Reflections - Fall, 2023

MASONIC VILLAGE HOSPICE

FALL 2023

Feeling Completely Supported Through Hospice (p. 2) Your Gifts Are Supporting Families Through Grief

Feeling Completely Supported Through Hospice After his wife’s death in 2011, John Grove was doing well living on his own in western Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until a week before his 85th birthday, when he suffered a heart attack, that things began to change.

Following successful quadruple bypass surgery in an Erie, PA, hospital, his daughter, Debra Grove-Mahoney, M.D., was hopeful he was fine. But his cardiac surgeon warned her that patients of John’s age could quickly experience vascular dementia after surgery. This type of dementia leads to problems with reasoning, judgement, memory and other thought processes caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to the brain.

“When dad woke up from the anesthesia, he had a breathing tube in, and he was still giving orders [to the nurses],” Debra said. “We thought we had dodged a bullet.”

Six weeks after surgery, however, John started having problems thinking clearly. He drove across the state with his dog in the middle of the night, arriving at Debra’s home at 8 a.m. after having an argument with

“He had a workup to see if it was

more help. He didn’t want to get out of

his neighbor/friend, a retired nurse.

delirium or dementia, but then things

bed or shower, and he was frequently

went rapidly downhill,” she said. “We

incontinent. Debra hired a nurse to

realized dad wasn’t going to be able

come to the house a few times a week.

to live at home on his own. That’s

But, even that was not enough. That’s

when [my husband and I] decided to

when Debra, a pathologist at Lancaster

build an addition onto our house.”

General Hospital, sought advice from

Debra thought it was best that John stay at her house for a few weeks until he finished his cardiac rehabilitation. Then, he could return home. Debra realized his memory was failing, however, when

2

John Grove

he would ask for breakfast several

The living situation worked well for

times an hour, even after eating.

over a year, but eventually, John needed

her close friend, Danielle Berardi, who happens to be the outreach coordinator for Masonic Village Hospice.

Danielle was unsure if John would qualify for hospice, but following a physical evaluation, he was approved for the service. Hospice sent an aide to Debra’s home to provide companionship and assistance.

“[Using hospice services] allowed us to keep dad in our home for at least another six to nine months,” Debra said.

“The staff took unbelievable care of him. They were always there if we had questions.”

After some time, John would wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. He would have accidents on the floor and subsequently slip and fall. John was admitted to the Masonic Health Care Center at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown and continued with Hospice there until his physical condition had improved and he graduated from Hospice.

Debra Grove-Mahoney displays a photo of her parents.

John was extremely bright growing up,

working, John in engineering and

eventually becoming a civil engineer. He

Alberta as an elementary educator.

earned a master’s degree in engineering and was only a few courses shy of a Ph.D. He worked for the United States Steel Corporation in the oil works division in Oil City, PA, and he held

“He was doing well for a while. I didn’t

numerous patents in his name. He also

know his health was failing again

taught engineering courses part-time

until one day, the doctor called me

at Youngstown State University.

and said, ‘We think he’s starting the early stages of dying,’” Debra said.

John and his wife, Alberta, met in college at Penn State University. Both

At the end of his life, John was

John and his friend wanted to ask

readmitted to Hospice and passed away

Alberta out on a date, so they flipped

in January 2021 at the age of 89. Debra

a coin, and John lost. But that didn’t

said Hospice services were invaluable

deter him. He asked Alberta out anyway,

during her father’s health journey.

and she agreed. At the time, she was

“I never felt like I was alone,” she said.

“I felt completely supported, and they

engaged to someone else, Debra said, but it all worked out in the end.

cared so much for my dad. At first,

The couple spent a few years at Penn

I felt guilty for bringing Hospice in.

State and later got married. Both John

Everybody’s impression of hospice is

and Alberta dropped out of college

that they help you die. It was NOT that

when John’s father had open heart

experience. They took such good care

surgery. They moved in with his parents

of him physically, that it allowed us to

for a short time before completing

keep him at home a lot longer than we

their degrees at Youngstown State.

would have been able to do on our own.”

At that point, they were already

John and Alberta wintered two months a year in Myrtle Beach, where John was active in several golf leagues. Alberta and their dog would sit under a tree while he played golf. Then they would go to dinner and drive back home.

