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Journey There are Heroes Among us
Being Present in the Moment
Nominate Your Healthcare Hero
Keep the Ball Rolling on Dad’s Health June is Men’s Health Month
Volunteer Program Featured on WSPY our t u o Check ployees m e e n u J h t n o m of the 1
May 2012 The Journey
CONTENTS
June 2012 Index: New Hires........................................................3 A Hospice Moment With Time to Share..................................4-5
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6
A Mement to Remember...........................6 Creative Arts Contest..................................7 Healthcare Heroes...................................8-9 Keep the Ball Rolling with Dad’s Health.......................................................10-11 Volunteer Services...............................12-13 We want your junk....................................14
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See Why Our Nurses Love Their Jobs.....................................................15 National Nursing Home Week Highlights.....................................................16 CNA Week.....................................................16 Around the Town.......................................17
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Employees of the Month..................18-19
The
Journey Administrator Michael Gillman
Executive Medical Director Rajiv Kandala, MD
Social Services Roxxi Davis
Spiritual Care Joe Barefield
Clinical Services Carmen Valez
Physician Services Chris Doyle
Admissions Emily O’Malley
PR and Foundation Kansas Swain
Welcome to the Passages Hospice team! We look forward to working with you.
Phone 1-888-741-8985 Toll-free
E-mail info@passageshospice.com
Myths and Truths About Hospice Care
On the web www.passageshospice.com
Connect with us!
Click Here
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Even though our outward perishing, yet the inward ma renewed day by day. (11 Corint
d man is an is being thians 4:16).
nn, Dan Pe
in Chapla
A Hospice Moment – With Time to Share
Each day is much the same – 24 hours- just another day! Minutes and moments just tick away – completed by default and lost in the fray. Are we caught up in nature's endless spray, or is there some meaning along this way? Answer me not or attempt me to sway, for God alone knows the truth of each day. Few, if any, have time to spare – but can we not all find some to share? Time is all that costs us not – observed and valued by a clock - it comes and goes and then is lost. Our time is measured in various ways, but the best by what we give away. What gifts it brings to those in need – gifts of worth planted like gentle seeds. Your time is all they need - what better could you give to those at their last – from whom this life shall soon be passed? Time means so much when shared – especially to those in need of care. Please, of your time take stock – give to someone a “forget-me-not” moments spent are yours to give. With them we help yet another, while they still live!
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Social Scene
Kelly Derr, Social Worker
Being Present in the Moment
All of us have multiple roles and demands on our time and attention. The balance of these can be very stressful and, at times, overwhelming. I have a never-ending "ToDo" list and it seems I am not alone. It is hard in the midst of this flurry of ball games, lessons, appointments and work to take a moment; be present in the moment and enjoy it. It sounds simple and yet we don't give ourselves permission to do it. We become fearful of what we leave undone and drive ourselves harder instead of being present in the moment. When we are truly present in the moment, we relax and our cares fall away to be picked up again when we are ready. To be present in the moment is a gift and you can miss it if you are not aware. Recently, I had a patient who was a musician for most of his life. He did not play much music anymore because his endurance was so limited. During one visit we were talking about music and favorite songs. He and I both enjoyed Patsy Cline and many of the same songs. He sat on the side of his bed and he played his keyboard for his wife and I, including our Patsy Cline favorites. What a concert! I thanked him for giving of himself and the joy we shared through his music that day. I could easily have missed this moment had I ended the visit and rushed out to get to what was next on my list. I hope you take a moment; fully enjoy it and enjoy the gifts it brings. 6
May 2012 The Journey
NHPCO Creative Arts Contest The 2012 theme for the NHPCO's Creative Arts Contest is Diversity. This can include diversity of those we serve or diversity within our organization through community outreach. Everyone is welcome to submit photos for the contest! (Passages Hospice will be the official entrant, but the individual will receive credit!) Photos can be in color or black and white, and should be in .jpg or .gif format with a resolution of at least 300 dpi. Each photo must be accompanied by a photo release signed by everyone in the photo. The release can be downloaded here.
Categories: Patients and/or Family Caregivers – this includes all ages; staff may also be pictured but the focus of the photograph should be the patient of family member. Staff and Volunteers – this may also include other individuals but the focus of the photograph should be your staff and/or volunteers in action. Nature/Abstract – creatively show what diversity means to you using an abstract image or nature.
Prizes First Place: $50 gift card for the NHPCO Marketplace Second Place: $25 gift card for the NHPCO Marketplace In addition, winning entries will be included in the NHPCO’s magazine, NewsLine, and at the CTC conference in November.
Email your submissions to PR@passageshospice.com or call 630-940-9863.
Deadline for submissions is Friday, June 22nd.
