Brattleboro Area Hospice Volunteer and Friends Newsletter
Death & Dying for Beginners
A free, four week course this summer


This class is designed for those of us who don't have time to volunteer but want to discuss this important topic.   Facilitator Bettina Berg will guide participants using readings & exercises from our hospice training, exploring feelings and beliefs about death, dying and grief.


Tuesdays July 12 - August 2, 10:30 - 12:30
Hospice Office, 191 Canal St, Brattleboro

Class size is limited and registration is required!
Call 257-0775 or email info@brattleborohospice.org.

New PopUp  Auction opens Friday July 1 @ 5pm

Antiques & Collectibles
Canoe rental, Massage, Birding
    


Gathering in the Garden
July 14th, 5:30-6:00 pm

 
Please join us at the Hospice Memorial Garden located at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro on July 14th at 5:30 for a brief, informal gathering to remember loved ones.    

The garden is on Guilford Street, on the hillside adjacent to the road, directly across from #150 Guilford St.  We'll spend about half an hour enjoying the beauty of the garden, decorating memorial stones to place in the garden, listening to inspirational poems or short readings, and maybe some quiet music. 

This is something new we're offering this summer, and it's our hope that more people will be encouraged to discover, or to revisit, this beautiful place.  It's not necessary to let us know you're coming--just come!  If you're uncertain about the weather call the office at (802) 257-0775 and speak to Connie at ext. 104 or Joyce at ext. 105 to learn if we're having the gathering. 
What we have once enjoyed  we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.

~Helen Keller

Do you know someone 
who is grieving? 
Share our  SEASONS bereavement newsletter

Every other month our Bereavement Coordinator, Connie Baxter, publishes a beautiful four page newsletter filled with essays, poetry and information about our grief services.  

You can read the latest SEASONS online by clicking this link,  July August 2016 SEASONS. Please share it with anyone you feel could benefit.

Or you can receive a hard copy of SEASONS every other month in the mail, by calling us at 257-0775 or emailing  info@brattleborohospice.org.
Notice
Experienced Goods Thrift Shop and the Hospice office at 191 Canal St. will both be closing at  1:00 pm on  Wed. July 27  for a staff retreat.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding as we support our staff.
We need your donations!

If you have a treasure for our auction, we'd love to hear from you!
Call 254-8174 to donate, or bring your items to Experienced Goods Thrift Shop on Flat Street and  tell them your donation is for the auction
Thank you!

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.

 

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

Dear Joanna,
    Don't you think there should be some way to use the computer to type in the answers on the Advance Directive form! My handwriting is bad news plus I'd like to be able to make corrections before I print the form to send it to the registry.  Also, someday if I want to make any major changes I'd have my earlier version saved on my computer.     Erg!
 
 Dear Erg!
    Good news! The forms that are on theVermont Health Gov website and Vermont Ethics Network  are all PDF forms!  A PDF form is different from a regular PDF.  With the PDF form you can fill in the spaces on the document on your computer.  Several of my volunteers have tested it to be sure it does work.  If by any chance you try it and have trouble, check with anyone who is good with computers or call the Vermont Dept. of Health to get someone there to help you.  You still have to send a paper copy to the National Registry.   So glad you are working on your Directive!    Joanna
 
Dear Joanna,
     I'm only 22 and in GREAT health.  WHY are you saying I need to have a directive?           From HEALTHY

Dear Healthy -
    Congratulations! May you be in good health for a long long time. Unfortunately, at any time, a car or motorcycle crash or unexpected serious illness can put you in a coma with no ability to speak or discuss your medical care. This is the basic reason for a directive. 
       There is now a clear and simple one-page form that covers the key issue of WHO you trust to speak on your behalf if you cannot. It's called the agent form (see here: Agent Form)   You officially decide who you choose to make difficult decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate.  Then ideally you talk with that person a bunch so they can speak for you if need be.  You have probably heard of the case of Terry Shiavo who was on full life support for eons with no ability to communicate while her husband and parents battled all the way to the Supreme Court about what she would have wanted.  A directive would have prevented that.  Hope you get yours filled out, registered and then never need it!          Joanna

TAKING STEPS BRATTLEBORO NEWS
We have a team of 10 newly trained RESPECTING CHOICES® Advance Care Planning Facilitators - one at BMH and 9 who are part of the volunteer project at Brattleboro Area Hospice. 

Now is a great time to call for free help with your directive -no matter where you are in the process of completing it and getting it registered. Call and GET IT DONE!   802-257-0775 x 101 or 802-460-1142 x 101 in the Bellows Falls area.
 
The FALL Volunteer Facilitator training is filling up fast. If you are interested in becoming an Advance Care Planning Facilitator call soon!    Please call Joanna  at the number above, or email joanna.rueter@brattleborohospice.org

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Brattleboro Area Hospice   |   susan.parris@brattleborohospice.org

www.brattleborohospice.org

191 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301