edited by the Communications Department at Coastal Hospice, Inc. For more information, call 410-742-8732 or visit www.coastalhospice.org/news
Monica
From the President’s Desk At Coastal Hospice, summer finds us busy and energized. Our Care Teams continue to devise better ways to provide good care to our patients and families — while our office staff works tirelessly to support them. This synergy can only be the result of our constant effort for hiring the best and most qualified. The appointing of Dr. Mark Bowen as Chief People and Culture Officer reflects our commitment to our greatest asset: our people. Meet Dr. Bowen on page 15 and learn how we are aligning our Mission of promoting dignity and quality of life to our patients and families with supporting the dignity and quality of life of our own staff and volunteers.
Our Advancement Department and Committee hosted a very successful event, Taste of Finer Things, raising more than $89,000 that will help us support programs for which we do not receive reimbursement — such as Bereavement and Pediatric Care as well as those under or not insured. See page 10 and relive the fun of that night. Our tireless Advancement team is diligently working on the next event: Blues on the Bay, hosted by Macky and Pam Stansell, benefiting Coastal Hospice Macky & Pam Stansell House. Learn about it on page 25.
Summer is a busy time here at the Shore. It is my wish that, while we all go with the motions of responsibilities and commitments, we also take some time to appreciate the bliss that only a beautiful summer sunset can bring. In gratitude, Monica mescalante@coastalhospice.org Escalante
Both our Bereavement and Spiritual Counseling Departments have been really busy putting together a caregiver group, support groups, memorial gatherings, and a children's summer camp, caring for those facing the death of a loved one in our communities. Our Provider Relations Department continues to innovate, creating new opportunities to connect with our partners and community, and our Volunteer Services Team are hard at work training and bringing the best of themselves in every interaction they have with patients or helping run our office.
Our Caregiver Academy, in partnership with TidalHealth, is now offering educational programs where Doctors, Nurses, and Social Workers can earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs). This means that our state of the art education provides not only tools for better care in End-of-Life but also supports the advancement of the healthcare professionals in the community.
Finally, in a continuous effort for transparency and accountability, we are sharing our Annual Report with our community. You will find in this issue a Special Edition Annual Report for the FY 2020-2021. Albeit late in the season, we hope you take time to review the information we provide, as the events and the numbers we share are a reflection of the challenges we faced and the creativity with which we overcame them.
Meet Jill Blackway and Pam & Macky
Volunteer Viewpoint
Jill Blackway Volunteer I’ve been volunteering at Coastal Hospice close to 5 years. The thing I love most about volunteering here is the relationships I’ve made along the way, especially with special patients, but also with some of their family members. Some of those special people have remained in my life, even after their loved ones have passed on. The Coastal Hospice patients I meet are so appreciative for the time we spend together talking, reading, playing games, singing or just watching TV together. Its heartwarming knowing that they won’t be in an empty room when their family or friends are not present. I not only volunteer with patients but I also assist with special events. I’ve collected tickets for evening fundraisers such as Blues On the Bay and Taste of Finer Things, helped with the annual quarter auction, Hats for Hospice, and Holiday Runs at Christmas. I love being involved with those things. I Sometimes help out in the kitchen at Stansell House. There are so many ways to be involved with Coastal Hospice and I am so grateful that it is a part of my life. During the holidays I help decorate the trees that adorn the halls. This past year I did them by myself since we were in the midst of COVID and not many visitors were allowed into Stansell House. When it was time to take them down, the tree in the sunroom on the patient level remained up too long, but the residents really loved seeing it lit up. We decided to leave that tree up all year long and decorate it for different holidays or seasons of the year. We call it, the "Tree of Hope”. I’ve gathered decorations from our Coastal Hospice Thrift Shop and asked a local elementary school if they would like to have the kids make decorations. The Tree of Hope has become a beautiful project that bring smiles to our patients, their families, and to everybody that visits us.
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Stansell House “Tree of Hope”
Jill If you are interested in becoming a Coastal Hospice Volunteer, please contact Volunteer Services at volservices@coastalhospice.org , by phone: 410-543-2590 or by visiting our website at www.coastalhospice.org/volunteer/ to access our volunteer form.
For the first time in three years the Volunteer Services department hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon — in honor of our Coastal Hospice Volunteers — during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Our luncheon was held on April 19th at Pam and Mackey Stansell House. Volunteers were able to come and enjoy a catered lunch, Smith Island cake, and the company of their peers which many had been missing. Various department and team leaders were present, along with volunteer services staff, to thank our volunteers for all that they do and especially for sticking with us during these last few very challenging years. We are so grateful to have such wonderful volunteers! you are interested in becoming a Coastal Hospice Volunteer, please contact Volunteer Services at volservices@coastalhospice.org , by phone: 410-543-2590 or by visiting our website at www.coastalhospice.org/volunteer/ to access our volunteer form.
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
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B E C O M E BA E C O M E A C O A S T A L H O S P I C CE O A S T A L H O S P I C E V O L U N T E E VR O L U N T E E R VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE AND ACCESS OUR VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM VOLUNTEER NOW WWW.COASTALHOSPICE.ORG/VOLUNTEER/ SCAN HERE
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• First, we must understand that anticipatory grief is normal. You are allowed to mourn before a death, so don’t feel badly about it. Take care of yourself. Caregiving demands energy that you must replenish. Stopping to rest is a necessity, not a luxury.
