Newsletter

          Fall Newsletter        September 2011 Issue No: 3

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. – Eleanor Roosevelt

REFLECTIONS ON HOSPICE FREDERICTON

   This fall Hospice Fredericton’s current president, Kevin McKinney, will be stepping down from his position. In anticipation of that change, Mr. McKinney offers his reflections below on his time in office.
    Our organization has accomplished so much these last three years that my term as president seems to have flown by! Looking back, I remember many challenges and highlights. There were a few disappointments, too, but as they say, too few to mention.
   I have enjoyed working with a variety of board members who were willing to make tough decisions and push ahead to finally achieve our goal of delivering hospice services to the Fredericton community. This meant acquiring an office, holding regular meetings, training volunteers to work with clients, revising the By-Laws, implementing a planning process, and hiring a program coordinator who could implement the Board’s plans. I have told our story to the media and to service clubs and to anyone else that would listen.

During my term, I advocated a hands-on, sleeves-up style of operation, and board members responded enthusiastically. I am grateful for the support of all who have served Hospice Fredericton on the Board and elsewhere, and I particularly appreciate the advice and support of the late Louise Kemp, Colleen O’Donnell, John Price, Sharon Hamilton, Louise Billings, Anne Ouellette, and Stephanie Golding.

   Our hospice is now well known, and it is meeting previously unmet community needs, helping palliative clients, caregivers, and grieving families in the community.
   We recently established working committees that will help the Board address issues in a more timely fashion. We are blessed with an excellent corps of volunteers in service to clients, an outstanding Board, and an exceptional program coordinator. With such a combination, our future success is guaranteed. It has been a pleasure to serve.
    As newsletter developer, volunteer, and board member, on behalf of the Board and volunteers, I want to say it has been a pleasure serving under you and look forward to your continued involvement with Hospice Fredericton in some capacity. – Connie Smith

NEWS FROM HOSPICE
    Referrals to Hospice Fredericton continue to climb as we move through our third year, with a record number of referrals to date for direct inhome support (32). This is an indication that the awareness of our programs and services is on the rise, as well as the result of the effort put toward building credibility within the community over the last year.
   Our Grief Support Group co-facilitator Kathryn Downtown has stepped down from her role with Hospice Fredericton to begin her journey of completing her Masters of Social Work. We are pleased to announce that Anne Caverhill will take over the reins and will be working with Anne Ouellette to facilitate the next group, which will be offered again starting October 11.

Please contact Stephanie Golding at support@hospicefredericton.ca or 472.8185 if you would like information.

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Hospice Fredericton is still seeking new office space. Several options are being explored.
Stay tuned for an announcement of our future location.

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Deborah K. van den Hoonaard, author of By Himself: The Older Man’s Experience of Widowhood and The Widowed Self: The OlderWoman’s Journey Through Widowhood, gave a presentation on widowhood to Hospice Fredericton board members and volunteers at STU on September 19. It was an interesting discussion and enjoyed by those in attendance.

The books are available locally at UNB Bookstore or can be ordered through Westminster Books (as well as through Amazon).

ANOTHER SUGGESTED READING:
When Things Get Back to Normal by M.T. Dohaney.

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Two St Thomas University social work students are joining us this fall to complete their social action placement. Leigh Estey and Cynthia Noble will work under the direction of board members Anne Ouellette and Louise Billings, as they work to prepare a document capturing service gaps caregivers face while caring for a loved one at home. The students will develop a questionnaire and meet with various service organizations/agencies to gather this information over the course of the term. We look forward to reviewing the findings as we continue to emphasize the importance of “care for the caregiver.”

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Our annual social gathering was held on September 8 at Sharon and Norm Hamilton’s farm. The pot luck BBQ and hayride were thoroughly enjoyed by all, as evidenced by the smiling faces shown in the photos below.

Thanks to the Hamiltons for hosting our group!

Louise Billings, Sharon Hamilton, Stephanie Golding Stephanie, John Lutes, Wanda Drost
          M-m-m-m…. Chow time!!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Hospice Fredericton will hold its Annual General Meeting in November. Date and location to be determined. If you have a particular topic you would like discussed at the AGM, please contact Stephanie Golding at 472.8185 or e-mail support@hospicefredericton.ca.

FUND-RAISING
As noted in the June 2011 Newsletter, the Bubbles, Baubles & Babes social gathering and jewellery sale will take place in November. Watch for further details as they become available.

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Our second annual letter campaign will be launched this fall.

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We’re still investigating another unforgettable Christmas musical fundraising event, so keep checking back for updates!

WATCH FOR OUR WINTER ISSUE!!!

HOSPICE IS BUSY AND HAPPY TO BE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW COULD BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES OF Hospice Fredericton, PLEASE CALL US. WE’RE HERE TO HELP.

Phone: 472.8185
support@hospicefredericton.ca

HOSPICE CORNER – Part 2
What can I hope for?
By: Rev. Dr. Glen R. Horst

    Your illness has moved into your life, like an unwelcome guest, changing your way of life and your plans for the future. When you first had your symptoms, you may have hoped that they would turn out to be nothing to worry about and that your life would go on as usual. When you learned you had a serious illness, you may have hoped that the treatment would take care of this intruder in your life. Perhaps that is still your hope—but you may be holding your breath whenever you have checkups, wondering whether your treatment has been successful or is working. To make things even more complicated, family members may have
different expectations and may hope for different things.

      How hope may change as illness progresses…
- Initially you focus on what has gone wrong with your body and hope to restore your body to physical health. You hope a cure will prolong your life.
- If it becomes clear there is no cure, your hope may change to living the rest of your life as well as possible. There is a hope to love and be loved, to feel good about the life you have lived, and to live in the present moment with satisfaction and peace.