Summer 2015

you have a choice for hospice care

Casey McLaughlin knows quality, compassionate care when he sees it.

Cedar Valley Hospice came into his life when his uncle was ill with cancer. The end-of-life process went very quickly

for him, but Casey felt fortunate to have an experienced hospice care team surrounding his loved one and their family.

“The beauty of Cedar Valley Hospice and their whole mission is that the patient and their family are the main concern -

they are very sensitive and family focused,” says Casey. “The longevity of the organization makes a huge difference. Cedar

Valley Hospice has been tried and true.”

Years later, when his mother, Jocelyn, was diagnosed with lung cancer and her disease began to progress, there was only

one hospice the McLaughlin family wanted by their side - Cedar Valley Hospice.

They chose to have our hospice services early on, which made all the difference to their family. Cedar Valley Hospice staff

was there every step of the way to explain Jocelyn’s prognosis and the different stages of lung cancer.

“They walk you through the process and it’s very informative,” says Casey. “To get involved early helps the families adjust

and have a level of comfort to know that the next phase is going to be taken care of.”

The McLaughlin family was also grateful their mother was able to be at home as long as possible, still receiving the same

care she would receive had she been at the Hospice Home.

“Cedar Valley Hospice has a lot of resources and personnel with great experience and they know what’s going on,” says

Casey. “If her medications were called into question or there were concerns, they were right there to help us along so

family members understood what was happening.”continued on next page

becauseit’s about living

ask for Cedar Valley Hospice

Casey McLaughlin

When necessary, Jocelyn would visit the Hospice Home - for medication

adjustments or respite.

“Respite was extremely valuable for my family. It gave my sisters and I, as

primary caregivers, the opportunity to rejuvenate and grow stronger,” says

Casey. “The Hospice Home is an awesome facility. We enjoyed the area for

families to gather. Once we cooked a family meal together there and always

appreciated that Cedar Valley Hospice staff made sure Mom was as mobile as

she could be to participate with the family.”

As Jocelyn’s illness progressed, he says, the staff was also very welcoming to

friends and family visiting. With Jocelyn being such a charismatic and caring

woman, there were dozens who stopped in.

Casey adds that many have the

misconception that hospice is only for a

patient’s final days. This comes from “fear....

from not having the knowledge of what

Cedar Valley Hospice is actually there to do.

Their mission is to help the family and be as

supportive as possible. Many try and turn a blind

eye to the situation at hand...but in all actuality,

the relationship (with Cedar Valley Hospice)

should start sooner.”

In Casey’s opinion, this allows for an easier grieving process.

“They come in, they get to know the patient, their routines, and their family

members and are there to coach you along,” he says. “The mission of Cedar

Valley Hospice is to comfort folks and to surround them with physical, spiritual

and emotional support with dignity so that they have some power, freedoms

and decisions. It’s very empowering to the patient to know they have some

choices. This way, they know everything before they are actually admitted to

the Hospice Home.”

By the time Jocelyn died, the McLaughlins had been supported and cared for

by the Cedar Valley Hospice staff throughout her illness, making the end-of-

life process easier to handle.

“Cedar Valley Hospice is a special relationship between the organization, the

patient and the family,” Casey says. “So why wouldn’t you choose a group

that has the experience of being relationship managers throughout the whole

process? It’s important to take another look at Cedar Valley Hospice because

they are a not-for-profit organization. Their focus is not the almighty dollar.

The benefit is there for the folks who use it. It’s a mission-driven organization

that is compassionate with their patients and families for the right reasons.

Our MissionCedar Valley Hospice provides the

leadership and sets the standard

for excellence in delivering

comprehensive palliative and

end-of-life care to patients and

services to those who grieve.