• Ask friends or family for help around the house as well as emotional support.
Journey Connections Continued on next page
• Seek professional help. Coastal Hospice offers a variety of support services for families dealing with dementia. You might qualify for health aides to assist with your loved one’s personal care, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and light housework. Social workers from Coastal Hospice can connect you with community resources and if necessary, personal counseling services.
While it may be true that grief finds its full definition in response to death, significant grief reactions emerge in response to other losses as well. For all too many caregivers, the burden of this grief is carried alone without meaningful recognition or support.
What we often fail to acknowledge is that many caregivers will not simply say, “It hurts me so much, that mom doesn’t remember me”. It is important that when we encounter these caregivers to not only listen to what is being said, but also have some awareness for what is not being said. Grief for the caregiver of a loved one with dementia can largely be focused on the loss of the caregiver’s life as opposed to the life of the care receiver themselves. What we are talking about here, are the genuine sacrifices considered and made by the caregivers to support their loved one. Sacrifices such as losing time from work or the loss of employment all together. Losing personal time or freedom, even loss of sleep or your normal routine. Saying goodbye is painful, especially long-drawn-out ones such as those involving Alzheimer’s Disease.
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Anticipatory grief for individuals in this state is inescapable due to the slow, incurable, and progressive nature of the disease. Researchers at the University of Indianapolis polled 400 caregivers, asking this question: “What is the biggest barrier you face as a caregiver?” More than 80 percent said it was the loss of the person they used to know.
Anticipatory Grief of Caregivers is Real Grief
Anticipatory grief can hurt just as much as when your loved one dies. Allow yourself to feel the grief. Process it and try to appreciate the time you have left with your loved one. There can be this self-constructed demand to contain emotions in an unsafe manner and present that containment as strength. To hear the sentiment, “You’re so strong”, from friends and family who know your work as a caregiver, can be intended to communicate praise and support. However, this can be a misrepresentation of the caregiver’s reluctance to express their feelings of grief, rather than a display of strength.
• Take a break. If your loved one is being provided hospice care, you can request respite, where they will be cared for by trained individuals. This is time that you can take to rest, replenish, attend a caregiver support group, and do other self-care activities.
As a caregiver who is always willing to help when needed, you may have a hard time reaching out for help for YOU. However, it’s important to know when to pick up the phone, call a friend, or join a support group. There are many other people going through the same thing you are. Here are some steps you can take to ease the anticipatory grief you are feeling:
How Do We Cope?
By Alvin Harmon One of the most critical but often unnoticed aspects of the caregiver experience is grief. Anticipatory grief in dementia caregiving is "real" grief and equivalent in intensity to deathrelated grief. Most people expect to feel grief after a death, but fewer are familiar with grief that shows up before a life ends. Grief is a universal human experience — we all suffer losses and feel the anguish that follows.
Alvin dementia caregivers by Susan Macaulay like frogs in a saucepan they don’t notice the heat they run round in circles without skipping a beat wake up early morning don’t sleep well at night cook, clean and cajole and fight the good fight few make the choice they’re drafted instead into roles that everyone can’t help but dread a loved one is helpless what else can they do? but dive in the water despite having the flu are you my daughter? where is my friend? i want to go home let me out of this pen! continual andfortheylove’causeit’sthewhenwhichthisdowhy?andtheythendaytocauseimpossiblequestionspleasdementiacaregiversfallontheirkneesafterdayyearafteryearprayforabreakthenshiftintogearyoumightasktheydowhattheydo?unendingworkmayinvolvepoo!youaskyouwillgetsameanswerfrommanynotforthemoneytheydon’tearnapennyisthereasongiveuptheirlivesmothersandfathershusbandsandwives they couldn’t abandon someone that they love any more than the sun could stop shining above then one day comes when loved ones must go rescued too fast from a death that is slow and so they are left with hearts full of holes grieving the loss of their caregiving roles
• Remember that it's OK to cry or admit that you're angry or frustrated. These are helpful ways to keep pent-up emotions from turning into resentment toward the person you care for or from taking a toll on your health.
©2017 Susan Macaulay
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• The Coastal Hospice Caregiver Support Group offers education, guidance and emotional support in a safe, non-judgmental space. In a support group you’ll find other dementia caregivers who understand the basic outline of your daily challenges. Finding people who “get it” is a big deal!
• Seek help with a mental health professional if you are having a hard time coping. A therapist can help you decide if you're coping with "normal" grief or "complicated" grief. Keep in mind that letting go doesn’t mean you have to stop loving the person you're losing.
GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSON TO GRIEVE.