Alberta also had heart problems, suffering from an acute myocardial infarction at age 46 and undergoing quadruple bypass in 1986. She was 77 when she died from complications from a urinary tract infection and sepsis.

“My dad loved animals, especially his little poodle,” Debra said. “That little dog kept him alive after my mom died.”

John and Alberta were married for 58 years and had three children.

Hospice made it possible for Debra and her siblings to spend extra time with her father, a gift every family deserves.

3

Hospice Offers New Palliative Care Program To complement its current hospice services, Masonic Village Hospice now offers a Palliative Care program for eligible individuals. Palliative care combines medical, pharmaceutical, dietetic, social work, spiritual and other integrative therapies to provide comfort and quality of life for patients and families when dealing with a life-limiting illness.

While palliative care does not replace active treatments of a disease, it offers beneficial support at any stage of an illness by focusing on symptom management, as well as a patient’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being.

“With this program, we focus on pain, symptom management and advanced care planning discussions,” said Maureen E. Dolk-Metcalfe, Hospice director. “If people are not quite ready for Hospice, they may be interested in palliative care.”

Both hospice and palliative care provide symptom relief for patients. Ann Colangelo and Bethany Sampsell Hospice is comfort care without curative intent, meaning a patient to identify their needs and discover no longer has curative options or what is most important to them has chosen not to pursue treatment. during their journey. The palliative Palliative care is comfort care care nurse practitioners can discuss with or without curative intent. with patients how to manage pain, Palliative care is helpful when a patient receives a new diagnosis or experiences a progression of a serious or terminal illness. This could include cancer, lung disease, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, liver disease or neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

The program provides ongoing support for patients and families, allowing them 4

fatigue, weight loss, depression and anxiety, among other symptoms.

The service is collaborative with a patient’s primary care physician to offer recommendations, identify community resources and provide assistance with making medical decisions in the present and future.

“Palliative care assists people with difficult advanced care planning

decisions/discussions, who may be struggling,” Maureen said. “We provide them with different treatment options.”

The palliative care nurse practitioners can also help assess caregiver needs and a patient’s home environment in preparation for continued care and services. “[This program] really helps our residents with the goal of having them age in place,” Maureen said.

“It’s the connection of all the home and community-based services: home health, home care and hospice.”

At Masonic Village Hospice, Maureen will oversee

She also requested not to be taken to a hospital.

the operations part of the program, while Bethany

The palliative care team helped Ann get a DNR from

Sampsell will be the lead nurse practitioner,

her doctor, and advised her to speak with her four

doing assessments and evaluations.

children, so that everyone was on the same page.

Ann Colangelo, a resident at Masonic Village at

“Palliative care has helped me live each day as I

Elizabethtown, has participated in the palliative care

want to live it, and I know if anything happens,

program for a few months. At 92, she wants to be free

my final wishes will be followed,” she said.

to make her own decisions, and this program enables her to do just that, while still providing her with support.

“I really think it’s a great program, one of the best we have

For more information about Palliative Care services, or to schedule an appointment, call 717-361-8449, or email mvhospice@masonicvillages.org.

here,” Ann said. “I have support and peace of mind.”

Ann’s final wishes include receiving comfort care, but no “extensive interventions,” such as resuscitation.

Charitable Bequests: Simple and Flexible ...

But Too Often Outdated and Undisclosed For many years, donors have generously

charities until the donor has passed

supported our Masonic Charities through

away. This makes it difficult for

lifetime gifts, deferred gifts and bequests.

charities to consider future interests in planning and to properly recognize the

In 2021, Giving USA reported that

generosity of its donors. At Masonic

9% of all charitable gifts were made

Charities, membership in the Franklin

through bequests. The total giving

Legacy Society is available to any donor

through bequests increased 400%

who discloses their generous giving

from 1980 to 2020 and demonstrates

through a bequest. In addition, when

the upward trending and popularity

we know you’ve thought of Masonic

of this approach to planned giving.