Grundy Center Office

310 East G Ave.

Grundy Center, IA 50638

319.824.3868

Independence Office801 First St. EastIndependence, IA 50644319.334.6960

Waverly Office207 20th St. NWWaverly, IA 50677319.352.1274

Hospice Home2001 Kimball Ave.Waterloo, IA 50702319.272.1771

Our LocationsWaterloo Central Office

2101 Kimball Ave., Suite 401

Waterloo, IA 50702

319.272.2002

800.617.1972

cvhospice.org

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

“continued from front page

Cedar Valley Hospice’s

Eucalyptus Tree program

supports all children and

families in the community

grieving the death of a

loved one, regardless of

their connection to Cedar

Valley Hospice.

It focuses on three basic principles:

• Death is a natural part of living.

• Grief is a normal part of loss.

• Honesty is important.

Understanding death isn’t easy for any of us and children grieve

differently than adults. Grief differs in children based on countless

factors, including: relationship, manner of death, age of the patient

or deceased, cultural belief systems and financial status.

Children have important questions and feelings they need to

explore, and the age of a child is critical to overcoming the

challenges in understanding their needs (see sidebar at right).

Many families have questions after a loved one dies and often

don’t know what to say, said Cedar Valley Hospice Eucalyptus

Tree Coordinator Stacy Baranowski. “Kids need accurate and

complete information. It’s important to use language that is clear

and concrete,” she added. “Children who are prepared are capable

of making good decisions and are empowered to move forward.”

For more information on the Eucalyptus Tree program, and how it

can help children, visit cvhospice.org or call 319.272.2002.

children grieve differently than adults

Summer Grief CampTuesday, July 28 / 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

UAW Hall - 2615 Washington St., Waterloo

Join us for a day of fun to remember those we love!

• Summer Grief Camp is intended for children 6-12 who are grieving the death of a loved one• This camp is FREE and open to anyone in the community

SAVE

THE

DATE To register, call Stacy Baranowski at (319) 272-2002. For more information, visit cvhospice.org.All we need is YOU!

A program of Cedar Valley Hospice

InfantS and chIldren under the age of two

• Can sense that something is different but does not understand death

• Probably won’t remember the deceased

• Need a lot of nonverbal communication (hugs, smiles, rocking, etc.)

Indicators: fussiness, clinginess, regression

chIldren age three to fIve

• See death as temporary and have difficulty with spiritual concepts

• Feel sadness in spurts

• Need routine and structure; normalcy

Indicators: regression, nightmares, aggression, non-compliance

elementary age School chIldren

• Begin to understand that death is final and permanent

• Begin to fear self or others dying

• May feel guilt or blame self for death

• Need routine and structure; normalcy

Indicators: compulsive care giving, aggression, possessiveness, regression,

headaches, stomach aches, phobias

PreteenS

• Recognize death as final and irreversible / may view death as a punishment

• Are often curious and develop theories about the details of a death

• Have practical questions about the body, funeral, burial, etc.

Indicators: aggression, possessiveness, headaches, stomach aches,

phobias, defiance

teenagerS

• Have near an adult level of understanding of death

• May worry or think about own death

• Avoid discussions on death and may question spiritual beliefs

• Often feel angry at the deceased

• Fear looking different

Indicators: aggression, headaches, stomach aches, phobias,

increased risk taking, defiance, suicidal thoughts

grIevIng by age grouP

release & rememberMark your calendars now for this year’s Release & Remember butterfly

fundraising event to be held on Sunday, August 30 at the Waterloo RiverLoop

Amphitheatre from 1-3 p.m. This popular event brings hundreds of community

supporters to the banks of the Cedar River for an afternoon of remembering

and honoring loved ones with the release of 1000 monarch butterflies. Join

staff, volunteers, families and friends of Cedar Valley Hospice for a fun-filled

afternoon and moving tribute.

Guests will enjoy a picnic lunch and an

afternoon of family and children’s activities

with The Brazilian 2wins bringing their talent

and charisma for a live musical performance.

The day will be highlighted by a short

program and butterfly release supported

through the donations of individuals, churches

and business partners.

T-shirts commemorating this year’s event

will be available for sale mid-July and also

at the event, but will go quickly. Make

sure and purchase yours while supplies last

by visiting or contacting the Cedar Valley

Hospice’s Waterloo office, 2101 Kimball Ave.,

Suite 401. Watch our Facebook page for

the announcement of special Tribute Days

prior to the event where you can support a

butterfly and conveniently purchase T-shirts

in the Kimball Ridge Lobby.

