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december 2018 Vol. 8 Issue 12 • Hospice Happenings • 1 volunteer Newsletter HOSPICE HAPPENINGS Chmas Etion Message from Kathy Stewart Hospice Simcoe has deep community service roots where volunteers have historically been an integral partner on the team that delivers compassionate pallia8ve care in our community. Thank you to the team of Volunteers who share their 8me suppor8ng families and their loved ones through the end of life journey. You graciously join our pallia8ve clients at a 8me when it is possible to do the most living and experience the highest quality of life - a 8me when days and hours maCer. You provide the most elemental of life’s needs: hands to hold, ears to listen, soup to create, visits to make while sharing a presence. You bring joy, talk freely and listen with an understanding ear. Our bereavement clients are con8nuously grateful for the Volunteers who walk alongside them as they learn to live in a new way without their loved one. Never doubt that each gesture, no maCer how big or small, is felt and appreciated by the people that we serve. Thank you for “leaning in” to this work at a 8me when families and their loved ones are so vulnerable. Thanks to each of you for whatever role you play in the work of Hospice Simcoe. You are appreciated for all that you do to make a difference in the lives of others. Enjoy 8me with family and friends over this Christmas season and all the best in 2019. It is an honour to work alongside all of you! This past year I was lucky enough to return to Hospice Simcoe and be a part of this team. It is has been an honour to return and work so closely with all of our volunteers. Hearing your stories about the work you do in the residence and in the community is so incredible and inspiring and I want to thank you all for your 8me you share with this community. I wish you all a happy holiday season and all the happiness in the New Year. I look forward to hearing even more incredible stories and connec8ng more with all of you. We look forward to welcoming new volunteers joining this remarkable team in the New Year. Message from Tonya Claughton

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Page 1: HOSPICE HAPPENINGSI slipped my feet into them as though into two cases kniCed with threads of twilight and goatskin. My feet were honoured in this way by these heavenly socks. I stretched

d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 V o l . 8 I s s u e 1 2

• H o s p i c e H a p p e n i n g s • !1

v o l u n t e e r N e w s l e t t e r

HOSPICE HAPPENINGS

Christmas Edition

Message from Kathy StewartHospiceSimcoehasdeepcommunityservicerootswherevolunteershavehistoricallybeenanintegralpartnerontheteamthatdeliverscompassionatepallia8vecareinourcommunity.ThankyoutotheteamofVolunteerswhosharetheir8mesuppor8ngfamiliesandtheirlovedonesthroughtheendoflifejourney.Yougraciouslyjoinourpallia8veclientsata8mewhenitispossibletodothemostlivingandexperiencethehighestqualityoflife-a8mewhendaysandhoursmaCer.Youprovidethemostelementaloflife’sneeds:hands

tohold,earstolisten,souptocreate,visitstomakewhilesharingapresence.Youbringjoy,talkfreelyandlistenwithanunderstandingear.Ourbereavementclientsarecon8nuouslygratefulfortheVolunteerswhowalkalongsidethemastheylearntoliveinanewwaywithouttheirlovedone.Neverdoubtthateachgesture,nomaCerhowbigorsmall,isfeltandappreciatedbythepeoplethatweserve.Thankyoufor“leaningin”tothisworkata8mewhenfamiliesandtheirlovedonesaresovulnerable.ThankstoeachofyouforwhateverroleyouplayintheworkofHospiceSimcoe.Youareappreciatedforallthatyoudotomakeadifferenceinthelivesofothers.Enjoy8mewithfamilyandfriendsoverthisChristmasseasonandallthebestin2019.Itisanhonourtoworkalongsideallofyou!

ThispastyearIwasluckyenoughtoreturntoHospiceSimcoeandbeapartofthisteam.Itishasbeenanhonourtoreturnandworksocloselywithallofourvolunteers.HearingyourstoriesabouttheworkyoudointheresidenceandinthecommunityissoincredibleandinspiringandIwanttothankyouallforyour8meyousharewiththiscommunity.IwishyouallahappyholidayseasonandallthehappinessintheNewYear.Ilookforwardtohearingevenmoreincrediblestoriesandconnec8ngmorewithallofyou.WelookforwardtowelcomingnewvolunteersjoiningthisremarkableteamintheNewYear.

Message from Tonya Claughton

Page 2: HOSPICE HAPPENINGSI slipped my feet into them as though into two cases kniCed with threads of twilight and goatskin. My feet were honoured in this way by these heavenly socks. I stretched

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VOLUNTEER CHRISTMAS PARTY

OnceagainthisyearourvolunteersweretreatedtoanaUernoonofmusic,treats,craUsandconversa8on.ThecraUswereamazingandthefoodandmusicexcellent.Thebestpart,however,wastheopportunitytomeetwithothervolunteers,tolearnhowtheycontributetoourvolunteerfamilyand,simply,togettoknoweachother.ThankssomuchtoKathyandTonyaforarrangingtheday.ThisisawonderfulChristmastradi8onand,judgingbytheover70volunteerswhopar8cipated,averypopularone.