Village Hospice in your planning

Because of their simplicity and flexibility,

process, we can better serve you

bequests and similar strategies are a

through our department’s collaborative

popular form of charitable giving and

solutions and professional resources.

are often incorporated into an estate

Of course, our donors should consult

plan. Perhaps due to the simplicity, the

with independent professionals

language is sometimes carried over

concerning their estate planning.

from prior wills and trust documents without sufficient attention. Worse yet, some donors do not regularly review or update their estate planning documents.

Fortunately, our Office of Mission Advancement and Development is here to help. We regularly provide our donors and their advisors with accurate names for our Masonic Charities, descriptions

We are happy to assist with of our charitable programs and sample

referrals upon request.

language to help ensure that your

For additional information or to join the Franklin Legacy Society, please contact us at giving@masonicvillages.org or call 1-800-599-6454.

bequest does what you want it to do.

In addition to being outdated, did you know that most bequests are undisclosed to the charities? It is estimated that 90% of bequests are not disclosed to

5

Thank You to Our Donors Memorials

Helen D. Friant

Gifts received Nov. 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023

MEMORIAL

Margaret M. “Peggy” Adams Faye Alleman Kathleen “Kitty” Ambrozates Carl A. Back Theon A. Barnhart Nancy Biehl Sharon Wiest Blough

Howard L. Brown Anna K. Deik Louis DiMassa Robert Donald “Don” Dreese

Paul H. Eshenaur, Jr.

Gerald L. “Jerry” Ferraro Helen D. Friant

6

Grace M. Frishkorn Cletus L. Graver

DONOR

Ronald and Ardeelou Adams Thomas Alleman Valerie Ambrozates Anna Belser Karen Nye Clark Biehl Nelson and Sandra Behmer Doris Bentz Lamont and Joan Bryden Elizabethtown Boys Club James and Joan Emsing Chris and Sue Eurich Denice and Ken Fulmer Pam and Scott Graeff Jean Hynicker Bruce and Lynda Limpert Prudence Mann Sandra Myers Rich and Snookie Smith Donald Wise Jean Brumbaugh Richard and Cynthia Deik Judy Gragg Scharf Jennifer Becker and Family Terry Bucks and Family Gregory Cavanaugh Michael and Shirley Cerzullo Jim and Sherry Dreese Jim Glass Mike Glass and Family Kitty Large Dee Molinari Bill and Kathy Prazenica Walt Service Susan Shuey Clinton Spiegel Diane Lenahan Maureen Perry Oneal and Maria Russell Marc and Karen Shlossman Carla Williams Michael and Suzanne Beidleman Peg Cramer Barb Douts and Family Fred and Shirley Douts Marlasee Douts Dorothy Friant Elias Friant

Jeanne A. Grosnick

Joan H. Hall James P. Hopkins Clyde Hornberger Ina Jacobs James W. Jones Mary Alice Kahley

Lilliam Kingsbury Sarah A. Kinzey

Theresa Kathryn Koren

Joan D. Kuhn

David Link Paul Locar Lonnie L. Logan Phyllis B. Masenheimer

Carey Fussell Steve and Shirley Puccino Richard and Cynthia Deik William and Gertrude Bard Lester M. Prange, Inc. Local and Long Distance Hauling Thelma Etter Wade and Jean Seibert Roxanne Shively William Hall Clinton Spiegel Ilene Teijaro George Schwarzmann Diane Snyder Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. Cece, Adam, Alicia, Ava, Aidan, Scott and Jeff Harmon Vijay and Patricia Kapur Amy Jo Kelley and Family Gwen Plummer and Family Dan and De De Pursel and Family Bruce Robinson Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407, O.E.S. Happy Mad Hatters David and Theresa Dutcher and Family Judith Gross Pam Kraske James Koren and Family Robert Koren and Family Anne Luther Jeff Bash David and Renie Beidleman Robert Boyer Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407, O.E.S. Elizabethtown Masonic Village Shrine Club Margaret Harvey Bryan and Eileen Hill Connie Kasperson Anne Kiscaden Marie Mackowick Harry and Audrey Moseley Ben and Gretchen Nauyalis William Shepley Barbara Link Rose Locar Percy and Dixie Teaford Judy Auchey The Bialozynski Family Raymond and Barbara Binkley Penny Decker Josephine and Dick

