Brattleboro Area Hospice Volunteer and Friends Newsletter

 
Photos: 2015 Garden Service

S pend an hour in our beautiful garden 
remembering your loved ones

Join us at our annual
Memorial Planting Service
Sunday, June 5th at 4:00 pm
Brattleboro Area Hospice Memorial Garden
Living Memorial Park, Guilford Street, Brattleboro

Click here for more info: Memorial Service
What's all the buzz about PopUp@77Flat?

Don't miss out on the cool stuff--
Each month there's a new window & new opportunity to win!
   

Taking Steps Brattleboro
Your questions answered by 
Joanna Rueter,  our Advance Care Planning Coordinator

Dear Joanna,
Please tell me why someone might not want to have CPR! All my life we've been told how amazing CPR is-how it saves lives and you should know how to do it. So why in the world does the Advance Directive let you say whether you want CPR or not?Thanks, S.T.

Dear S.T. ,
Such a good question. I used to wonder too. I'll give a very short answer but for medical information go to VT Ethics Network Winter 2015 Newsletter and read page 4&5 on the reality of CPR. Or do your own web search. CPR does not have the great success rate that you see on TV dramas. 

In brief, for a person who is elderly and frail, CPR can be particularly painful. Older bones are usually brittle and ribs get broken during the procedure. The survival statistics for such a person are notably low. Young adults who have supple ribs and get CPR immediately are likely to have a much better outcome. But don't take my word for it. Check the facts so you really have the picture.

Dear Joanna,
Apology. This isn't a question. I just need to tell you how much it helped to have a Volunteer Facilitator work with me. My Advance Directive is finally completed! I sent a copy to the registry and all my family members (agent included) have copies. Now if something happens to me they know my beliefs and wishes. We even talked about getting ADs done by everyone in the family. I've needed to do this for years but kept putting it off. What a relief to actually get it done! Please share this soon. I hope it will encourage others to call! Thank you so much, D.C.

Dear D.C.,
Thank you for writing and congratulations! I'm glad to hear from you. This is one of those things that can help so much if you need it and if not, no harm done. Please keep spreading the word.
 
For more about Advance Care Planning or to get an appointment with one of our free volunteer facilitators call Joanna at 802-257-0775 x 101, in Bellows Falls call 802-460-1142 x101 or email joanna.rueter@brattleborohospice.org
The National Academy of Medicine is conducting a nationwide survey to 
track improvements over the past 18 months, discover barriers that have p revented progress, and  better understand current areas of need.   This will help assess progress since the release of Dying in America in September 2014, and to inform the work of a new Roundtable on Quality Care for People with Serious Illness.
Your feedback will help the roundtable shape its work over the next three years. Please tell about your experiences. Encourage friends and colleagues to take the survey.

Click this link to take the survey:   The National Academy of Medicine Survey

For more information about the roundtable, contact Laurie Graig at lgraig@nas.edu
Who's Your Person?
If you had a medical crisis (sudden stroke, car accident or other) and couldn't communicate, who would speak for you?

Learn about Advance Care Planning 
at
The River Garden 
Main St, Brattleboro
May 6 at 12pm

Click here for more info
Pop-Up @ 77 Flat needs your donations

If you're spring cleaning and can donate art, 
retro curios,
 collectables, jewelry or 
small antiques for our auction, 
we'd love to hear from you!

Call 254-8174 to donate, or bring your items to Experienced Goods and 
tell them your donation is for the auction
EVERY adult in Windham County should have a completed Advance Directive

You can join the BAH Taking Steps Team working toward that goal.   The Advance Care Planning Facilitators Training  is set for June 10 & 11. While trainees have begun working on the prerequisites there's still time to join us if you call right away! For more info, call Joanna 257-0775 x101

How we're different.... why we're important

Brattleboro Area Hospice is one of only 200 volunteer non-profit hospices left in the United States providing volunteer-staffed programs to dying and grieving community members. We were founded in 1979 on the belief that no one should die alone, and are dedicated to offering all services free of charge.

 

Stay Connected 
Like us on Facebook


Support Our Work 
 

Brattleboro Area Hospice   |   susan.parris@brattleborohospice.org

www.brattleborohospice.org

191 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301