Brattleboro Area Hospice Volunteer and Friends Newsletter
Generous Neighbors!
Brattleboro Subaru donates $32,624


Last week we celebrated with the staff of Brattleboro Subaru honoring the incredible success of their Share the Love campaign, which raised over $32,000 in donations to support Brattleboro Area Hospice. 
 
What an amazing, generous community business! The next time you're at Brattleboro Subaru, please let them know how much you appreciate their support of our work.
 
Read more from the Brattleboro Reformer about this wonderful gift:

May 2017 Bereavement Events
Join us for all or any of these activities!

Monday, May 15th, 2:00-5:00 pm
Hospice Fo undation of America's Annual Grief Teleconference "When Grief is Complicated" at Brattleboro Retreat Education Conference Center.  Free event open to all; 2.5 hrs. of continuing education credit available.  For more info click here:  2017 Teleconference
 
Wednesday, May 17, 5:30-7:00 pm
Creating Your Own Sympathy Cards at the Hospice Office. During this hands-on workshop, we will create our very own personal cards of condolence. Facilitator Cheryl Wilfong will bring blank cards and dozens of possible messages.


Saturday, May 20, 10 am -2:00 pm

Hearts a nd Stones at Brattleboro Farmers' Market .  Stop by our table and decorate a memorial stone to place in our memorial garden, or to take home.  All materials supplied.



Tuesday, May 23, 4:00-6:00 pm   

Memory Box Workshop at the Hospice Office.  Bring photos, poems, or small treasures to create your special box.  We'll provide a box (or bring your own) and all materials for painting and decorating the box.  Cicely Carroll will facilitate.




For registration for any of these events contact Connie Baxter at (802) 257-0775 ext. 104 or connie.baxter@brattleborohospice.org

Confused about how to talk about someone's death online?  Social Media & grief is a new frontier we're still figuring out...Here are some excellent suggestions about grieving on Facebook.

Contact us for 
Grief Support

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,
Help!  I'm discouraged about this work.  There are people who just look the other way if I say anything about planning for death!     Feeling blue. L
 
Dear Blue,
I'm glad you wrote. It can get discouraging at times. And then there's inspiration. This quote from Dawn M Gross, MD, PhD took my breath away.
 
" When we are aware of our own mortality, what is essential becomes magnified and everything else begins to melt away. And while none of us know when or how we will die, by practicing how to uncover what is most important to us, while we are well, we give ourselves the best possible opportunity to live life fully through our final exhale."
 
Have a look around her website  http://www.drasyouwish.com/  and listen to the recordings from her radio show  Dying To Talk .  A reread of Being Mortal by Gawande is also good medicine for discouragement.    Please let me know if these help - and stay in touch. Thanks for all you are doing, Joanna
 
Dear Joanna,
I don't get it. The Registry is FREE for Vermonters. People in other states have to pay $59.00 to have their directives registered. Why doesn't everyone in Vermont register their directive? Puzzled!
 
Dear Puzzled,
I think it's because it is still new and not fully understood. This is a service that Vermont Dept. of Health recognizes as a major benefit because it means that no matter where Vermonters travel in the USA a medical provider can get hold of the Registry 24/7 to find out what their care wishes were if they can't communicate for themselves. How?  You put one of the registry stickers on your MEDICAL INSURANCE card. That will be looked at in any medical setting. The registry phone number is on the sticker. Please keep talking about it - I will too!  Joanna 
 
Please feel free to contact Joanna with your Advance Care Planning questions  by phone 802-257-0775 x 101  or by email:

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Brattleboro Area Hospice   |   susan.parris@brattleborohospice.org

191 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301