Page 3: HOSPICE HAPPENINGSI slipped my feet into them as though into two cases kniCed with threads of twilight and goatskin. My feet were honoured in this way by these heavenly socks. I stretched

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The German Girl By Armando Lucas Correa

In1939thousandsofJewishpeoplewerefleeingfromahomelandthathadbecomeintolerable.ThisisthestoryofonefamilywhoseancestorshadbeeninGermanyforgenera8ons.Theirhomeandpossessionsweretakenandtheywerenolongerwelcome.Whenatransatlan8cliner,theS.S.St.LouisoftheHamburg-AmerikaLineofferedsafepassageoutofGermanytheythoughttheirprayershadbeenanswered.

WhatfollowsistheheartbreakingstoryoftheRosenthals.TheSt.LouiswasenroutetoCubawhenthecaptainreceivedwordthattheCubangovernmentwouldnotallowthepassengerstodisembark.Therewereover900passengersonboard.ThirtywereallowedtoleavetheshipwhenitdockedinCuba.Hannah,whowastwelveatthe8me,andhermotherweretwoofthem.Hannah'sfatherwasoneofthosenotallowedtoleavetheship.

ThestoryistoldthroughtheeyesofHannahandHannah'sgreatniece,AnnaRosen.Thisisagreatreadandaneyeopener.Iwillnotspoilitwithfurtherdetails.

WhatIdidnotknowwasthatthisship,theS.S.St.Louis,wasrealandsowerethe900+passengers.WhentheshipwasnotallowedtodockatHavanatheCaptainaCemptedtodockinNewYorkwheretheshipwasrefusedentryandthenatHalifaxwheretheywerealsorefusedentry.

In2009theUnitedStatesSenatepassedaresolu8onacknowledgingthesufferingofthoserefugeesasaresultoftherefusalofthegovernmentsofCuba,theUnitedStatesandCanadatoofferthempoli8calasylum.In2011theU.SStateDepartmentapologizedpubliclyandinvitedthesurvivorstoitsheadquarterssotheycouldtelltheirstories.

In2011amonumentknownasTheWheelofConscience,financedbytheCanadiangovernmentwasunveiledinHalifax.ItrecallsanddeplorestherefusalofourcountrytotakeintherefugeesfromtheSt.Louis.InCubathetopicoftheSt.Louishasbeenabsentfromclassroomsandhistorybooks.Alldocumentsrela8ngtonego8a8onsbetweentheSt.LouisandtheCubangovernmenthavedisappearedfromtheCubanNa8onalArchive.

Alsoatthebackofthebookarereproduc8onsofthepassengers'signaturesandsomephotosofafewofthepassengers.

Book Review

ThankstoSharronBowdenforthisreview!Sorelevant!

HOSPICE HAPPENINGS

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VolunteersHOSPICE HAPPENINGS

Payback: A message from Harvey… A tongue in cheek accounting

Disclaimer:Hereinismytheore8calaccoun8ngofthemoneyowedforservicesrenderedtoaresidentandfamilyofHospiceSimcoe.Myaccoun8nginvolvesaconsiderableamountofrounding,es8ma8ng,tongueincheekactuarialprac8cesandcannotbesubjecttoaudit.Firstly,thegovernmentes8matesthattheopera8ngcostofperbedinourfinefacilitytobeabout$550aday.Justunderhalfofthat($225)iscoveredbygovernmentfunding.WeallpaysufficienttaxessoIdon’tfeelobligatedtopaybackthegovernmentpor8on.Sothatleavestheother$225perbeddaytobecoveredbydona8onandfundraising.Mywifeoccupiedaroomforaboutfivemonths(150days)withmyselfandfamilyhereeveryday,makingmypaybackaccountapproximately$33,750.00.Payingthisback,Ithought,mightbepossiblebyvolunteering.So,givingmyselfatheore8calwageof$15anhour(definitelyoverpriced)and150hoursayearwouldamountto$2250peryear,bythises8ma8onIcouldhavemyaccountpaidoffbymy100thbirthday!Butholdon!IhavenotmadeanactuarialadjustmentforallthepersonalbenefitsIreceivefromvolunteering!!!GoodthingIhavereally,REALLYlonglife8megenes.

Harvey Underhill is a familiar face around Hospice Simcoe. He is a member of our client care team, making home visits to community clients. He is also a huge help around the House - our handyman who takes on tasks to keep the residence in shape.