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Joanne Koenig Coste has a practical approach to the emotional well-being of both the person with dementia and their caregiver. She emphasizes relating to people with dementia in their own reality and focuses on improving communication – proven successful with thousands of people living with dementia. This book also offers hundreds of practical tips, including how to: Cope with the diagnosis and adjust to the disease’s progression Help the patient talk about the illness Face the issue of driving Make meals and bath times as pleasant as possible Adjust room design for the patient’s comfort
• Deal with wandering, paranoia, and aggression Groups offer 6-Week Bereavement Support Groups throughout the year. The purpose of these support groups is to provide an atmosphere of trust and acceptance in which participants may freely share their experiences, struggles, feelings, and concerns as well as their strengths, solutions, and joys. The groups will encourage participants to create friendships and network with each other. offer these activities at no cost to any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one, even if they were not a patient of Coastal Hospice. Alvin Harmon, Bereavement Care Compass Manager at aharmon@coastalhospice.org 410-742-8732 440 Events: Somerset County Memorial Event August 15, 2022 @ 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
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Richard A. Henson Center at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Annual Wicomico County Memorial Gathering September 10, 2022 @ 5:30 Riverwalkp.m.Amphitheater in Salisbury, MD County Support Group County Support Group If one-on-one phone
By Joanne Koenig Coste
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For more information, please contact
6-Week Bereavement Support Group Fridays | June 10 – July 22 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. MAC Inc., Area Agency on Aging 909 Progress Circle, Salisbury Somerset County Support Group One-on-one phone support or in-person meeting are available by request. this fall. Check our Event Calendar four counties are welcome to these Visit our website: coastalhospice.org/events/www.
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6-Week Bereavement Support MondaysGroup|June 6 – July 18 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Macky & Pam Stansell House 1500 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines Wicomico County Support Group If interested in one-on-one phone support or in-person meeting are available by request.
Summer 2022 | 5 On the Nightstand Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease
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When a patient or family is seeking religious support, a chaplain is available for conversations about the patient’s specific beliefs and experiences and how they impact their end-of-life journey. Coastal Hospice spiritual counselors/chaplains will also assist with specific rituals that are a part of the patient’s faith tradition (i.e. prayers, inspirational readings, sacraments, funeral/memorial planning). Sometimes this involves the chaplain directly providing those ritual experiences and other times it’s accomplished by reaching out to the patient’s pastor or a faith leader in their own tradition to secure those rituals for Ourthem.Spiritual Counselors are committed to helping patients and their loved ones with the emotional and spiritual aspects of their journey in ways that honor them and respect their diverse goals, hopes and needs.
6 | Coastal Hospice News Reflections
What is a Hospice Chaplain?
Sharon Sharon Hutchison is our Spiritual Care Services Manager. To learn more about Spiritual Care, please email shutchison@coastalhospice.org or call 410.742.8732 ext. 619 By Chet Carbaugh
When others discover that I am a hospice chaplain I often hear comments like, “That must be challenging work to do.” or “I could never do that kind of ministry.” or “How are you able to do such sad work?” A statement that infers the demanding nature of the job is often shared. My response is usually, “Yes, it is demanding work, but I find it a privilege to meet patients and their families in their most vulnerable moments of living.” Every time I walk through a door to meet a patient or family member, I feel like I am walking on holy ground.
Early on in this work, I discovered that I can never remove the struggle and demands of an end-of-life journey that
By Sharon Hutchison ASpiritualChaplainCounselor/isamember of the hospice team who specifically works with patients and their loved ones to address goals that will aid the patient in peace.emotionalachievingandspiritualThebeautyofthe patient/chaplain relationship is that, since each patient is unique, the role of the chaplain may be entirely different depending on what a patient or those closest to the patient desires. Many times the hospice chaplain becomes a companion for the patient in their journey — listening, affirming their values, and providing a safe space to share thoughts, feelings, fears, doubts, and hopes. Frequently, the chaplain offers presence and support without the need for “religious talk”. At times, the chaplain will join the patient in a favorite activity, like doing a jigsaw puzzle or playing a board game, while they chat about those moments in the patient’s life that have been especially meaningful or those relationships that are particularly special.
Reflections of a Hospice Chaplain
Being with patients, families, and friends at some of the most difficult times of living is sacred. In these sacred moments we are given the privilege of helping a patient and their family carry the heaviness of an end-of-life journey. If only for a brief time, we are afforded the gift of helping a patient or family member navigate the spiritual and emotional demands of an illness, the physical decline and all the subsequent changes that unfold. To serve the human community in these moments is indeed a sacred privilege.
Patient: I’m scared of snakes…. have been since I was a kid. I don’t do too well with heights either. My kids used to laugh at me when we went hiking because I’d hike up the mountain to the overlook, but then stand way back, refusing to get close enough to the edge to get the best view.
Chaplain: Absolutely! Tell me about it! is being experienced by a patient or family. What I can do is be a steady and non-anxious presence, a partnering companion walking beside offering assurances, and sometimes carrying the mantle of loss and grief for just a little while – hoping to lighten the burden if only in a small way. Often, just being present is all we can do and is the healing a patient or family needs in that moment. To discover the unique and specific needs for a patient and family to navigate their end-of-life journey emotionally and spiritually is the challenge. These holy moments can be fiery and unsettling, while at other times they can be quiet and peaceful. Sometimes answers to life’s questions are discovered while at other times more questions arise. There are moments when we encounter resistance and equally there are moments when we discover contentment and even joy. In these moments of dying, what we really are given are the opportunities to get at the essence of living.
Patient: I guess I never thought my faith had much to do with those fears…they were just reactions. It’s not like I stopped spending time outside because I was afraid.
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Patient: (Chuckling a little) Well, I don’t like feeling scared. And, I really don’t like feeling like I’m losing faith in God. Chaplain: So, you don’t think you can be scared and have faith at the same time? Patient: Can you?