The Release & Remember event is an extraordinary opportunity to remember,

and most importantly, celebrate those we love in a special way. For each

memorial or honorary gift of $25, a butterfly will be released. Those donating

will in turn receive a keepsake certificate to keep as a reminder of the day.

We invite you to be a part of this meaningful celebration by supporting one

or a number of butterflies as a tribute to someone you love. To do so, please

complete and return the registration form on the following page or visit

cvhospice.org. You may also contact your local Cedar Valley Hospice office

for more information or call our central office at 800.617.1972.

See you at the release on Sunday, August 30!

premiercedar valley medical Specialists

championbill colwell ford

cosmetologists and barbers

of Iowa, Inc. - magnificent Seven

hagarty waychoff grarup funeral Service

John deery motors

locke funeral homes

uaw local 838

herobertch cabinets / family of

marge youngblut (for her love of music)

transport Permits

leaderblack hawk masonic lodge #65

dennis & holly Kruger

magee construction

newaldaya lifescapes

Pioneer graphics

Swisher & cohrt

wheaton franciscan healthcare

contributordave and gayle huser

Kaiser-corson funeral homes

uS bank

thank you to our sponsors

Release & RemembeR

sunday, august 30, 1 – 3 p.m.

Waterloo Riverloop amphitheatre

Program - 2:30 p.m.mass butterfly

Release - 2:45 p.m.

release & remember

5Please respond on or before friday, august 14, 2015 by visiting our website at cvhospice.org or by mailing the form below along

with your donation to: cedar valley hospice, Po box 2880 waterloo, Ia 50704-2880. for more information, call 800.617.1972.

_____ #butterflies @ $25 each = $ _______

In memory/honor of ___________________________

In memory/honor of ___________________________

In memory/honor of ___________________________

In memory/honor of ___________________________

I/We would like to support the Release & Remember event

with a contribution of: $

For each memorial or honorary gift of $25:

- One butterfly will be released at our event

- One keepsake certificate will be included with your

acknowledgement for you to personalize and keep

- You may include one name to be celebrated

and/or

yes! I/we would like to celebrate life by donating to the release & remember event!

Total amount enclosed $

Please charge my Visa or Mastercard Amt: $ Exp. Date CVV/CVC Code

Card Number

Signature

Name

Address

City State Zip

Phone Email

5Please return by august 14*

* Limited number of butterflies available after this date

* Tribute name will be displayed at event if received by Aug. 14

area’s only hospice home gets facelift

Above and below, the Hospice Home’spatient suites offer a TV, seating, storage and bathrooms.

The family room, above, is the perfect gathering place and offers ample seating, a dining room table, play room and a kitchen with a refrigerator, stove and microwave, at right.Left, the solace room offers family peace and tranquility.

When Cedar Valley Hospice had the idea to build its own Hospice Home in

Waterloo over 15 years ago, the community rallied in support of a place that

would bring peace and skilled care to so many patients and their families. When

the doors opened on Feb. 1, 2000, people felt immediately at home by its

warm and hospitable atmosphere. Over the years, many important family events

such as graduations, showers and birthdays for patients and families have been

celebrated in this special place.

Since that time, nearly 5,000 patients and their families and friends have graced

its halls, rooms and garden. Recently, the home – located at 2001 Kimball Ave.

in Waterloo – began to show the wear and tear of serving so many. As the

area’s only free-standing Hospice Home, it is important to maintain its condition

for the comfort of future patients and families. Last year, Cedar Valley Hospice

completed a special fundraising campaign raising $500,000 for remodeling the

home’s interior and future projects.

“At life’s most difficult times, the Cedar Valley Hospice Home has provided

so many families with a comfortable setting, at any time of day or night,” said

Cedar Valley Hospice Executive Director Marvin Fagerlind. “I’m grateful the home

remained open during the remodel to continue to serve the community.”

