February 2016 News & Events
Support Group for Those Who Have Lost a Spouse or Partner

image of sad older man
 
The death of a loved one can be a painful, devastating event, but the death of your spouse or life partner can be particularly challenging. It requires you to adjust to a multitude of changes in your life. You and your loved one built a life together, and now you must go on without that person.
 
Hospicare is offering a special support group for those who have experienced the loss of a spouse or partner. This five-week group offers men and women the opportunity to process their loss in a participatory and confidential setting. Participants must commit to all five sessions. Registration is required.
 
What: Journey through Grief: Spouse or Partner Loss Support Group

When: Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, Noon-1:30 PM 
 
Where: Nina K. Miller Hospicare Center, 172 East King Road, Ithaca 
 
Register by February 24. E-mail bereavement@hospicare.org or call 607-272-0212.
 
How to Help a Grieving Coworker

image of sad business woman
 
Grief in the workplace can be difficult. When we know a coworker has lost a loved one, we want to support that person as much as possible. Yet, often we don't know what to do. We may find ourselves shying away from a coworker's loss, worried that we are intruding on something too private to be shared in a workplace environment.
 
Grief Digest Magazine addresses the topic of workplace grief in an insightful article by Jan Borgman. Here are some of her suggestions for helping a grieving coworker.
  • Talk to them. Don't be afraid to acknowledge their loss. Ask them how they are doing. Allow them to share what they feel comfortable with . . .
  • Treat them as you did prior to the death. Be genuine in your concern, realize that the first day or week might be difficult but try to keep things as normal as possible . . .
  • Allow them to do their job. While some understanding and patience may be necessary as they readjust to the workplace, most grieving people are able to "do their jobs." Their work may be a reprieve from their grief and may help them feel like they have some control in their life . . .
(Reprinted on the Servants of Mary website.) 
 
February 7, 1:00
Cornell Wrestling Community Challenge Fundraiser for Hospicare

image of Cornell wrestling logo Join Cornell Wrestling for an afternoon of wrestling excitement while also raising money for Hospicare.
 
Cornell Wrestling is sponsoring a Community Challenge to the Tompkins and Cortland communities. The team pledges to pay money for every person in attendance at their upcoming match against Oklahoma State. The more people who attend, the more funds Hospicare will receive!

What: Cornell vs. Oklahoma State

When: Sunday, February 7, 1:00 PM

Where: Newman Arena in Bartels Hall, Cornell University 

The match is open to the public. Tickets are available starting at $9 general admission for adults. Reserved seats are a bit more. Senior and child discounts are available. We join Big Red Wrestling in encouraging everyone to attend the match. Remember, funds will be raised based on attendance.

Visit the Cornell Wrestling Challenge for Hospicare Facebook page for more information. 

Make a pre-event donation to the fundraiser or fulfill a pledge after the event.

"Give a Chance" Raffle for Charity

picture of _we need your vote_ button Ithaca Apartment Management (IAM) is holding a "Give a Chance" raffle for charity, and Hospicare is one of the participating organizations. On February 1, IAM will open a poll on their Facebook page that will allow Facebook users to vote for their favorite local charity. Each vote cast gives that charity a ticket into the raffle to be held in March. The winning charity receives $5,000.
 
Please support Hospicare by voting daily in the poll!
 
Save the Dates! 
Held at the Nina K. Miller Hospicare Center
172 E. King Road, Ithaca, NY
  • Women Singin' (1st Tuesday of the month), 2/2, 3/1 5:30−7:00 PM
  • General Support Group for All Bereaved (1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month), 2/3 & 2/17, 3/2 & 3/16, 5:30−7:00 PM
  • Monthly Bereaved Parents Group (1st Thursday of the month), 2/4, 3/3, 5:30−7:00 PM
  • Journey Through Grief A 5-week spouse or partner loss support group, Tuesdays, 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22 and 3/29, Noon-1:30 PM. Register by February 24.
  • Frontline's "Being Mortal" Viewing and discussion led by Hospicare staff and volunteers, Wednesday, 3/9, 6:00-8:00 PM
  • Volunteer Training (Wednesdays & Thursdays for three consecutive weeks) 4/6, 4/7, 4/13, 4/14, 4/20 & 4/21, 5:30-9:00 PM Participants must commit to all 6 sessions. A separate training will be held at the Cortland office.
Held at the Cortland Hospicare Office
11 Kennedy Parkway, Cortland, NY
  • Morning Support Group for All Bereaved (1st Tuesday of the month), 2/2, 3/1, 10:00−11:30 AM
  • Afternoon Support Group for All Bereaved (3rd Thursday of the month), 2/18, 3/17, Noon−1:30 PM
  • Volunteer Training (five consecutive Thursdays) 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19 and 5/26, Noon-4:00 PM. Participants must commit to all five sessions. A separate training will be held at the Ithaca office.
Held Offsite
  • Cornell Wrestling Community Challenge for Hospicare Sunday, 2/7, 1:00 PM. This event held at Bartels Hall, Cornell University.
  • Managing Conflict/Finding Meaning: Supporting Families at Life's End Hospice Foundation of America teleconference, Tuesday, 3/15, 2:45-7:00 PM. This event is held in the Borg Warner Room in the Tompkins County Public Library, Ithaca.
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. Some workshops and events require preregistration.
 
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.
 
In the News

I Have Terminal Cancer and I'm Dying in a Yearish
The author considers how she should best spend the short time she has left.

My Right to Die: Assisted Suicide, My Family and Me
The author, who is terminally ill, traces the US history of aid-in-dying and then considers it for himself.

How a Death Doula Can Help Patients and Families
Death doulas are especially trained to help in end-of-life transitions, and they are becoming more common in the US.

A music thanatologist, trained to play prescriptive music for the dying, looks at what she's learned as she has played during patients' final hours.

Unequal Lives, Unequal Deaths
A palliative care doctor reveals the hardships the terminally ill poor must face, even when they have hospice service.

How to Die Like Bowie, or, We Can Be Heroes
David Bowie carefully planned his final days to ensure that he died the way he wanted, and we can learn from him how to plan our own last days.   
 
two hands clasping
Help terminally ill people spend the end of their lives peacefully and without pain.

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