Journeys

A newsletter for friends and families of Hospice of the North Country

It’s about how you live... Fall 2012

Hospice of the North Country Highlights

Clinton County 358 Tom Miller Road

Plattsburgh, New York 12901 518.561.8465

Franklin County 104 Park Street

Malone, New York 12953 518.483.3200

My name is Ken Emery and I have been a hospice volun-teer for several years. My time as a volunteer has been extremely rewarding in more ways than I am able to con-vey adequately. It is such a remarkable privilege and honor to share some quality time with patients who are near the end of their life’s journey. I primarily visit patients in their homes but have also vis-ited some patients who were in nursing homes or in a hos-pital. Besides volunteers who visit patients, Hospice of the North Country (HONC) also has volunteers who use their skills and talents performing roles in the HONC office and/or fundraising activities. Each volunteer plays a vital and essential role in carrying out the hospice mission and hos-pice philosophy of genuine care and respect for each pa-tient and their family. Every patient is unique. Every patient has an extremely interesting life history. They may not think that their life story is interesting but after a volunteer establishes a cli-mate of safety and trust, the patient will usually open up and share their life’s story. Once they start revealing the aspects and experiences of their lives, they often discover that their lives do indeed have much value and meaning. Engaging a patient on their terms is important. Some pa-tients may not be able to communicate and simply want someone who cares about them to be present which may mean just sitting and listening to a radio or watching TV. Visits to patients may be viewed as supportive companion-ship and some respite for family members. I gain so much from listening to each patient’s story. The story may be of a patient growing up on a farm, a veteran who talks about his military experiences, a teacher who

had helped disadvantaged children, a great-grandmother and her perspectives of how society has changed, and many others who carry with them a trainload of treasured wisdom. I have been engaged in community service most of my life and each volunteer effort was a rewarding experience but volunteering for hospice has been the most rewarding. I think most people try to make a positive difference in oth-ers’ lives and being a support to hospice patients and their families is one way that does make a profound difference. Helping the terminally ill patient is not about the inevita-ble dying process but about living each precious moment with respect, dignity, and most of all…..love. People of compassion, investigate the possibility of being a hospice volunteer. Become a friend to a hospice patient and you will be elevating their spirits and -guess what- your’s too.

Written by Hospice of the North Country Volunteer Ken Emery.

Hospice volunteers….. Helping our patients live with respect, dignity and love.

Pictured above are Julie Rowe, Director of Volunteer Services in for Clinton County and Clinton County Volunteer, Ken Emery.

From Chief Executive Officer Kent W. Brooks

Thank you to those who made personal contributions through the United Way for Hospice of the North Country, SEFA and memorial donations. We appreciate your kindness and continued support!

Hospice of the North Country is a partner agency with the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.

So far 2012 has been a wonderful year at Hospice of the North Country. We have had the privilege and opportunity to care for more of our North Country neighbors than ever this year. At first glance you might ask if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Let me assure you that it is a good thing. It isn’t that there are more people who are sick and dying from a terminal illness. It’s just that we are reaching more people who are sick and dying from a terminal illness with our services. Every person that we do reach with our services receives high quality care that attends to all areas of the human realm in-cluding the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. We pro-vide that care with dignity and respect in the setting of the patient’s choosing. Further, we continue to provide support for loved ones that are left behind for over a year after they experience such a tragic loss. You can understand why we are excited and encouraged in finding ourselves in such a busy time. To help more people experience one of life’s greatest struggles and tragedies by providing what we believe is the best care that is possible and available is indeed an exciting opportunity! With great appreciation for your ongoing support of our mis-sion,

Kent W Brooks, CEO

We would like to acknowledge organizations in the community that have organized fundraisers and raised money for

Hospice of the North Country from February through August 2012…

Thank you to all who donated to our various HONC sponsored events throughout the year. Your support is greatly appreci-ated! We have had a successful event season so far and we owe it all to our generous sponsors, supporters, patrons, participants and volunteers!

First Congregational Church– Malone

Northern Highwaymen Motorcycle Club

Lake Champlain Turkey Talker Adirondack Riders Motorcycle Club

Beekmantown Lions Club

Plattsburgh Radio Aeromodelers, Inc.