Conversations between patients and their hospice chaplain include many different topics. Sometimes they include deep, searching questions. Other times, the topics that are talked about might be lighter and even include sharing some special memories or funny stories. Here’s a typical conversation that might occur during a chaplain’s visit: Patient: I’ve been thinking about something that I want to ask you about… (a quiet pause). I’ve always thought of myself as someone who has faith, you know, who trusts God. But I’m scared of dying. I don’t understand why I’m so afraid. Chaplain: What is it that bothers you most about how you are feeling?
Chaplain: youHmm…butfeellike being afraid of dying shows a lack of faith?
Patient: (Pause for a bit) Yeah...well, maybe not. Maybe it’s a reaction to everything I’m going through. Worrying about my pain getting out of control, wondering how to say goodbye to my kids, making sure that I have everything in order. (Pause) Come to think of it, when I was on the side of the mountain feeling scared, I did a lot of praying. I pray a lot now too, when I feel afraid. I guess maybe I’m not losing faith; I’m just recognizing that I need to lean into it. Are you a hiker, Chaplain? Want to hear about one of the best hikes my kids and I ever took?
Helping patients and families move forward into the future, albeit difficult and demanding, is filled with purpose and privilege. For me, it’s like walking on holy ground while helping others to embrace their sacred moments.
A Conversation with a Chaplain By Sharon Hutchison
Chaplain: (Smiling) Sounds like you found a little courage from somewhere, if you hiked in the mountains even though you’re afraid of snakes and heights! Patient: My kids were hikers. I did it because they loved it! Chaplain: I’m wondering how you felt about your faith when you saw a snake and screamed or when your heart dropped to your toes if you got to close to the edge of the mountain.
Chaplain: What are some other things you’ve been scared of in life… besides dying?
Chet Chet Carbaugh is a Spiritual Counselor at Coastal Hospice. To learn more about Spiritual Care, please email ccarbaugh@coastalhospice.org or by phone 410-742-8732 ext. 314
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By Tammy Patrick After weeks of reconstruction, our Coastal Hospice Thrift Shop reopened just in time for Spring Cleaning at the end of March! Our store is more than a thrift shop. It is the result of generous donors, volunteers, and shoppers of all ages who come to support the care that Coastal Hospice offers the community. The proceeds from the Coastal Hospice Thrift Shop helps us provide care for those with no insurance or unable to pay, as well as to pay for those services not covered by Medicare, like Bereavement Services and other programs.
Coastal Hospice Thrift Shop Grand Re-Opening
Summer 2022 | 9 Advancement
By Tammy Patrick Taste of Finer Things is our annual signature event featuring a pairing of fine wine and delectable food from local restaurants. This year, the sold-out event, held at Ocean Downs Casino, raised more than $89,000 for the Coastal Hospice Macky & Pam Stansell House patient charity care. This spectacular evening included amazing food, wines and cocktails of the best that the Ocean City area has to offer, along with “On the Edge” band and dancing. Thank you to all the participating sponsors and the amazing menu, and thank you to all that supported this wonderful fundraiser and made this the event of the season!
Taste of Finer Things
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Summer 2022 | 11 Visit https://www.coastalhospice.org/taste/ for more photos and details of the event. Tammy Patrick is our Director of Advancement. You can contact her at tpatrick@coastalhospice.org or by phone: 410-742-8732 ext. 515
By Alejandra Lazcano TheAcademyCaregiverhas been busy at work. In the past months we’ve had a variety of programs and offered relevant education about end-of-life topics to more than 500 healthcare professionals and community members. We are really proud of the impact that this education is bringing to professionals and family caregivers. In partnership with TidalHealth, we are now able to provide Continuing Education Credits (CEs) to physicians, nurses, and social workers, in programs tailored to their needs. Free continuing education allows our healthcare professionals not only to stay up to date in their certifications, but also provide a platform where experts bring relevant information in end-of-life topics that ultimately benefit the quality of the care they provide to the community. We are very grateful for this partnership and look forward to more opportunities to continue nurturing this collaboration. On the community caregivers side, we are partnering with local organizations that support the care we provide to bring timely information and education to our community. Topics on Caregiving, Advance Care Planning, Grief, and Safety at Home are among the many that we are working on. As we continue bringing relevant information, I invite you to write us and let us know the topics you would like to see discussed in our webinars. We have open ears and welcoming hearts to your Lastly,suggestions.ifyou
Alejandra To learn more about our Caregiver Academy, please visit: www.coastalhospice.org/caregiveracademy
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Caregiver Academy
Offering Free Continuing Education to Healthcare Professionals
Alejandra Lazcano is our Director of Communications and the Caregiver Academy Program Manager. You can contact her at alazcano@coastalhospice.org or 410-742-8732 ext. 541
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haven’t done so already, I invite you to visit our website and checkout the recordings of some of the wonderful programs we have offered. There, you will find our calendar with upcoming programs, events, and support groups we have scheduled for you. You will be able to register and sign up to receive our digital newsletter, latest information, and much more. You can also follow us on social media and be part of our Coastal Hospice community. Summer is in full force and, while we are busy making plans to bring more collaborations to fruition, we hope you take advantage of the education and support we are bringing to the community.
