A NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE

Reflecting on the past year, we have much gratitude for the cadre of volunteers who attended additional training to be of service during this COVID-challenged year. And, MAHALO to all our Kauai Hospice supporters and the ways you each collaborate in this important work -- we greatly value your generosity of heart. We approach 2023 with optimism as we look towards integrating more volunteers back into patient care settings!  

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT GROUP - SAVE THE DATE!

Monday, FEBRUARY 6th from 5:00-6:30 PM

After a lengthy COVID-hiatus, we will be hosting our first Support Group for patient-volunteers since the pandemic. Volunteers have an important role in our care giving team and these groups provide support essential to volunteer's well-being. Come connect with others for an evening of sharing and insights as we explore our patient-family experiences. Light refreshments will be provided. (Kauai Hospice Conference Room).

MEDICARE’S HOSPICE COMPARE WEBSITE

Kauai Hospice has earned a 5-Star Family/Caregiver survey rating. Care Compare is a user-friendly website to assist patients and caregivers in making informed decisions in choosing a hospice. Data is gathered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with performance and quality ratings that can demonstrate how a hospice provider’s service compares to other local providers, as well as average national quality scores. Survey results look at measures for quality of patient care and the family/caregiver experience, with caregiver feedback including the willingness to recommend a hospice. Visit: https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/ and select "Hospice care" from the menu.

ARTICLE: “NATURE REALLY IS MEDICINE, THIS CAREGIVER LEARNED”

By Sarah White

Generations Now - American Society on Aging (November 30, 2022)

“Sit in my chair in that sunshine and look at my tree – it’s medicine,” my 97-year-old mother said, just days before she died. I knew she was right. Almost two years prior, before I had moved her to this sunny room, she had nearly given up on life. The first assisted living facility I had found for her had been attractive, but in its architectural design, no thought had been given to connection with nature. “Access to nature returned my mother’s will to live—and made me a biophilia advocate,” writes Sarah White. Continue reading… The author also provides links to relevant research and describes Biophilic design principles (e.g. sensory stimuli, the presence of water, dynamic and diffuse light) which can be incorporated into places where older adults are housed or treated. 

INSTEAD OF "I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS", TRY...

(From: www.goingwithgrace.com)

PODCAST: KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH ANCESTORS

Eight listeners share the ways they keep in touch with their ancestors

By Malaka Gharib (Dec. 7, 2022)

In this NPR Life Kit podcast, eight listeners share the powerful ways they keep in touch with their ancestors. They tell us how they stay connected to their late loved ones; about the objects they keep, the altars they built and how they pay their respects. Enjoy their moving tributes and stories -- you can listen to the full-length story (23-minutes) or read excerpts with photos.

WEBSITE: VITALtalk

Integrate improved communication skills into healthcare practices

Despite best efforts, too few clinicians are trained on or get to practice critical patient conversations. VitalTalk is a training organization for clinicians seeking to advance their communication skills. The organization’s vision is that every seriously ill patient will be surrounded by clinicians who can speak about what matters most and match care to values. Effective, empathic and honest conversations between a clinician, patient and families are the cornerstones of patient-centered care. The free Resources section of the Website has valuable tools and techniques organized by topic with short videos and access to “Quick Guides” that are worth browsing.