You’re Never Too Young I
have been a volunteer for Hospice Compassus for nearly 8 years. In January of 2009 I had the pleasure and opportunity to join the Hospice Team working in the office as a Program Assistant. One day in mid-February this year I received a call from a lady who previously had two relatives on our service who received excellent care. She told me a story about her 7-year-old granddaughter, Emily, who had seen a calendar from St. Jude’s Childrens’ Hospital. She was curious about the children with no hair, so her mother explained to her. After hearing this information, Emily sprang into action. She chose one of her baby dolls, complete with bottle and clothes, that she wanted to gift wrap and give to a sick child who could really benefit from such an act of kindness. I was deeply moved by this little girl’s offer to part with one of her favorite dolls and give it to another child in an effort to help relieve her pain and suffering. “What a sweet, thoughtful gesture!” I thought. “Perhaps someday down the road this young girl, all grown up, could be a hospice volunteer.” I felt she was a perfect candidate!!! She already had the core value of compassion! Hospice Compassus strives to provide quality of life when the quantity of life itself is limited. The Hospice Care Team includes nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement and volunteer coordinators, and volunteers themselves. The Team works jointly with the patient and family, their personal physician, and our medical directors to prepare a plan of care that best fits the patient’s needs. Every member of the Team, including the volunteers, has a vital role to play in achieving our goal of excellent care. Emily is pictured with her gift that we hope will bring a bright, shining smile to the face of another small child, easing her sorrow and pain.
Emily Tellman with her gift and Jim Biggs, Hospice Care Consultant, and Debbie Coots, Program Assistant.
Popcorn and a Movie Thanks to Corrinne Casey, Regional Clinical Director, for Popcorn-and-a-Movie in Lakeside, Arizona!
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n an innovative approach to understanding end-of-life dynamics, Corrinne sent the Lakeside Care Team a box of theatre goodies—popcorn, Milk Duds, Junior Mints, etc.—and “Two Weeks,” a movie starring Sally Field as a dying cancer patient. The clinical staff watched the film and completed their regular assessments, as if the characters were actual hospice clients. In this case, though, they had an advantage—they could see what happens when the professionals aren’t around to observe. The next week Corrinne arrived for her usual visit, and the team completed a comprehensive plan of care, incorporating everything they’d seen of the interactions among Sally’s “patient” and the members of her family. The Director of Clinical Services, RN Case Managers, Social Workers, Chaplain, and Volunteer Coordinator both enjoyed and learned from Corrinne’s unique teaching process! – Diane Kincaid, Business Office Coordinator Lake side , Arizona
– Debbie Coots, Program Assistant Jefferson City, Missouri Lakeside Care Team enjoying their goodies and the movie.
Vol. 3 • No. 2
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