A Hospice Moment AsIwasleavinghospiceoneday,aladyarrivedwhohadjustdrivenherhusbandtoHospiceSimcoeforhisfinaldays.Shewasobviouslydistraught,intears,andwasseekinghelptogetherhusbandoutofthecar.Ihurriedtogetsomeonefromthenursingstafftoassistherandbythe8mewegotbacktothefrontofthehouse,therewerealreadythreeorfourhospicepersonnelaroundherhelping.GarreChadherinahuge

bearhugandwasconsolingherwhileothersassembledthewheelchairsothatherhusbandcouldgetintothehouse.Itallmademerealizehowmuchlovethereisathospice…howmuchcarethereisinhospice…andwhyIlovetovolunteerhere.-SandiPorterDo you have a hospice moment that you would like to share? Please send it to [email protected] so we can share it with our other volunteers.

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In-HomeCommunityVisi0ngUpdateVolunteerJoanne,hasgraciouslykniCedbagsofwoolsocksforHospiceSimcoeandourclients.WithFalluponusandthecoolerweatherapproachingitwasaperfectopportunityforourcommunityvolunteerstobringclientsawarmpairofwoolsocks.WhatbeCerwaytoshowsomeoneyoucareaboutthemthenawarmhugforyourfeet?ThankyouJoanneforkeepingourclients’feetwarmthisfall.

FromDanielleMarshall,ourCommunityCareCoordinator.Ifyouarearegisteredvolunteerandinterestedinjoiningherteam,letherknow([email protected])ORifyouknowsomeonewithalifelimi8ngillnesswhowouldlikecareintheirhomebyahospicevolunteer,contactherformoreinforma8on.

HOSPICE HAPPENINGS

Aspartofanannualtradi8onhereatHospiceSimcoe,thereisaTreeofRemembranceinthelobby.Weinviteyoutovisitandplaceadoveonthetreeinmemoryofaloved

one.

Tree of Remembrance

OdetoSocksMaruMoribroughtmeapairofsocks whichshekniCedherselfwithhersheepherder’shands,twosocksassoUasrabbits. IslippedmyfeetintothemasthoughintotwocaseskniCedwiththreadsoftwilightandgoatskin. Myfeetwerehonouredinthiswaybytheseheavenlysocks. Istretchedoutmyfeetandpulledonthemagnificentsocksandthenmyshoes.

An excerpt from a poem by Pablo Neruda. Read the entire poem @medicine.stonybrookmedicine.edu

A Special Thanks to the volunteers who have made the House look so very festive this Christmas!

Page 6: HOSPICE HAPPENINGSI slipped my feet into them as though into two cases kniCed with threads of twilight and goatskin. My feet were honoured in this way by these heavenly socks. I stretched

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VOLUNTEERS

AsitoUenhappens,peoplewhovolunteerforoneorganiza8onoUenvolunteerforothersaswell.SuchisthecasewithHospiceSimcoevolunteers,JoyceLindsayandDonnaGoodeill.BotharemembersofthelocalchapterofDaysforGirls(DfG),aglobalmovementthatpreparesanddistributessustainablemenstrualhealthsolu8onstogirlswhowouldotherwisemissschoolduringtheirmonthlyperiods.It’sdifficultforthoseofuswholiveinCanadatorealizethatinmanythirdworldcountriesthemoneytobuymenstrualproductsisnotavailable,and,becauseofthis,girlsofschoolageremainathomeorintheirdormitoriesfor5-7dayseachmonth.

DfGwasfoundedin2008asanon-profitorganiza8on.Thegoalistocreateanddistributewashable,reusablepadsandkitswhichincludeeverythingagirlwouldneedtocon8nueschoolingwithhygieneanddignity.(Formoreinfocheckoutthewebsiteatwww.daysforgirls.org)AnnCavanaughistheTeamleaderfortheBarriechapter–theoneinwhichJoyceandDonnaareinvolved.Ann,whoseenthusiasmforthiscauseiscontagious,beganthegroupin2016withasmallgroupofwomenand$1000inseedmoneyfromtheCWLatSt.Mary’sChurchinBarrie.St.Mary’salsoofferstheirhallonceamonthandthisiswherethekitscometogether.RecentlyIhadtheopportunitytovisitasvolunteerswerebusyatworkanditwasamazingtoseeallthevolunteers,cutng,sewing,serging,ironingandassembling.(JoyceandDonnaworkinthesewingsec8onontheirownmachineswhichtheylugtoandfroeachmonth.)AsIwanderedaroundwatchingthewomenatwork,Iwasremindedofanoldfashionedsewingbee.Asyoucanimagine,thegroupisalwaysinneedofmaterialtomaketheproducts.Thisiswhereyou,ourwonderfulHospiceSimcoevolunteers,mightbeabletohelp.Thefabricrequirementsarequitespecific.Thefabricmustbenew,100%co?on,anddarkincolour.Co?onflannelisfineaswell.Pa?ernedmaterialsarethebestbutthepa?ernscanincludenocamouflage,nofacesorpartsoffaces(eyes,nosesetc.),nofoodproducts,noladybugsoranimalsofanykindandnoreligioussymbols.Bu?erfliesarefine.Dark,busyfloralprintsworkwell.Stainbus0ngfabricsthatdon’toffendanyspecificgroupsarebest.(Seephotoatright.)Monetarydona8onsareacceptedaswell.Ifyouhaveanyfabricthatmightmeetthesequalifica8onsandyouwishtodonatethempleasecontactJoycebyemailatjoyceclindsay@gmail.com.Aswell,shouldyouwishtobecomeavolunteer,I’msuretheycanansweranyques8onsyoumighthave.ThanksDonnaandJoyceforputngyoureffortsintosuchaworthwhileandnecessarycause.

