November News & Events

Hospicare Residence

We Are Doing Profound Work

by Lisa Schwartz, RN

Hospicare Residence Nurse

The first time I visited Hospicare was during a clinical rotation during my last semester of nursing school. As soon as I walked into the Residence, I knew how special it was and that one-day I would work there. Three long years later, after going home to help my parents, then working on the 4th floor at Cayuga Medical Center, I am now a nurse in the Hospicare Residence.

I feel proud to say I work at Hospicare. I haven't tired of hearing how moved people are by what we do, by the kind of care we give. I believe we are doing profound work in our little six-bed Residence that is really a chapel in disguise.

One night I held a patient's hand as he died because his wife and daughters were not there. The gratitude they felt that he did not die alone, that someone sat by his side as he left this world, made me weep . . .

Leaning into Love

An Emotional and

Spiritual Exploration of Loss

by Joan Jacobs Brumberg

"I'll find a way to be all right," Elaine Mansfield promised her dying husband and best friend of 42 years. In a forthright memoir of Vic Mansfield's struggle with long-term illness, in this case cancer, the author recalls the familiar optimism and hope that are part of the therapeutic promise of contemporary scientific medicine.

Along the way, in their search for an oncological cure, Vic and Elaine were exposed to the sterility and the indignities that characterize even top-notch research hospitals. In the end, treatment failed.

This honest, heartfelt first book is the story of how Mansfield lived, survived and triumphed with her pain, told in an authentic voice by a woman who values human connection, spirituality and the earth . . .

Read more about Leaning into Love.

Community fundraisers

15 STEPS Fundraiser

In recognition of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and in celebration of this season of thanksgiving, our friends at 15 STEPS on the Ithaca Commons will once again be holding a fundraiser for Hospicare. They will donate 10% of sales from Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30.

Women Singin' Jewelry Sale

The women of Women Singin', Hospicare's monthly a capella singing circle, are holding their annual fundraiser for Hospicare. Come peruse their wide variety of gently used jewelry. All proceeds go to support Hospicare's music program. The sale will be November 15, in the GIAC gym in Ithaca, 10:00-2:45 pm.

Cortland Foundation Community Challenge

The Hospice Foundation of Cortland County, our partner in providing hospice services to residents of Cortland County, is taking part in the Cortland Foundation's Community Fundraising Challenge, competing with other Cortland County 501(c)3 charitable organizations for cash prizes.

To help win additional funds for hospice services in Cortland County, simply make a donation for the Hospice Foundation of Cortland County via the Cortland Community Foundation.

Learn more about the Community Challenge and how to support hospice in Cortland County.

Recognition Luncheon
Hospicare Gives Annual Honors

On October 9, we held our annual recognition luncheon at the Ithaca Country Club. An important part of the festivities was the giving out of two honors celebrating community members who have helped us achieve our mission.

Dr. R. Roy Coats Compassionate Care Award

Bob Riter accepted the award on behalf of the CRC. L to R: Alma Coats, wife of Dr. Roy Coats; Dale Johnson, Hospicare Exec. Dir.; Bob Riter, CRC Exec. Dir., and Linda Pasto, Hospicare Board Pres.

This award acknowledges a non-Hospicare caregiver or group of caregivers who consistently provide exceptional compassionate care to Hospicare patients. This year, we were pleased to give it to the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes for their comprehensive, compassionate support to members of our community facing cancer.

Hospicare Volunteer Honor

David Banfield accepted the volunteer honor from Dale Johnson and Linda Pasto.

Given to a Hospicare volunteer who has demonstrated a long-term consistent and dedicated commitment to our mission, this year the Volunteer Honor went to David Banfield for his many years of service as a volunteer at events, as a member of our Board of Directors and the Hospicare Foundation Board, and as a integral part of the Women Swimmin' Safety Team.

Health Needs Assessment Survey

Hospicare is working with regional hospitals and other health organizations on a 10-county project, looking at how we can expand care and services to our patients and control costs. To improve healthcare services, we need feedback from residents concerning the health needs of our communities and what health resources are lacking.

To give feedback, please take the 7-minute survey.

Save the Dates!

Women Singin' 11/4, 12/2 (1st Tuesday of the month), 5:30-7:00 PM
Evening Support Group for Newly Bereaved 11/5, 12/3 (1st Wednesday of the month), 5:30-7:00 PM
Monthly Bereaved Parents Group 11/6, 12/4 (1st Thursday of the month), 5:30-7:00 PM
Evening Support Group for All Bereaved 11/19, 12/17 (3rd Wednesday of the month), 5:30-7:00 PM
Grief Fall Film Series: The Gifts of Grief 11/12, 7:00-9:00 PM
Handling the Holidays grief workshop 11/24, Noon-1:30 PM
Giving Tuesday Hospichair On-line Fundraising Event 12/2, All Day. Details in December e-newsletter.
Light of My Life 12/5, 6:30 PM Hospice Foundation of Cortland County fundraising event (held on the Green in the Village of Homer)
Light the Landscape 12/9, 5:30 pm, (held in the Hospicare Residence Great Room)

For more information on any of the above groups or events, please call 607-272-0212, or visit our Events page to download a PDF of our current calendar.

Our mission is to bring medical expertise and compassionate, respectful care to people and their loved ones at any stage of a life-threatening illness, and to provide information and education about advanced illness, dying and bereavement to the entire community.

Support Hospicare: Donate!

In the News

Tips for Talking with Your Loved Ones About the End of Life

How do we talk about our end-of-life thoughts and wishes when our loved ones don't want to listen?

Care at the End of Life

What happens when patients are bounced between hospitals, nursing homes and care agencies that don't communicate among themselves, while at the same time Medicare and Medicaid negate each other's services?

The Best Possible Day

Healthcare providers need to acknowledge that patients at end of life often want quality of life over quantity and be ready to talk with them about their options, argues Dr. Atul Gawande.

Brittany's Choice

CBS This Morning talks with 29-year- old Brittany Maynard who has terminal brain cancer and intends to end her life on her own terms.

The Last Right
In light of the controversy surrounding Brittany Maynard, a New York Times columnist looks at the history and future of physician- assisted suicide in this country.

Website of Interest

The Conversation Project

Dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end of life. Their website has many helpful materials and suggestions for how to have the end-of- life conversation.

Help Us Help Others

Donate

Help terminally ill people spend the end of their lives peacefully and without pain.

Women Swimmin'
You can still donate to support one of the 311 amazing women who swam this year. We continue to take donations through the end of the year.

Our Wish List

Items to make patients and their families more comfortable.

Amazon Smile
Shop through Amazon Smile, and 0.5% of your purchase price will be donated to Hospicare.

Quick Links

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607.272.0212

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info@hospicare.org

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This newsletter's purpose is to provide timely, useful information to our friends, partners and supporters in the community. Please contact us with any comments.