Hea
althcare Heroes In celebration of National Nurses Week, National Nursing Home Week and National Certified Nursing Assistants Week, we present the Healthcare Heroes event! Our dedicated staff is always on the go! They care for family, friends and loved ones in homes, nursing facilities and communities all over. If you appreciate the care they give, nominate them as a Passages Hospice Healthcare Hero! Any Passages Hospice staff member is eligible, since every job is an important part of our care! Click here to nominate your Healthcare Hero today! It only takes a second. Submit as many nominations as you’d like! The two team members who receive the most nominations will be recognized as our Healthcare Heroes. Nominations accepted through June 22nd, 2012.
www.passageshospice.com/hero
She is a wonderful, caring, friendly, and hardworking person. She is a great person who always puts others infront of her. She cares about what she does and who she takes care of.
Besides being an awesome nurse with her patients, she helps out with her fellow employees and their patients. She is a real team player and a Healthcare Hero in my book.
Besides being an awesome nurse with her patients, she helps out with her fellow employees and their patients. She is a real team player and a Healthcare Hero in my book.
She has a special place in her heart for everyone she has taken care of or is currently taking care of. She treats all of her residents as one of her family members. She is such a joy to work with and patients just love her.
Keep the ball rolling on Dad’s health! Nobody tosses a football like Dad, so take some time during Men’s Health Month to check on his health. Regular examinations can be key to catching problems in their early stages. Men are half as likely to visit a doctor than women, so encourage Dad to keep his scheduled visits for preventative services. In general, men are at a higher risk for hearing loss and high cholesterol than women, and are believed to have weaker immune systems. In fact, men live about five years less than women on average. If Dad’s over 65, make sure he’s taking advance of Medicare-provided screenings for glaucoma and HIV. Medicare also covers preventative immunizations for the flu, pneumonia, and Hepatitis B. Be sure to follow the recommended schedule for colorectal and prostate cancer checks. Almost 50,000 men die each year from these cancers. The good news is that the number of men with these cancers has been shrinking for more than 20 years - in part because of regular screening tests! Heart disease is still the #1 cause of death for men. If he has other risk factors like high blood pressure or cholesterol or a family history of heart disease, see a doctor regularly to monitor these conditions.
Happ
y Fat
from her’s Da y all of u s at Pa ssage s!
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WELCOME
WelcomeWelcomeWe meWelcomeWelcome WelcomeWelcomeWe meWelcomeWelcome New Volunteers
North Chicagoland Elizabeth Stephen Bloomington-area Megan Rappleyea Maddy Jordan Mansi Agarwal
South Chicagoland Phillip McMullen Melanie Talhami Audra Banks Patty Parker
We’re proud of you, Megan!
Volunteer Megan Rappleyea was just given The Spirit of Nursing Award by the Mennonite Nurses Alumni Organization! Megan was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness in 2010, and has been a constant source of encouragement to her fellow nursing students. She uses the experience of her illness to connect with the patients she volunteers with.
Congratulations to volunteer Tammy Balbinot! Tammy entered an essay contest with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation about being her “best with MS” and won! Her essay was included in the spring edition of the MS Foundation’s newsletter, and Tammy won a trip to Alaska!
In her essay, Tammy talks about how volunteering with Passages has helped ease her own challenges. "I love seeing the smiles I bring by simply being with someone," she says. Congratulations, Tammy! Thank you for your amazing volunteer work!
click here
Volunteer Program Featured on WSPY We had a great time on WSPY-FM (Plano) talking about our fabulous volunteers! Here’s the video.
National Nursing Home Week We had a blast during National Nursing Home Week, celebrating our facilities and residents across two states! Here are just some of the great photos we took!
NATIONAL NURSING ASSISTANTS WEEK June 14-21 is National Nursing Assistants Week. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) make up more than a third of Passages Hospice staff. In hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and other caregiving groups across the country, CNAs truly embody the 2012 NNAW theme of “The Heart of Care”. CNAs provide much of the day-to-day care in hospice, including dressing, feeding and bathing patients. Because of this personal attention, they’re often a familiar and comforting face for both patients and families. During NNAW and every day, we thank our incredible CNAs for their dedication to our patients. We could not give our patients the amazing care we do without you.
Know a great CNA? Nominate them for as a Healthcare Hero at www.passageshospice.com/hero.
We asked our nurses why they love their job! Here are just a few of their answers:
Ty Ann Lyman “I dreamed as little girl to become a nurse and now as a nurse I recognize why. I make a difference in all my patients’ lives,whether they are rich or poor. I make my patients feel wanted and loved.”
Megan Rowden "I love being a nurse because I get to care for others and make them feel better! It is very rewarding!"
Debi King “It’s walking through the trenches with people you barely know, seeing them stripped of everything and trying everything you can to give them some dignity and peace. We make them feel like they are still a valuable person and not just a disease.”
Jess Harman “I love nursing because I make a difference for my patients and their families every day! I get to go home knowing I brought light into someone’s day! Lucky me!”