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Hospice is grateful for having outstanding partnerships in the community and recognize the invaluable collaboration of Peak Healthcare at Hartley Hall in providing great care to our patients and families.
A Phenomenal Partnership By Lauren J. Blair National andnursingthewascelebratedNursingSkilledCareWeek,onMay8-14,aweektocelebratevitalrolethatskilledcarefacilitiesstaffplayinthe lives of their residents. At Coastal Hospice, we partner with every skilled nursing facility in the four lower counties that we serve — Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester — to provide hospice care. We work with staff to coordinate the same level of care we offer in private homes. During this special week, our Provider & Community Relations Department delivered tokens of appreciation to each facility to thank them for the care and support they provide to our patients and staff. One of the nursing facilities in our area that consistently goes above and beyond for our mutual patients and our staff is Peak Healthcare at Hartley Hall, in Pocomoke, Maryland. This skilled nursing facility is described as "phenomenal" by Tracey Gladmon, Manager of Social Work at Coastal Hospice. “They have been flexible with respites and work with our patients who need to transition to long-term care”, Tracey adds. Tess Bailey, RN Case Manager at Coastal Hospice visits the facility regularly to see hospice patients who reside at Peak Healthcare at Hartley Hall. Tess spoke of a recent time that she was mutually caring for a patient, with the staff at the facility, who was in the actively dying phase. The patient was in a semi-private room, but had many family members who wished to be with the patient during the end of life. The staff relocated the patient’s roommate so that the patient could stay in her own familiar environment, while being surrounded by her loved ones and her personal belongings — her beautiful cards, flowers, and pictures.
“The family was able to come in, sit down, play music, sing, and make memories. Multiple staff from the facility came in to share memories with the family, how they cared for the patient and what the patient meant to them.”, shares Tess. “It was heartwarming to see how dedicated and compassionate they are for patients at the end of life and their families. There were about 15 family members, able to sit because the staff brought them chairs, sang the patient’s favorite hymns, which made the patient relaxed. These are staff who genuinely care for their patients.”, says Tess. She appreciates the impeccable coordination of care between Peak Healthcare at Hartley Hall and Coastal Hospice. Tess shares, “The Administrator, Novella [Bozman] will see me in the hall and ask me, ‘Do you need anything?’, ‘How are you doing?’, she is always walking the halls to make sure all is taken care of in the facility." Tess commends Amber Sterling, Director of Nursing at Peak Healthcare at Hartley Hall, for the collaboration of care experienced between the facility and Coastal Hospice. Amber shares that “Coastal Hospice provides support to our residents and staff. They are a great addition. The more people involved with our patients leads to quality of care and better outcomes at the end of Coastallife.”
Lauren Lauren J. Blair is our Provider & Community Relations Manager. You can contact her at lblair@coastalhospice.org or by phone: 410-742-8732 ext. 658
Provider & Community Relations
Coastal Hospice Food Pantry Over the past few months, we have been working on putting together our Coastal Hospice Food Pantry for our patients and their families. We know that some of the best memories and conversations happen around the table and we are honored to take a small part in making that happen. We hope to provide meal kits with the help of further donations from the community. We are grateful for all the donations we have received and for anything that can be given. Drop-offs can be made at our Healthway Drive Office at 1113 Healthway Drive, Salisbury, MD 21804. Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. A marked container will be in the lobby for your convenience. what you can, take what you need" Non-Perishable Suggestions: If you have any questions, please email Lauren Blair at lblair@coastalhospice.org or Lauren King at lking@coastalhospice.org
In time for Memorial Day, Delmarva Early Learning Center in Salisbury, Maryland donated artwork that their students, ages 4-8 made for our Coastal Hospice patients! These beautiful pieces sure brought a smile to our patients and their Laurenfamilies.LeDonne was our Provider & Community Relations Intern from Salisbury State University. She was with Coastal Hospice from January through May 2022.
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14 | Coastal Hospice News
Children’s Art for our Patients
What is a Chief People and Culture Officer? By Dr. Mark Bowen The role of the Human Resources (HR) department has grown far beyond handling compensation, benefits, and performance management.
People Culture
An old man walking along the beach at sunrise came upon a young man sifting through the debris left by the night’s tide. Every now and then, he would pick up a starfish and fling it back to the sea. The old man asked him the purpose of his efforts. “The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach. They will die unless I throw them back.” The old man looked around at the miles of beach. “There are more starfish than you could ever save. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference.” The young man bent to pick up another starfish. As he sent the starfish sailing back to the water, he said to the old man, “I can make a difference to this one.”
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Our staff make a difference every day! Visit us often and help us recognize our Coastal Hospice Stars! To nominate, go to: https://www.coastalhospice.org/staff-recognition/
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and
Why a Starfish? There is a beautiful story behind the Starfish and here it is…
Nominate Our Staff! We are proud to celebrate Coastal Hospice staff and recognize those who every day make a difference in the lives of those they care for. Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance, Resolve to Go Above and Beyond, and Commitment to Patients and Families are some of the qualities that our outstanding staff show every day. We invite our staff, patients, families, and community to nominate outstanding Coastal Hospice team members each quarter.