The 24-hour hospice care and new décor and amenities of the Hospice Home will

continue to provide a soothing atmosphere that will have a lasting impact on the

many lives it touches. The home features six private patient suites with quality

furnishings, beds dressed in handmade quilts and low-set windows which open

the rooms to sunshine, warmth and a glimpse of nature.

The Solace Room is a peaceful place for families to gather for a quiet moment

with loved ones or to relax. A children’s playroom creates a welcoming

environment for young visitors, and a fully equipped guest kitchen allows

families to make meals. Fresh baked cookies, provided by volunteers, are always

available to visitors and loved ones. Outside the Hospice Home, the garden

continues to offer beauty and tranquility that complement the character of the

home. Patients and families find peace and comfort being there.

“We are so grateful to our generous donors who’ve supported this campaign,”

said Cedar Valley Hospice Development Director Chris Olds. “Your gifts help

us to maintain the home as an attractive and comfortable place, allowing us

to continue to provide the leadership and set the standard for excellence in

delivering comprehensive palliative and end-of-life care to patients and families

well into the future.”

The Hospice Home has been an important part of the plan of care for so many

of Cedar Valley Hospice’s patients. Inpatient stays are offered when pain and

symptoms are not easily managed at home or when medical needs require this

level of care. The Hospice Home is also used for short-term residential stays

and respite for families needing a break from caregiving. Whenever you come to

the Hospice Home and for whatever reason, you will always be surrounded by

compassion and kindness.

To see more photos of the Hospice

Home’s updated transformation,

visit us at cvhospice.org.

annual campaignThe 2015 Annual Campaign arrived in

mailboxes the week before Memorial Day,

which is a fitting time to remember those

we’ve loved by making a memorial gift to

Cedar Valley Hospice. These gifts allow us

to provide compassionate care for your

friends, neighbors and family members.

area’s only hospice home gets facelift

Please consider a gift to the 2015 Annual

Campaign and help us continue to offer a wide

variety of quality services to many in need.

“Respect is earned, trust is gained, loyalty is returned.”

“I’m very proud to be a part

of the Cedar Valley Hospice

organization because of

what they do and the role

they play in people’s lives.”

Respect...

Loyalty...

“With the fantastic care from

the Cedar Valley Hospice

nurses and doctors, we were

able to get some of my

husband back for a little

while... giving him more quality of life.

That was important for our young girls.”

“my mother chose Cedar

Valley Hospice because we’d

had such a great experience

when my uncle was on the

program. They have been

around for a long time doing

what they do so well, and it’s what

drew us to them.”

- Dave Hennessey, former board member

- Jennifer Toneff, wife

- Casey McLaughlin, son and nephew

The Hospice Home offers a home-like setting with six suites for patients.

Trust...

June 6 marked the 14th year that community members have

gathered to support the Annual Cedar Valley Hospice Rabbit

Donnelly Memorial Golf Tournament. The event was held

at the Buffalo Creek Golf Club in Winthrop. Special thanks

to the Donnelly family (at left), Independence Walmart for

donating the RABBIT RAFFLE 43” Smart TV and to the

event’s Eagle Sponsors: Medical Associates

of Independence and Buffalo Creek Golf Course.

All proceeds of the tournament will benefit terminally ill

patients and grieving families served by the Independence

office of Cedar Valley Hospice.

golf tournament

Watch for Quincy or Katie Koala at your hometown parade,

and give us a wave!

Look for us at the following celebrations:

My Waterloo Days - Friday, June 12, 6:30 p.m.

Sturgis Falls - Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m.

Fairbank Days - Saturday, June 27, 10:30 a.m.

Felix Grundy Days - Saturday, July 11, 4 p.m.

Waverly Heritage Days - Saturday, July 18, 10:30 a.m.

Parkersburg Days - Saturday, August 15, 11 a.m.

summer parades

speakers bureauDid you know that Cedar Valley Hospice provides educational

presentations to the community at no cost? Through our

Speakers Bureau program, staff can provide presentations

discussing many topics related to hospice and palliative care,

death, dying and grief, along with several others. Presentations

can range from 20 minutes to day-long seminars for either

small or large groups. CEUs are also available. For more

information or to schedule a presentation, call 319.272.2002

or visit cvhospice.org.

