p g i t S O l ht SAUKVALLEY.COM n MARCH 14, 2020 n PAGE D1 n AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF SAUK VALLEY MEDIA
SHINING A LIGHT ON THE BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE MAKING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES
By your side
SPOTLIGHT | ROCK RIVER HOSPICE & HOME
As the sun sets on a loved one’s life, the team at Rock River Hospice and Home is there to help, from providing compassionate care to those making their final journey, to providing support for those left to mourn their loss
talk about their experiences,” Taylor said. “It’s just another way we can help someone to feel honored STERLING – “By your side, our family caring for in their life.” your family” – that’s Rock River Hospice & Home’s The nonprofit organization goes beyond the heartfelt motto. patients’ needs: Rock River Hospice helps provide The nonprofit organization, started 38 years overwhelmed caregivers a respite from the 24-hour ago by a group of volunteers and health care procare a patient needs, as well as support groups – fessionals, has evolved through the years, and again providing comfort through shared experience. changed names a few times, too, but its fundaThe staff at Rock River Hospice & Home also mental mission – to provide caring, compassionunderstands that bereavement affects each perate, dignified end-of-life care – remains, Executive son differently, which is why they offer counseling Director Emily Taylor said. services and 13-month post-death follow-ups for “It’s about living. We’re here to help in the final patients’ family members, to help them navigate days,” Taylor said those difficult milestones that Utilizing a team approach, come in the first year of a loved patients, their family, the nurses one’s passing. and the social service staff collabMonthly support groups for anyorate to provide care programs taione in the community also are lored to meet a patient’s needs and available. requests. Thanks to its generous donors More information Rock River Hospice & Home proand fundraisers, Rock River HosThe office at 2706 Ave. E in vides care for all ages, children pice & Home provides care for Sterling is open from 8 a.m. to through adults, in Whiteside, Lee, patients regardless of their ability Ogle, Carroll and Bureau counties. 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. to pay; no one is turned away, TayGo to hospicerockriver.org, In-home care is available, as well as lor said. find it on Facebook or call care at the six-bed facility opened There are several fundraising 815-625-3858 to donate to in 2017 at 2706 Ave. E. in Sterling. events yearly, including several that the nonprofit, or to learn more The 14,000-square-foot facility are coming up soon: On April 6, a about its services, programs was designed to allow patients and portion of the sales at Buffalo Wild and volunteer opportunities. families comfortable private spacWings in Sterling will be donated to es, as well as space for families to the hospice; there will be a bucket congregate. brigade on May 9; and the 18th annual golf outing In addition to staff, the hospice relies on a core will be held June 26 at Deer Valley Golf Club. In group of volunteers who assist in a variety of ways, addition, the second annual pickleball tournafrom sitting with a patient and sharing companment is being set for this summer. Those interionship to providing meals for a family to helping ested should call 815-625-3858 or email karen@ patients record their stories. hospicerockriver.org for all the details. “Our volunteers are a vital part of our organizaThen there’s its biggest fundraiser, the popular tion,” Taylor said. annual Festival of Trees, which this holiday season In its We Honor Veterans program, for example, will be celebrating its 31th year. volunteer active-duty veterans spend time with It’s also a United Way agency. patients who are veterans, sharing a bond that Rock River Hospice & Home affirms life by procomes with a shared experience. viding exceptional care and support to those tran“The patients are able to talk about their service, sitioning through serious illness, death and grief. BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE For Sauk Valley Media