8 Ball Billiards Café

Tru-North Rural Letter Carriers

Malone Lodge of Elks– 1303

Peabody’s

Dannemora Federal Credit Union

Plattsburgh Moose Lodge

Back Porch Band

Memorial Butterfly Releases: Remembering and Reconnecting

In the photo to the right, Agency Advance-ment Leader Joan Berthiaume, RN, stands with her granddaughter Quincy Parkinson at the Plattsburgh Memorial Butterfly Release.

Pictured left: Armand Leo-nard and James Benware, LPN, at the Malone Memorial But-terfly Release.

Life at Hospice of the North Country

November is National Hospice And Palliative Care Month!!

Volunteer Notes

Franklin County Volunteers

Volunteer Meetings There will be a meeting in November. Information on date and time will be

mailed in October.

Clinton County Volunteers

Volunteer Meetings October 16th, 6:00 PM

November 13th, 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM 358 Tom Miller Road

Volunteer Training

New volunteer training (group session): October 2012 (Dates TBD)

*REMINDER* All patient contact sheets and monthly logs are due by the 5th of the follow-

ing month. All in-service quizzes are due by the end of September.

For Information on Becoming a Volunteer in Clinton County, Contact Julie Rowe at 518.561.8465 and

in Franklin County, Contact Jessica Dumas at 518.483.3200

Hospice of the North Country staff attend staff development days each month throughout the year. These sessions bring employees from both counties together and provide a forum for educating on hospice-related topics and team development. Pictured are staff at the July 2012 Staff Development Day. Back Row: Michelle Rabideau, Sr. Mary Ann Gour, Joan Berthi-aume, James Benware, Kyle Garrant, Greg Macdonald, Diane Roberts, Tara Trim, Lisa Wilson, Kent Brooks. Middle Row: Fran Chesbrough, Cheryl Brunet, Dawn Norcross, Beth O’Connor, Alyson Curry, Jessica Dumas, Sue McDonnell, Jackie Cobb and Heather Brunell. Front row: Julie Rowe, Scott Sturgen, Becky Dominy, Terri Brumfield, Amanda Bow, Sherry Schoonmaker, Bev Kellas and Nilda Schule. Missing: Katie Lepage, Robin Snide, Deanna Grogan, Linda Facteau, Ellen O’Hara, Mary Lou Kingsley, Lindsay O’Connell.

The 7th Annual Frank Davio Memorial Golf Tournament was held on June 29th at the Malone Golf Club. Pictured above: Jean Davio, Michael Davio, Peter Davio and Terry Davio.

The Northern Highwaymen MC raised $1,500 to benefit Hospice of the North Country during a motorcycle ride in May.

NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE

PAID

PLATTSBURGH, NY

PERMIT NO. 34

358 Tom Miller Road Plattsburgh, New York 12901

Board of Directors

Cindie Gardner PRESIDENT

Judge Pat McGill VICE-PRESIDENT

Becky Preve SECRETARY

Tom Rennell TREASURER

Raeanne McLaughlin

Debbi Barber

Michele Denny

Tom Conlin

Joanne Swiesz

Ginny Cuttaia

Bill Meconi

Medical Directors

Deborah Lang, MD

William Pace, MD

Christopher Badger, MD

John Homer, MD

Wouter Rietsema, MD

Visit us on the web at www.hospicenc.org and on Facebook!

Events

In Motion Physical Therapy 8th Annual 5k Walk/Run Saturday, October 13, 2012

Registration: 9:30 AM Walk Begins at 10:00 AM

In Motion Physical Therapy, Malone, NY

Clinton County Memorial Service Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 6:00 PM

Wesleyan Church-Military Turnpike, Plattsburgh, NY

Franklin County Memorial Service Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 6:30 PM

Malone Wesleyan Church, Malone, NY

Light Up A Life Month of December

Champlain Centre North, Plattsburgh, NY

28th Annual Ecumenical Christmas Concert Sunday, December 2, 2012, 4:00 PM

St. Joseph’s Church, Malone, NY