Cedar Valley Hospice is Tweeting!

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @cvhospice to get

the latest information on what is happening at

Cedar Valley Hospice:

• useful articles and resources about hospice

and palliative care, grief and more

• upcoming fundraisers, health fairs

• blog posts

• videos

On March 14, UAW Local 838 in Waterloo hosted their

annual Sportsman’s Dinner and Banquet with this year’s

proceeds benefitting Cedar Valley Hospice. The evening

was very successful, with volunteers helping to raise

$10,000 from a dinner, raffle and silent auction. This

donation will be used to continue serving the needs of our

patients, families and clients. We are extremely grateful to

the UAW 838 for their generosity and support of this third-

party event. If your business or organization is interested

in holding a third-party fundraiser, contact Cedar Valley

Hospice Development Director Chris Olds at 319.272.2002.

many thanks

we’re tweeting!

On April 17, Congressman Rod Blum visited the Cedar Valley

Hospice Home to learn about how we serve our patients and

families. Near the end of the tour, he met a patient he won’t

soon forget - Jerry Easter. Before Blum entered the room,

Jerry’s wife, Marie, warned Blum of Jerry’s political prowess and

that he might “get an ear full” despite him battling with COPD.

Blum enjoyed Jerry’s spirit and spunk. The two shared stories

and laughs, and Blum welcomed Jerry’s political advice – a

conversation that eventually ended with a solid and respectful

“fist-bump.” Jerry died three weeks later and because Blum’s

visit to the Hospice Home had made such an impression,

he attended Jerry’s visitation.

the perfect visit

all star nights raises $53,000 Cedar Valley Hospice recently hosted a fundraiser, All Star Nights

- Teaming Up for Cedar Valley Hospice on April 10 at the Park

Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls. Approximately 300 attendees

donned their favorite team jerseys, scarves and hats for a

fun-filled, casual evening to support the Cedar Valley Hospice

mission of providing comprehensive palliative and end-of-life

care to patients and services to those who grieve.

Thanks to the generosity of the community and our Present-

ing Sponsor, The VGM Group, the event raised $53,000 for our

programs and services. Highlights of the night included over 100

silent auction items, two raffle prizes of $500 and $1000 going to winners Jim McMahon of Raymond and Mike

Ruane of Waterloo, and a special video message from hometown hero and Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable to Cedar Valley

Hospice patient Martin Lundvall.

Lundvall, a former Waterloo teacher and UNI Athletic Hall of Famer, has been on our program since November 2014. As Gable’s

junior high teacher and coach, Lundvall made an enormous impact on Gable’s life - so much so that he’s mentioned in Dan’s

new book, A Wrestling Life: Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable. Last month, Dan was able to reconnect with his mentor, Martin, in a

special visit at his home – a meeting that was nurtured through Martin’s connection with Cedar Valley Hospice.

“Martin gave me the opportunity to become a good student. I was already on track to be a good wrestler, but grades were not

my good avenue,” said Gable in his special video message. “I sat down in his classroom and actually paid attention, was able to

take a test and get a score back that was maybe my first decent score in academics...since kindergarten. Without grades, you

don’t really go to a Division 1 school. He told me, ‘Gable, I think you could be a

really good wrestler. You’ve got a special trait there.’ When you listen to some-

body and go from a pretty good junior high wrestler to the Olympic finals and

then win the Olympic finals because of words from people that set you straight -

like Martin Lundvall - you know you’ve found a good man.”

Cedar Valley Hospice Outreach and Communications Specialist Carly Pollock, back, joins guest of honor and Cedar Valley Hospice patient Martin Lundvall and his family.

Cedar Valley Hospice’s former medical director Michael Deters and his family fully embodied the sports theme at this year’s event.

