Brattleboro Area Hospice Volunteer and Friends Newsletter
As we begin the New Year
here are some wise words to remember


Winter Support Gathering 
at Hospice

Monday January 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Please join us at the Hospice Office, 191 Canal St. in Brattleboro, for a special time to gather together and talk about the challenges of and strategies for grieving during the darkness of winter.  Connie Baxter will facilitate the meeting.  We'd appreciate a call to 257-0775 ext. 104 to let us know you're coming, but it's not necessary.  If there's any question of cancellation due to bad weather, call our number by 2 p.m. and press "4" for a special message.
Coming in January
 
Pam MacPherson, author of  a book of poetry about being a hospice volunteer, Vigil:
The Poetry of Presence, will be visiting Brattleboro on January 12 & 13.  She will give both a public reading and an in-service for hospice volunteers. Look for more information about these events in early January.

If you'd like to read more about Pam and her book, here is a review from a South Burlington newspaper:  MacPherson Pens Vigil The Poetry of Presence

Here is a selection from  Vigil: The Poetry of Presence

So Long...
By Pam MacPherson
 
So long it has been
To witness dying...
Me a caring stranger;
You on life's most meaningful voyage.
 
Teach me.
Help me to live in the present,
Value each moment,
Remember our mortal limits
As, some day
In living into my future,
I will exist as you do now,
One foot on terra (not so) firma,
The other dangling over the precipice
That holds time eternal.
 
Move forward on your journey.
Loosen your grasp on here and now.
You can do it, my friend.
Let your spirit rise
And your physical body fall.
 
So long...

Taking Steps Brattleboro

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

Dear Joanna, I know the Taking Steps Project has been going for about 14 months now. What are you pleased about and what are you hoping for in 2017?  From Nosy

Dear Nosy, Nice of you to ask. Lots has been accomplished. We have 3 teams of trained volunteers with most of them actively facilitating good solid Advance Care Planning. The current count is 103 completed directives with 85 registered. There's also a lovely, newly created room here at the office which many choose for their ACP sessions. All of that is pleasing.
In 2017? We are launching a new pilot with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in January which will make it possible for folks to meet with our facilitators at the Tyler Room in the hospital if they would like to be in that convenient setting. Some of our volunteers have added presentations to their ACP activity and a Community Wide "festival" is being planned for April 16-22- National Health Care Decision Week - with all kinds of activities. I won't go on and on - but things are going well. Hurrah!  
 
Dear Joanna, I'm puzzled about the DNR/COLST which I thought you should see a doctor about if you don't want certain interventions.
Dear Puzzled - you are not alone!  We are working on this right now to clarify the language so that everyone is on the same page about the DNR /COLST form and how it fits into the whole spectrum of health care decisions. As always, you should consult your doctor regarding the medical aspects of your care.  I will be writing more on this soon!


The Sacred Journey of Grief
Supporting Yourself and Others
 
January 6
5:30-6:00 p.m.
 
Moment for Peace
Centre Congregational Church (parlor) 193 Main St., Brattleboro
 
Led by Connie Baxter
Bereavement Program Coordinator 


New Six Week Support Group for Adults begins on January 18
"Grief-How Can 
You Help?"
Strolling of the Heifers Brown Bag 
Lunch Series
January 20 
12:00-1:00 p.m.
157 Main St. Brattleboro
Led by Connie Baxter, Bereavement Program Coordinator 
Do you wish you knew the "right" thing to say, and do, when someone has experienced a death loss?  This is an educational talk about the nature of grief and loss, what grieving people want from others, and suggestions for gracefully offering support to someone who is grieving. 


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.

 


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Brattleboro Area Hospice   |   susan.parris@brattleborohospice.org

191 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301