We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the swimmers, boaters, volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors who made the 9th Annual Women Swimmin' the most successful yet!

We shattered our $290,000 goal on our way to a current total of over $362,000, comfortably eclipsing last year's $323,000.

We're grateful and proud to be part of such a supportive, compassionate community. Thank you for all you do!

"Like" Women Swimmin' on Facebook for more news and photos as we look ahead to next year's 10th Annual Women Swimmin' for Hospicare!

By Kira Lallas, Hospice and Community Bereavement Counselor

As a bereavement counselor for Hospicare, part of my job is to reach out to loved ones of those who've died on hospice services.

This can mean coming in to contact with people at a very vulnerable time of life. My approach is to be ready to be present with people and cautious to let them be if they'd like.

When I was a hugger last year for Women Swimmin', my job was to greet swimmers as they came out of the water after their swim, to embrace, congratulate, and thank them. As the first swimmers came in, I could feel a similar sense of cautiousness. Did they want to be hugged? Was that too direct or close for some?

Read the whole story as a PDF.

Join us for this fall's volunteer training on 9/22, 9/23, 9/29 and 9/30 (9 AM to 2 PM each day; attendance at all 4 sessions is required).

To sign up, please download and return the application form. Manager of Volunteer Services Wendy Yettru will then get in touch to set up an informal interview.

For further information, contact Wendy at wyettru@hospicare.org or 607.272.0212, or visit our Volunteers page.

Much of what we do wouldn't be possible without the generous efforts of our wonderful volunteers. Join us or spread the word!

At Buffalo Street Books on Saturday, September 22, at 3 PM, Dina Wolfman Baker will present a reading of her book I Remember Mommy's Smile about loss and remembrance, written in her child's voice to other children.

She has also produced a 33-minute companion video for caregivers and professionals living or working with grieving children.

After the reading, Dina will lead a brief discussion and sign copies of the book and the video, both of which Buffalo Street Books will have available for purchase.

Although most know us as "Hospicare," our full name is "Hospicare and Palliative Care Services of Tompkins County."

But while hospice enjoys broad and growing awareness, palliative care is a younger field.

Hospice requires a 6-months-or-less prognosis and cessation of curative measures, but as our website explains: "Palliative care may be appropriate at any point in an illness, from diagnosis on, and it can be provided at the same time as treatment that is meant to cure you."

(Patients are always free to withdraw from hospice and pursue further curative treatment if they so choose.)

We hope to elaborate on the distinction as access to palliative care broadens. This edition's "In the News" and "Websites of Interest" sections include several relevant resources.

September dates include:

• Women Singin' - 9/4; 5:30-7 PM  
• Evening Bereavement Support Group - 9/5 & 9/19; 5:30-7 PM
• Mindfulness Practice - Wednesdays; 7:30-9 PM
• Registration deadline for "Standing in Our New Lives: Women Moving Forward After the Death of a Spouse/Partner" - 9/10 (group begins 9/18; 2:30-4 PM)
• Registration deadline for "Younger Widows" - 9/10 (group begins 9/20; 5:30-7 PM)
• Tuesday Lunch Group - 9/11; 12 PM
• Registration deadline for "Grief 101: For Grievers" - 9/19 (event occurs 9/24; 6-7:30 PM) 
• Fall Volunteer Training - 9/22, 23, 29, & 30; 9 AM-2 PM
• Registration deadline for "Grief and Forgiveness" - 9/25 (event occurs 10/1; 7-8:30 PM) 
• Wednesday Breakfast Group - 9/26; 8:30 AM