Phyllis B. Masenheimer

Christine D’orsie George and Carla Fishel Varlen and Phyllis Gibbs Lois, Todd, Drew and Kim Grove Dave and Moira Hair Kenneth and Lorraine Jones Joyce Leister Shirley Leister and Family William and Karen Mallonee David Masenheimer Dennis and Kathy Mohn Scott Musselman Donald and Louise Rooney Cherie and Jim Shearouse Diane Smith Steve and Lori Smith Janice and Tim Sullivan Fred and Suzan Wentzel William J. McCann Eleanor McCann Eileen McNiff William McNiff Verna S. Minehart Gene and Nancy McMillen Kenneth B. Muhleisen Percy and Dixie Teaford Alcides Nunez Marilyn Ross Thomas J. O’Donnell Donna O’Donnell George Partilla Judy Gragg Scharf Anita Louise Pence Mike and Sarah Pence Dorothy A. “Dottie” Remaly The Cleveland Cliffs Sales Team Jeff and Kim Cook Bryan and Eileen Hill Pat Kemmerer Gail Remaly Wayne and Nancy Snyder Joyce Ricedorf Bryan and Eileen Hill Judy Gragg Scharf Kelly and Pam Warren Martha C. Ros Alberto Ros Ronald Russo Patricia Corrao Mary Russo Margaret C. “Margie” Sanderlin Valerie Ambrozates George L. Schmitt Sandra Schmitt Barbara R. Shertzer Jim Shertzer Cynthia “Cindy” Sibole Tom and Mary Sankey Howard and MaryAnne Trucksess Robert K. Sloan Edna Sloan Jon E. Smeigh Carl and Ellenor Arnold Earl S. Smith Michael Beidleman Terri L. Smith Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. Melvin G. Snyder Diane Snyder Donald Spencer Robin Farley-Thomas Jim Houser Charles and Deidre Smith Allison Spencer Doris F. St. John Steven and Bonnie St. John Robert E. Telford Steve and Joan Parsons

John C. Tondora John J. Tumolo, Jr. Karen L. Turns Marilyn L. Vollrath Thelma Jeanne Weagly Elvin H. Yeagley

Lisa and Sekhar Ramaswamy Norma and Ken Mayo Samuel Turns Pedro Mena and Lois Vollrath Mena VTNA Product Structure Group Glenn and Kathy Mellinger

Honors

Gifts received Nov. 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023

HONOR

John P. Ambrozates Hazel McGurk Barbara Riggs

DONOR

Valerie Ambrozates Carol Stump Percy and Dixie Teaford

Relay for Life The Masonic Village Hospice Relay for Life team raised more than $2,000 for the fight against cancer during a 28-team cornhole tournament on April 16 at Memorial Hall at the Elizabethtown Fairgrounds.

Proceeds from entry fees, food sales and raffles benefited the American Cancer Society.

The Relay for Life of Lancaster County event was held on June 10 at Conestoga Valley High School.

The team walked to raise awareness about the fight against cancer, to celebrate cancer survivors and to honor those who are no longer with us.

Our team raised over $11,000 this year to benefit the American Cancer Society.

7

MASONIC VILLAGE HOSPICE 98 Masonic Drive, Suite 101 • Elizabethtown, PA 17022 717-361-8449 • MasonicVillageHospice.org

Who We Are Since 2009, Masonic Village’s trained, compassionate hospice staff have cared for thousands of patients and their families, focusing on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients so they may complete their lives joyfully. Our hospice staff promote comfort and self-determination, enabling patients to participate in making decisions about their care.

Based in Elizabethtown, Masonic Village Hospice is pleased to offer services to patients in the comfort of their homes throughout Lancaster, Dauphin, Lebanon and Eastern York counties.

Open for Everyone.

Masonic Village Hospice does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, ancestry, national origin, familial status, age, sex, limited English proficiency (LEP) or any other protected status in admission, treatment or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment.

Masonic Village Hospice cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

Masonic Village Hospice iss willich, die Gsetze (federal civil rights) vun die Owwerichkeet zu folliche un duht alle Leit behandle in der seem Weg. Es macht nix aus, vun wellem Schtamm ebber beikummt, aus wellem Land die Voreldre kumme sinn, was fer en Elt ebber hot, eb ebber en Mann iss odder en Fraa, verkrippelt iss odder net.