chair-accessible planting boxes and more than 400 perennial plants, the garden is “unbelievable,” says Scobie. “In the summer, people from the community take pictures of the flowers because the peonies and lilies—donated by the local Peony and Lily Societies—are of a unique variety,” she adds. Even when the garden is not in full bloom, WBSCH still has floral bouquets in the hospice rooms and on the dining room tables thanks to a relationship with a local business, Unique Florist. “Sometimes the hospice residents have phoned the florist to personally thank them for the flowers,” says Ostryzniuk. “Those calls bring tears to the eyes of the girls working at the shop.” It’s Their Home “Our residents are not living in our workplace, but rather we are working in the residents’ home. When we keep this in mind, the term ‘resident-focused care’ becomes a reality,” Scobie says. “Because residents are not able to cook for their family as they did while living independently, we host dinners five times a year where residents can invite family and friends. “The residents look forward to the occasion,” she continues, “and our residential hairdresser will style hair and do makeovers for the women. I remember the daughter of one resident who burst into tears. She said, ‘I’ve never seen Mom look so gorgeous!’ ” Ostryzniuk, who co-ordinates the dinners, has many people ask her why the home goes to so much effort with the décor, food and entertainment. “It’s because we enjoy it,” she says. “We love to see the smiles of the families and residents.”
Doing Whatever It Takes
When terminally ill Ruby Jamison* was admitted to the hospice, the 60-year-old cried, “I should not be going to a hospice to die. I should be going on a cruise! This is my retirement; I should be having the time of my life.” “When Ruby arrived,” explains Ivy Scobie, executive director of WBSCH, “she was angry and depressed. She was having trouble accepting the unexpected decline in her health.” One spring day, Jamison expressed irritation that she couldn’t plant flowers at her former home, where her son was now living. Linda Ostryzniuk, WBSCH staff member, decided to do something to help. “We went and bought the plants,” recalls Ostryzniuk, “then drove to Ruby’s house where she sat in her wheelchair and said ‘plant one here, plant this there.’ Over the coming weeks we took photographs and showed Ruby how her flowers were growing. We put together the images and explained to her son how his mom likes her garden. It was a legacy she could leave her son, but it was also a means of closure for her.” “Ruby’s journey toward acceptance of her death was made easier by the individualized care provided to her by the hospice staff,” concludes Scobie. *Name changed to protect identity. In addition to bringing residents joy, Scobie is motivated by her Christian faith. “When I was younger I worked as a nurse in a maternity ward. During that time, I had no interest in palliative or long-term care,” she shares. “But now, in the ‘sunset’ of my career, I can say I have the same passion for serving a resident at the end of their life as I did participating in a baby’s birth. The people who work in palliative and long-term care are like midwives. They’re helping somebody with a transition and a journey to the next life.” A Spiritual Emphasis Spiritual care is a key component of the Army home. Two chaplains—Captain Johannah Sessford and Cliff Geiger—offer pastoral and bereavement counselling, share prayers with residents and staff, lead
Residents with their family members at the “spring fling” dinner
Bible studies and church services, and conduct religious ceremonies, including funerals and memorials. Captain Sessford, long-term care chaplain, strives to share the love of God with residents. “I tell them that God is with them now, as he has always been,” she says. “I help people realize their intrinsic value, even though their diminishing physical and intellectual capacities may frustrate or even demoralize them.” For the past 10 years, Geiger, hospice chaplain, has also offered spiritual guidance to grateful residents and families. As one family wrote: “We could never have hoped for such a blessing in our dad’s last days. There is a sense of safety, peace, care and comfort at the home.” “The staff know how to serve,” Scobie concludes, “their heart is in the job and, at the end of the day, we receive equal blessings from the residents.”
Jacquie Fauth (left) with her mother, Kay Blott Salvationist I May 2011 I 9