Testimonials from the heart...
Mary Anne Smith, RN, BSN,
Executive Director:
"When I considered taking a position with a hospice agency, I had some serious reservations -- 'Would this be depressing?' 'Could I deal with death everyday?' I soon realized that Hospice is not about death--it is about making each living day for our patients the best it can be. To be 'allowed' to spend this very personal time with patients and their families is a privilege. Helping them transition to this part of life is the most rewarding experience I have ever encountered."
Joanne Hebda, RN:
Today the word hospice often associates with death, dying or the lack of hope. But in researching it a little, I found that hospice, derived from the Latin word, hopes, means host, entertainer, visitor, friend, guest or stranger. Defined in the dictionary as a place of shelter for travelers, hospice was historically a shelter run by monks, providing respite for those on a journey.
When I became a Hope hospice nurse, I was given a pin with a nurse’s cap and clipboard reading: Hospice nurse: compassion, care, concern. It is these three C’s that we specialize in. Since a hospice client is most likely on the final part of his or her life’s journey, it is with care, compassion and concern that we become support and friends to provide safety, shelter, and respite for these travelers. We work as a team with the goal to provide an improved quality of life and comfort for the client with a life limiting illness and their caretakers who often become wearied from the journey.
As a Hope Hospice nurse I have had the honor of serving the living, traveling on toward their life’s journey’s end. In unity with a team of loving home health aids, superb medical, spiritual and social direction, we work to make the journey more pleasant and to provide hope for the journey hereafter.
Linda Smith, Pastoral Coordinator:
"As the Pastoral Care Coordinator at Hope Hospice, it is my responsibility to connect patients with their home church. Most of the time, patients haven’t been going to church because of their sickness and no longer feel connected spiritually. Many will open up and talk to me since I am new to them.
Patients on hospice are usually thinking over their past lives and some feelings get stirred up that they haven’t felt for a long time. One lady talked to me for a long time about her husband who had abandoned her and her five young children. She was angry and used strong language and cried. “You must think I’m terrible, she said,” but I affirmed that her feelings were okay and it was good to get them out. She agreed and said she did feel better having talked about these things.
Later she made photo albums for her five children and included one picture of her husband with the children. Maybe just a little of that anger was dissipated and that made me feel good."
Donna Swesky, Administrative Assistant:
"In the spring of 2004, I lost my job of twenty years. It was quite a shock! I decided to change careers and hopefully get a job in the healthcare field. Then I saw an ad in the paper for Hope Hospice. I knew hospice dealt with end-of-life care and I had experienced it first hand.
Twelve years ago my mom was in her final stages of pancreatic cancer. She wanted to remain at home. My Dad, sisters and brother all agreed we could do this. But, we couldn’t have done it without the help of hospice care! Many nights, as we sat by my mom’s bedside, we wouldn’t have made it through the night without the hospice nurse on the other end of the telephone. She told us what to do to keep her comfortable and reassured us that we were doing a great job. It was like speaking to an angel! Their presence was always welcome and calming. My mom died quietly at home surrounded by those she loved.
The second time I experienced hospice care was with my father-in-law. He too had cancer and wanted to be at home. The nurses and aides were wonderful and provided so much love and support for the family at a very difficult time. We all feel he willed himself to live long enough to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife. The priest came to the house; the children, grandchildren and the hospice nurse were all there as he blessed their union of 50 years ago. He passed two days later with us by his side and the hospice nurse there providing us the strength we needed to watch him depart this life.
My third experience with hospice care was most recently with my father, who was declining quite rapidly from Dementia/Alzheimers. My sister, a C.N.A., chose to leave her job to care for him in her home. Hospice provided all of the necessary equipment that made her caring for him so much easier. Towards the end, when he slipped into a coma, the nurses and aides were there to help my sister bathe him and turn him to prevent bedsores. One evening, as the family gathered at his beside telling stories of some of the wonderful adventures we all had with him and laughed at the many funny things our dad had done in his life, he passed from this world to the next. He knew how much we loved him!
Working here at Hope Hospice surrounded by the wonderful staff, nurses and aides, like those that I relied on so many times though the years, gives me a sense of peace. These wonderful people go out every day to care for our patients and their families with the same love, compassion and gentleness that I came to know through my own experiences. God bless each and every one of them."
Chandra Diebold, RN, Community Liaison:
"I have only worked for Hope Hospice a short period of time but I have already seen what a special group I am becoming a part of. This is not just a job to our staff, but a compassionate life choice to make a difference. Everyone is here because they want to be here.
I am very passionate about hospice services and its benefits. I have personally experienced hospice services in the past with my grandpartents. I remember those times being extremely demanding both physically end emotionally. Having hospice helped to make those difficult times— bearable.
I am very proud to be a part of Hope Hospice and want to educate everyone about the benefits provided. The caring staff at Hope Hospice make that extra effort to ensure the needs of the patient and family are being met to the fullest extent. I want people to know that they don't have to face end-of-life situations alone — we are here with open arms and hearts to help."
Sheila McDevitt, RN:
"In Him we live, and move, and have our being." This is one of my favorite quotes of St. Paul. I truly believe that during our life on this earth we do live and move and have our being in our God. In a way our life on earth is our time in "the womb of God" and our death in this life is our birth into a new and better life. As the unborn child, warm, comfortable and secure within its mother's womb is disturbed by its birth and frightened of the unknown new world, we are disturbed and frightened by the prospect of our death. But I firmly believe that God intends for us to be birthed into a new world of peace, beauty and unending joy. To continue the analogy, I feel that we as hospice nurses can be considered the labor and delivery nurses for the end of life. It is a real blessing to be able to help patients and their families prepare for this frightening yet momentous event, and be able to bring our patients peace and physical comfort throughout the potentially difficult dying process. For, as I believe, the process ends with the newborn cradled in our loving Father's arms. "
Carole Ring, Social Services :
"As a social service worker, I have the oportunity to help patients and their families with some of the day to day situations that effect their quality of life.
Sometimes, just getting a person connected to a community resource such as Meals On Wheels or the Office on Aging can provide them with the extra care needed to enable them to remain in their home longer than they thought possible.
Frequently, patients and caregivers find themselves having difficulty adjusting to the change in family roles. For example, the wife who never wrote a check and now must handle the finances - the son who looked to his dad for direction and now needs to take the lead - the daughter who finds herself in the role of personal caregiver for her mother. Problem solving, exploring options, and providing an extra listening ear are some of the ways I can help caregivers and families from feeling isolated and alone.
The bonds that are formed as a result of these supportive relationships are gifts to me. Being part of this Hope Hospice team is deeply rewarding to me on both a personal and spiritual level."
Nancy Frein, RN, COTA:
"They call me Nancy Nurse, or Red. I have a background in physical rehabilitation of over 9 years combined as a nurse and as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. I like to work one on one with people. I have always been a Hospice advocate but since starting work at Hope Hospice, I am amazed at the equipment and benefits available to hospice clients and their families. For years I have been apart of a team that sent every client home with Home Health. For those clients that were not able to get stronger from therapy due to chronic illness and advanced age Medicare provisions under Home Health seemed lacking. The families and these clients needed nursing care for bathing, beds, over bed tables, commodes, and personal care supplies. They also needed these services for months not the 2-4 weeks provided for most Home Health cases. I now realize that many of these families could have benefitted greatly from hospice services. I love working for Hope Hospice because of its small size and the encouragement I receive to spend plenty of time with each client; to look for the unspoken needs, to visit, to hold a hand, to pray if desired, as well as complete my medical assessments."
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