As organizations of all scales strive to adapt to the new dynamics and challenges at the work place, it becomes evident that a new way of thinking is needed to approach and protect the health and wellbeing of the staff, while fostering diversity and inclusion in the organization. The Chief People and Culture Officer is a leader in organizational culture, diversity, inclusion, and growth. Our job is to incite a passionate and positive team culture. At Coastal Hospice, these efforts are manifesting in better healthcare benefits, flexible schedules, and an emphasis on the wellness of our people.
16 | Coastal Hospice News We pride ourselves in keeping our employees incentivized and motivated, promoting communication, goals, and recognition. This ensures internal teams find emotional fulfillment in the work they do, igniting an emotional connection. This can impact everything, from the frequency of team lunches to the conversations surrounding all decisions. It means establishing how Coastal Hospice hires and transitions staff members, runs meetings, treats patients, reviews performance, manages internal and external conflict, and makes Mydecisions.mission at Coastal Hospice is to discover and retain talented employees and cultivate and build on the established culture of excellence. All this, with the goal of offering our patients and families the care that only passionate, committed, and fulfilled staff can provide. Mark Dr. Mark L. Bowen is our Chief People and Culture Officer. He oversees Human Resources, Bereavement, Volunteer Services, and the Compass Program. You can contact him at mbowen@coastalhospice.org or by phone: 410-742-8742 ext. 646 Continued from page 15 Apply Online AToday! pply Online Today! www.CoastalHospice.org/careers www.CoastalHospice.org/careers We're WHiring e ' re Hiring Visit our website to learn about current Vopenings! isit our website to learn about current openings! Qualified & QCompassionate ualified & Compassionate Registered RNurses. egistered Nurses.
2. Why did you choose Nursing as a career? My grandmother and most of her sisters and cousins were nurses. I wanted to be a nurse as far back as I can remember. Growing up I had a role model in a very close family friend, who worked in a critical care nursing facility. She always said to try everything and learn everything I could because that way I would never get bored in the nursing profession. She was definitely right! Clinically, I have had amazing opportunities to work in primarily critical care, catheterization laboratory (cath lab), medical and radiation oncology as well as some psychiatric nursing, and maternity. My nursing leadership roles have included teaching at Salisbury University, piloting a grant program, and management roles in hospital settings. Educationally, I hold a Masters in Nursing with a concentration in Leadership and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Expert Care I Feel Blessed to Be a Part of the Team and Honored to Lead 5 Questions with Dr. Stacy Cottingham, Chief Clinical Officer
3. What makes Coastal Hospice clinical staff different from others? Definitely how the clinical staff work together as a team on a daily (and sometimes hourly) basis to meet the patient and caregiver’s needs. Nowhere have I experienced this level of teamwork; our care teams look at the patient’s situation from all angles, including physically and socially, with an immense level of spiritual and emotional care. I have staff and colleagues, day and night, jumping in to cover shifts or an unexpected urgent home visit. They are always willing to step up to mentor a new staff member. It’s really incredible to see how everyone comes together to help things flow. I feel blessed to be a part of the team and honored to lead.
1. Share with us a little bit about yourself. I grew up in a little village south of thecommunityCrabbingbusinesswatermen,surroundedAnnapolisbyfarmers,andsmallfamilies.onthepier,watchingsailboatraces,and swimming in the Severn and West Rivers are wonderful memories! I went to nursing school in Baltimore at Union Memorial then settled in Salisbury to finish my nursing degree. I got a job here, met my husband — whose family settled here in the 1600’s — and found so much joy in the Eastern Shore way of life since it was so much like my growing up. I have several siblings and three children scattered across the country, a grandbaby, and one more on the way. We are a military family as well, dad, my daughter, father-in-law, and cousins are Marines as well as siblings in the Navy and other relatives serving in the Army and Air Force.
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5. What do you love most about working at Coastal Hospice? I’d have to say it’s the way we provide care and nurture patients, caregivers, and staff. I’ve worked a few other places and in fact worked at Coastal Hospice as an inpatient staff Registered Nurse for a period of time while I was going back to grad school. I came back because I couldn’t find any other experience like it.
4. What is the best part of your job? I think it’s the ability to help provide resources such as extra staff, supplies, and education to support the handson “boots on the ground” efforts of the care teams. They know what they need to provide good care and I have the responsibility to help make that happen. I really enjoy doing management rounds by going to Coastal Hospice at the Lake and Stansell House, other offices, and into patient homes, not just to observe for clinical improvement but to listen and appreciate everything that our clinical teams are doing to provide excellent care. We have so many rock stars!
Bonus: Share with us your favorite summer spot on the Eastern Shore. That is a tough one since I find beauty, peace, and a spiritual presence in so many places. Today, it is sitting on the front porch watching the tidal flow of the Nanticoke.
Dr. Stacy Cottingham’s family, pictured left to right: Shannon Cottingham (daughter), Jeff Cottingham (spouse), Katherine Cottingham (daughter), Dr. Stacy Cottingham, Andrea Cottingham (daughter).
Continuous Care (Crisis Care) Continuous Care or Crisis Care is provided in the home or assisted living setting, mostly by nurses, when there is an urgent need to manage urgent symptoms. On-call hospice staff coordinate with the patient’s regular team to help address the acute need such as severe pain, bleeding, respiratory distress, uncontrolled nausea/vomiting, or anxiety. This level of care is generally provided for brief periods of time until the symptom improves or the patient passes. By delivering all four of these levels of care to the patients and families of our community, Coastal Hospice can provide seamless, effective, and inclusive hospice care. We provide patient and family care in the home, facility, and even when crisis situations arise. Coastal Hospice is here to support you and your family along the way.
