August 2016 News & Events
Women Swimmin' 2016
"To Be Part of Something That Feels So Big and Great"

a swimmer gives two thumbs up.
 
Women Swimmin' for Hospicare's 13th annual event will begin at dawn on August 13. More than 300 women will swim 1.2 miles across Cayuga Lake from the east shore. They will end their swim at the Ithaca Yacht Club dock, where they will be greeted with cheers from the hundreds of supporters waiting there. 

Why do they do it? Swimmers have many reasons for participating in Women Swimmin'. Here are just a few:

"To be a part of something that feels so big and great and to help one of the best organizations out there is beyond special to me." -- Sarah Kager

"I swim to play a small part in the effort to celebrate life and offer dignity and comfort in death." -- Lorraine Hare

Read more about why our swimmers swim. 

If weather is inclement or water conditions are problematic, we will post updates to the Women Swimmin' Facebook page and website around 5:30 AM. If we can't gather outside at the Yacht Club because of weather, we will convene at Cass Park Rink for a celebration, breakfast and music at 8:00 AM.
 
As of July 31, our wonderful swimmers have raised more than $257,000 toward our goal of $380,000.  
 
Boaters Still Needed for Women Swimmin' 2016!

Are you an experienced boater? Would you like to use your boating skills to support Hospicare? Women Swimmin' still needs volunteer boaters to escort swimmers across Cayuga Lake during the 13th Annual Women Swimmin' on August 13. Boaters need to be experienced in open water and comfortable in choppy or windy conditions.

Boater registration is still open online through August 6.

For more information about volunteering as a boater for Women Swimmin', check out womenswimmin.org. 

Facing the Challenges
Caregiving at Life's End

A mother and daughter leaning against each other lovingly.
 
Increasing numbers of Americans now find themselves in the role of caregiver. Much has been written about the challenges of caring for chronically ill family members, but the realities of caring for a dying loved one are less understood.
 
The American Hospice Foundation has put together an online article giving suggestions for how to cope with the most common problems caregivers face, including:
  • Feeling alone and exhausted as you struggle to keep up with all your loved one's needs, from frequent medication, to toileting and feeding, to emotional support.
  • Feeling fearful at the great task you are undertaking to care for your dying loved one.
  • Being the "comforter-in-charge" as other family members and loved ones look to you for support even while you are also the primary caregiver for your dying loved one.
  • Struggling with the hard decisions that must be made and trusting that you've made them wisely.
  • Struggling with feelings of anger or guilt as you put your own life on hold to care for your loved one.
 
Threshold Choir  
Bringing Songs of Comfort and Love to the Dying   

 
The Threshold Choir in San Fransisco uses music and harmony to soothe, comfort and communicate love to those at the end of life. Patients feel less pain, anxiety and loneliness when they are sung to. Today, there are 150 choirs around the world modeled on the Threshold Choir.

In this video, members of the group talk about their experiences singing for the dying, and a patient gives his perspective on the experience of being sung to.  
 
Save the Dates! 
Held at the Nina K. Miller Hospicare Center
172 E. King Road, Ithaca, NY
  • Women Singin' (1st Tuesday of the month), 8/2, 9/6, 5:30−7:00 PM
  • General Support Group for All Bereaved (1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month), 8/3 & 8/17, 9/7 & 9/21, 5:30−7:00 PM
  • Monthly Bereaved Parents Group 1st Thursday of the month), 8/4, 9/8, 5:30−7:30 PM
Held at the Cortland Hospicare Office
11 Kennedy Parkway, Cortland, NY
  • Morning Support Group for All Bereaved (1st Tuesday of the month), 8/2, 9/6, 10:00−11:30 AM
  • Afternoon Support Group for All Bereaved (3rd Thursday of the month), 8/18, 9/15, Noon−1:30 PM
  • Evening Support Group for All Bereaved (2nd Wednesday of the month) 8/10, 9/14, 5:30−7:00 PM
Held Offsite
  • Women Swimmin' Laps for Hospicare Ongoing March 1−August 13. Register online to participate. In lieu of swimming across Cayuga Lake, you can swim in a pool of your choosing, wherever you wish, to raise money for Hospicare.
  • Women Swimmin' 2016 Saturday, 8/13. Begins at sunrise.
  • Hospice Foundation of Cortland County Recognition Dinner Thursday, 9/8, 5:00 PM. Tickets are $25. To reserve a ticket, phone 607-272-0212 or e-mail barbclosson@icloud.com by 8/30. This event will be held at Tinelli's Hathaway House, Solon, NY.
  • Sandra Lipsitz Bem Lecture Thursday, 9/22, 7:00 PM. Guest speaker is Laurie Leonard, MSW, MBA, Executive Director of End of Life Choices New York. This event will be held at Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E. Green St., Ithaca.
  • Annual Hospicare Recognition Luncheon Thursday, 10/6. Mark your calendar! More information coming soon. This event will be held at The Space at Greenstar, 700 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca.
  • Steve Gorn Concerts/Events The ethnomusicologist, world traveler and performing musician presents a series of events that are free and open to the public. Sponsored by Hospicare in partnership with the Ithaca College School of Music and the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. No reservations are required.
    • Luminous Ragas Sunday, 10/16, 7:30−9:00 PM, First Unitarian Church, 309 S. Aurora St., Ithaca
    • Musical Meditation Monday 10/17, 4:30, McHenry Gallery, Whalen Center, Ithaca College School of Music
    • The Transformative Power of Music Tuesday, 10/18, 7:00−8:30 PM. Hockett Hall, Whalen Center, Ithaca College School of Music
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.

Women Swimmin' Is August 13.

 Support a Swimmer Now! 

In the News

At the End of Life, What Would Doctors Do?
Ira Byock, MD, contends that we should not just ask how doctors die but rather, how dying doctors embrace life and live to the fullest.

A Tender Hand in the Presence of Death
The New Yorker looks at the daily work of a hospice nurse, who treats people at the most vulnerable point in their lives.

Help for Emotional Healing When Life Comes to a Close
With compassion and great insight, hospice team members help the dying and their family members draw closer to each other.

A doctor shares the most important things about hospice he wishes all his patients knew.

What Do You Do When a Child Wants to Die?
When a terminally ill child wants to die, knowing whether to honor that request can be difficult.

Website of Interest

Grief Healing: Pet Loss--Why Does It Hurt So Much?
This site, which looks at all different aspects of grief, offers a thoughtful look at the strong bonds we form with our pets and the grief we feel when they die.

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

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.
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