VGM Group founder and CEO Van Miller and guests enjoy the night’s theme. VGM was the event’s Presenting Sponsor.

volunteer focus

Marty Wylie was recognized at the

2015 Mayors’ Volunteer Awards

luncheon held April 21 at the Five

Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in

Waterloo. Marty received one of the

16 Mayors’ awards. Each year, the

Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley

presents awards to volunteers for

their efforts in the Cedar Valley.

Congratulations, Marty!

service spotlight

Charlotte engel

2015 Mayors’ Volunteer Award winner

Cedar Valley Hospice volunteer since 1990s

Marty Wylie

There’s not much Charlotte engel of Waverly can’t do with a

needle and thread. at 83 years old, she has been sewing for

more than half her life. It started with making clothes for her

six children. “This was perfect until they got older and didn’t

want homemade clothes anymore,” she chuckles. “Then, all I

could make was pajamas.”

as her kids grew and left home, she quickly found another

outlet for her passion. she joined Friendship Quilters in town,

a group who sewed blankets for new babies at the local

hospital and also for Cedar Valley Hospice patients.

as a Cedar Valley Hospice volunteer for over 20 years, her

collaboration with other quilters to make lap quilts for

patients has offered comfort to many families at this time in

their lives. Over the years, they’ve completed dozens – more

than Charlotte can count. Her job is first to sort and make

sense out of all the scraps of fabric donated to her. she taps

into her creative spirit and comes up with a design (with the

help of one of her many quilt books, she admits). Finally, her

hands go to work - often with the help of her daughter, Jan

mulder or daughter-in-law, Jenice engle.

“We do about 75 quilts a year,” she says. “It’s a nice

satisfaction to know that we are doing something that

makes a difference. It makes me feel good.”

Charlotte remembers a special story about one of her quilts

in particular. “It was a John Deere quilt we had made and it

was given to a farmer,” she says of the thank you note she

received from the family. “You could tell it was the height of

his day to receive such a gift. He just loved it.”

Charlotte’s family’s volunteer roots go deep, as Charlotte’s

other daughter, lorie Henning, is also a Cedar Valley Hospice

volunteer and has served patients and families since 1990.

she gets to personally deliver the quilts to the families she

serves. “It is special to have generations of volunteers for our

organization,” said Waverly Volunteer Coordinator Peggy

Rathe. “They all have so many gifts to share, and I’m grateful

for their years of commitment to our mission of making each

moment matter.”

BY THE NUMBERS - iN 2014

Cedar AIDS Support System (CASS): Our HIV or AIDS medical case management program served 83 clients throughout 13 counties in Northeast Iowa

eucalyptus tree: Our grief services for youth served a total of 1,425 people through one-on-one support and classroom/school visits. This is a 14 percent increase over last year.

grief Support Services: 2,125 people throughout the communities we serve, received grief services. This is nearly a 40 percent increase over last year. We offer grief support services to anyone in our communities affected by death.

hospice Services: The focus of the Cedar Valley Hospice team of compassionate professionals is the comfort and care of each patient. Wherever a patient calls home, we are here to serve. 947 patients were cared for last year.

hospice home:357 patients and their families received comforting care in the Cedar Valley Hospice Home - the only hospice home in the area.

lInK: Our palliative care program, which is for those facing an advanced or life-threatening illness who may not be eligible for or seeking hospice services, provided care for 44 patients.

831,425

2,125357

94744

2101 Kimball Ave., Suite 401 : : PO Box 2880 : : Waterloo, IA 50702 : : 319.272.2002 : : 800.617.1972

Non-profit Organization

US Postage Paid Waterloo, IA

Permit No. 238

If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, please call 319.272.2002,

toll free at 800.617.1972 or email us at cedarvalleyhospice@cvhospice.org.

calendar of events

saturday, July 11Picnic in the Park (third-party fundraiser)Kohlmann Park, Waverly11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Tuesday, July 28Grief CampUAW 838 Hall, Waterloo10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

sunday, august 30Release & RememberRiverLoop Amphitheatre, Waterloo1 - 3 p.m.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming Cedar Valley Hospice events.