18 | Coastal Hospice News Hospice Care: What are the Four Levels of Care?
Respite Although the services provided to our patients is of utmost importance, Coastal Hospice also recognizes the need to support the families and friends who serve as caregivers within the home setting. Our team provide this support by offering what we call the respite level of care. Respite is when a patient spends a maximum of five overnights in a facility setting in order to allow for the individual’s caregivers to take a break. This level of care is offered at our own Salisbury inpatient unit, Coastal Hospice at the Lake, and within many local facilities.
Coastal Hospice maintains excellent working relationships with our local facilities utilized for respite services. By providing end-of-life education to these facilities and collaborating closely, we also take full responsibility to ensure the patient’s plan of care is continued throughout the duration of their respite stay.
Stocked with resources and medications on-site, Coastal Hospice at the Lake is the perfect location for someone to have their challenging symptoms managed quickly and effectively and then return to their long-term environment, if appropriate.
Routine Home Care
Josh Joshua Davis, BSN, RN, CM/DN, CHPN is our Director of Hospice Inpatient Facilities. You can contact him at jdavis@coastalhospice.org or by phone: 410-742-8732 ext. 523
General Inpatient Care
By Josh Davis Coastal Hospice is honored to provide our community with needsettingintensityDependinginhospicecomprehensiveservicesvariousways.theorthethatapatientatanygiven time, we provide our patients and families with four levels of care, including routine home care, respite care, general inpatient care, and continuous or crisis care. By providing these different levels of care Coastal Hospice is able to ensure the highest possible quality of life for individuals and families in many settings.
The vast majority of patients and families receiving hospice care do so within the comfort of their own home. This level of care is known as routine home care. Although there is often a misconception that hospice provides 24/7 caregiving within the home setting, hospice care actually serves as a supportive and guiding presence within the home that is supplemental to the 24/7 caregiving role often filled by families and friends. Nurses, aides, social workers, spiritual counselors, and our medical team educate, guide, support, and supply resources to ensure excellent patient care within the home. All of these Coastal Hospice team members provide patient-specific home visits to promote individualized and effective hospice care.
Coastal Hospice offers the general inpatient level of care to patients who are experiencing a symptom that is unable to be managed effectively within their current setting. For example, if someone is having pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, or nausea and we cannot get the symptom under control in the current home or facility, our providers and nurses may recommend a short-term stay at Coastal Hospice at the Lake to quickly achieve patient comfort.
Annual ReportSpecial2021Edition
In more than 40 years of excellent care, we have learned that the success of the organization lies in the quality and wellbeing of our people. In that respect, we are committed to the development of practices and processes that will continue improving our organization, embracing technology and applications that will drive our staff performance, understanding workforce trends, modernizing, adapting employee benefits with a post-pandemic approach, and above all, prioritizing the retention and development of competencies in our staff and managers. If recent times have taught us something, is that investing in the wellbeing of our people is the smartest decision any organization can make.
While in 2021 we faced some challenges, in 2022 we continue adapting with agility and resilience. Thanks to your support, we are growing a healthy and thriving organization able to respond to the times we are fronting. Thanks to your contributions, in 2022, our focus remains in providing outstanding care to our patients and families, promoting dignity and quality of life to those facing life-limiting conditions.
Monica Escalante President & CEO Rick Laws Chair, Board of Directors
A Year in Review
20 | 2021 Annual Report
In 2021, Coastal Hospice managed to remain financially well, yet we are facing growing challenges. Medicare represents about 85% of our revenue, which means that we must rely heavily on a single source for reimbursement. This, along with a set per-diem payment and patient’s short lengths of stay, leaves us in a vulnerable position. In addition, Coastal Hospice has not remained impervious to the challenges that the healthcare industry faces these days: workforce shortage issues, inflation, continued additional Covid expenses, the sequestration relief ending, and the increase in costs of care, among others.
Despite all that, Coastal Hospice has been able to continue providing the quality end-of-life care that our patients and families deserve, thanks to the generosity of our community supporters, our Board of Directors, and to the unwavering determination of our doctors, nurses and aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors, volunteers, and supporting staff.