Violet Heller “I love nursing because my reward is the shining smile on my patients’ faces when they see me and the trusting look in their eyes when I am talking to them.” May 2012 The Journey
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We want your junk! Some forms of dementia cause a behavior called "rummaging". Patients are not sure what they are looking for, but they're sure they're looking for something! To help ease this behavior, we're creating 'rummage bags', that patients can keep as their own. The bags will contain common personal and household items that are familiar to patients and may fulfill their search. Many of the needed items are things you may have sitting around the house! We welcome donations of these items at any of our offices. By donating, you're helping bring comfort to someone with dementia. In about a month, we'll be holding a special event to pack the rummage bags and deliver them to nursing homes. We hope you can join us! For more information, contact Dementia Specialist Corey Tague at ctague@passageshospice.com
Needed Items Stackable items ( e.g. legos) Sorting items (large buttons, pipe cleaners, etc) Keys on a ring Old wallets (men’s and women’s) Purses Books & magazines (specific topics are welcome… cars, motorcycles, cooking, baking, animals, etc) Sport cards (e.g. baseball cards) Yarn Photo albums Beanie babies Baskets Fabric Spiral notebooks (all sizes) Clipboards Cooking timers Wrist watches Picture frames (glass removed) Small wipe off boards / markers Miniature cars
Hospice Dreams is Passages Hospice’s preferred charity and would love for you to consider donating. www.hospicedreams.org
Around the Town
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Bloomington Area Picnic
Equine Therapy
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Swansea Area Picnic
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Employee of
Employees of the month are chosen by their co-workers for going a staff members for their efficiency, excellence, creativity, positive at
Jennifer Gibb
Becky Farrell
Jennifer covered for a co-worker while she was on vacation, and went far out of her way to make sure everything was taken care of.
Becky always has a positive attitude, even when unexpected problems arise.
Pam Matzen
Tabitha Naylon
Pam always has a great sense of humor and is available to any of her coworkers when they have questions or concerns.
Tabitha volunteered to drive a patient’s family member to visit them one last time.
Missi Sullivan Missi helps with special requests from other departments.
Tracy Askew
Cindy Philpott
Tracy is a very thorough nurse and is happy to help behind-the-scenes to make sure patient care is excellent.
Cindy goes out of her way to help her coworkers and always has a great attitude.
f the Month
above-and-beyond in their work. Join us in celebrating these dedicated ttitude and team work. You are what makes Passages Hospice great!
Paula Pronko
Nicki Bennett
Paula Pronko is very efficient with careplans regarding Volunteer Services.
Nicki donated the most items to the Rummage Bag program, ensuring it was a success.
Kristen Kolwelter Kristen welcomed new responsibilities, and even spent a weekend traveling to her new area to get to know the staff there.
Trina McGuire
Darla Watkins
Trina is always available to help her patients on weekends and gets great feedback from families.
Darla contributed a lot of items for the Rummage Bag program and encouraged others to donate as well.
Elaine Sikora Elaine’s charting is excellent and helps everyone on her team understand how to best care for her patients. May 2012 The Journey
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Your passage to care and comfort. We are dedicated to enhancing quality of life by promoting superior end of life care, easing the suffering, and providing continued compassion for the sick and dying in a way that ensures dignity and respect. We are dedicated to promoting realistic outcomes. We are dedicated to working with professionals who follow the highest values of excellence to establish an individualized plan of care offering personal choices and decisions while still maintaining each patient’s uniqueness. We are dedicated to being receptive to each patient and family’s social, emotional, intellectual, safety and physical needs. We are dedicated to a level of care that encourages the safe and cost-effective delivery of hospice care.
We are dedicated to the human spirit.
Providing Quality Care In: Bloomington, IL 404 N. Hershey Road, Ste. A Bloomington, IL 61704 Phone: 309.828.8139 Fax: 309.827.4878
Lisle, IL 515 Warrenville Road Lisle, IL 60532 Phone: 630.824.0400 Fax: 630.395.9235
Carbondale, IL 120 North Tower Rd., Ste. A Carbondale, IL 62901 Phone: 618.490.1040
Rockford, IL 929 S. Alpine Road, Ste. 202 Rockford, IL 61108 Phone: 815.226.7785 Fax: 815.226.7786
New loca t comi ng s ions oon! Swansea, IL 16 Bronze Pointe Blvd. Swansea, IL 62226 Phone: 618.234.7078 Fax: 618.257.7266
Livonia, MI 38099 Schoolcraft Road Livonia, MI 48150 Phone: 734-744-5091 Fax: 734-744-5092
Anonymous Compliance Hotline (866) 842-7093 As part of our continuing commitment to compliance we are encouraging facilities and other partners to use this number if they have a concern.
Passages Hospice
www.passageshospice.com
info@passageshospice.com