2021 Annual Report | 21 Summary of Operations 2020-2021 REVENUE & SUPPORT Patient Services Revenue 14,186,695 Funds Raised 788,654 Thrift Shop 382,503 Other Revenue 2,687,183 (Loss) Gain on Investment 294,922 Total Revenue & Support 18,339,957 EXPENSES Hospice Care Expenses 11,444,096 Palliative Care Expenses 432,093 Outreach Programs 107,128 Management and General 3,539,180 Thrift Shop 263,976 Total Operating Expenses 15,786,473 Change in Net Assets 2,553,484 2020-2021 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION Current Assets 6,160,537 Investments 1,546,011 Fixed Assets and other Non Current Assets 8,800,749 Total Assets 16,507,297 Current Liabilities 1,327,218 Non-current Liabilities 2,674,446 Net Assets 12,505,633 Total Liabilites and Net Assets 16,507,297
Facts and Figures 2021 22 | 2021 Annual Report INTERDISCIPLINARYDEMOGRAPHICSSERVICESTEAMProviding Care to: Wicomico, Worcester, Dorchester, and Somerset Counties, in Maryland. Number of Employees:Paid174 Number of Patients1,324Served: Number Volunteers:of93 Average Number of Patients Per 189.8Day Physicians:5 Nurse Practitioners:4 Nurses (RN & LPN): 59 Social10Workers: Chaplains:10 Hospice Aides (CNA & CMT): 35 Volunteers:93 Number of Music Therapy194Visits Patients Cared for at Stansell42House We VeteransHonorPatients285Patients Cared for at Hospice at the Lake 156 Patients Cared by 180Compass
VISITS AT HOME GRIEF SUPPORT 2021 Annual Report | 23 Palliative Care 1,820Consults Nurses 12,366Visits Aide 12,373VisitsLPN 13,009Visits 2,841 Medicaid 2.76% CareFirst 1.84% OtherInsuranceCommercial 1.39% Charity Care 2.95% Self-Pay 7.50% Medicare 83.55% 269627 Bereaved cared for through phone calls, mailings, etc. Bereaved cared for in support CommunitygroupsBereaved cared for in support groups Caucasian 82.10% African American 16.39% Hispanic 1.06% Asian 0.60% Other 0.99% To care for our patients and families, in 2021, our clinical staff drove: PATIENTS SERVED BY ETHNICITYMILES DRIVEN REIMBURSEMENT Physicians7,268miles Certified2,719milesNursePractitioners 147,483milesRegisteredNurses Practical9,289milesLicensedNurses 124,922milesAides
Thanks to You We Raised $177,239 to support the uninsured and the programs that do not receive reimbursement. 2021 Be an Angel Campaign In 2021, Coastal Hospice was recognized as a 2021 HEALTHCAREfirst Hospice Honors recipient. This prestigious program recognizes hospices that provide the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. Hospice Honors recipients are industry leaders in providing quality care and constantly seeking ways to improve. The award criteria are based on survey results from October 2019 through September 2020. Coastal Hospice was evaluated on a set of 24 quality indicators as part of HEALTHCAREfirst’s Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) surveys. These results represent feedback directly from our Coastal Hospice named patients and their families. The reports from HEALTHCAREfirst have helped Coastal Hospice bolster our caregiver education program and maintain high quality of service. Coastal Hospice is recognized as Hospice Honors Recipient 24 | 2021 Annual Report Blues on the Bay, one of our most anticipated events of the year, came roaring back in person in September 2021. The sold-out event, held at Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill, raised more than $56,925.00 for charitable care at Coastal Hospice Macky & Pam Stansell House. Blues on the Bay 2021
A N E V E N I N G O F L I V E M U S I C , C O C K TA I L S & H E AV Y H O R S D ' O E U V R E S S E P T E M B E R 2 1 | 6 - 9 P M M A C K Y ' S B A Y S I D E B A R & G R I L L B e n e f i t i n g t h e M a c k y & P a m S t a n s e l l H o u s e o f C o a s t a l H o s p i c Be e n e f i t i n g t h e M a c k y & P a m S t a n s e l l H o u s e o f C o a s t a l H o s p i c e BLUES ON THE BAY $2,500 Blues Society $1,000 Music Maker $500 Rhythm & Blues $250 Friend of Blues Includes reserved table & reservations for 8; Featured listings on website, newsletter, social media and all publicity in advance and at the event. Includes 4 Blues on the Bay reservations; social media marketing post; Listing in all publicity in advance of and at the event Includes 2 Blues on the Bay reservations; social media marketing post; Listing in all publicity in advance of and at the event Includes 1 Blues on the Bay reservations; social media marketing post; Listing in all publicity in advance of and at the event. We cannot attend but would like to make a donation Friend of Coastal Hospice NOTE: individual ticket sales will be available online August 15th ($100/each) $ $ $ $ $ Name (as you would like listed): Address: E mail: Phone: Name(s) Attending: Check Enclosed $ □ Charge Credit Card: EXP. CVC: Name on Card Zip Code Make check payable to: Coastal Hospice | Mail to: 1500 Ocean Parkway | Ocean Pines, MD 21811 Online: www.coastalhospice.org/blues on the bay or scan code
Non Salisbury,OrganizationProfitU.S.PostagePAIDMDPermitNo.94 Follow410-742-7866410-742-8732usonline:facebook.com/CoastalHospice@CoastalHospice@CoastalHospice sale COASTAL HOSPICE THRIFT SHOP CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS IN IJULY N JULY FOLLOW US ON: @CoastalHospiceThrift 10:00 AM 4:00 PM 3 DAYS ONLY | JULY 22, 23 & 25 Questions? Contact 410 641 Q1132 uestions? Contact 410 641 1132 Berlin Shopping Center, Rt. B50 erlin Shopping Center, Rt. 50 10445 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin, 1MD 0445 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin, MD 50% off all Christmas Items 5& 0% off all Christmas Items & Men’s & Women’s MClothing en ’ s & Women’s Clothing Coastal Hospice, Inc. PO Box Salisbury,1733MD www.CoastalHospice.org21802 JointAccreditedCommission We Honor Veterans