Days for Girls

The Kit.

Joyce and Donna at work.

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News from the Board...Well,it’shardtobelievethatweareclosinginon2018.HospiceSimcoehasenjoyedanotherverysuccessfulyear,thankstoourhardworkingstaff,volunteersandsupportfromourcommunity.

AsIhavemen8onedinpreviousar8cles,theBoard’sfocusislookingatthefuturevisionforHospice.OneofourgoalsistoenhanceregionalpartnershipsandworkmorecloselywiththeLocalHealthIntegra8onNetwork.Currently,thoseprovidingpallia8vecareinthisregionareworkinginsilostoacertaindegree.Thisleadstoduplica8onofservicesandmakesitmuchmoredifficultforpoten8alclientstonavigatethesystem.Thereareopportuni8estomaximizeefficienciesensuringthatresourcesareallocatedop8mallyintofrontlinecare.

HospiceSimcoehasbeenrecognizedasaveryprogressiveorganiza8on.Wehaveagreatdealofknowledgeandexperiencetosharewithothersthatarejuststar8ngoutorarestruggling.Followingamee8ngwiththeLHIN,wewerestronglyencouragedtoofferourexper8seandpromoteamorecollabora8veapproachwithpartners.Itisanexpecta8onthathealthserviceprovidersworktogetherwhenplanningasystemofcare.LeadershipstaffandBoardDirectorshaverequestedtomeetwithoneofourpartnersasafirststep.Moretocome.

Iwouldliketowisheachandeveryoneofyouahappy,safeandlovingholidayseason.Althoughitcanbestressful,itisalsoa8metocherishourlovedones,orperhapsreconnectwithsomeonethathasbeenabsentfora8me.Themostimportantandrewardingthingsinlifeare8messpentwithpeoplewecareabout.Enjoy!

Sincerely,Chris

What’s Happening?Special thank you to all that made this years’ Christmas Party happen. Thank you to Donna for the floral arrangements and Nahthanaha from Make a Mess for her barn board art work session.

Thanks Sofi for your paper ornament craft!

Thanks Lisa and Mary Ann for the beautiful watercolour cards.

Peter from Heritage Winery and Estates did a tasting while our Tuesday singers carolled.

We were lucky to have Shayne and Jenn volunteer their time to give manicures.

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Like us, Follow us, Engage with us!

In our Community...HOSPICE HAPPENINGS

@hospicesimcoe

@Official Hospice Simcoe

@Hospice Simcoe

Hospice Simcoe

336 Penetanguishene Rd

Barrie, ON L4M 7C2

705-722-5995

www.hospicesimcoe.ca Registered Charity #134433234 RR0001

Annual Newsletter 2018 HaveyouseenourrecentAnnualNewsleCer?Wehopeyouwillenjoyreadingouryearinreview.Itisonlywithyourongoingsupportthatweareabletoprovideallofourprogramsandservicesatnocosttothefamiliesweserve.WehavenewsleCersavailableatHospiceSimcoe,oryoucanvisitourwebsite:h?ps://www.hospicesimcoe.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Annual-Newsle?er-2018-FINAL.pdf

Photo:KimberleeWatkinson(right)withhermother,RobertaScoynewhowasaresidentatHospiceSimcoe.WeareverygratefultoKimberleeforletngussharethisbeau8fulphoto.

Annual Appeal Towardstheendofeachyear,weappealtooursupportersfordona8ons.Therevenuefromthisannualappealisessen8altohelpingusmeetourannualfundraisinggoal.Thankyouinadvanceforyoursupport!Ifyouwouldprefertodonatebyphoneorhaveanyques8ons,[email protected].

Canyoubelieveit’sDecember?

LocatedinMeridianPlace,theDowntownBarrieFes8veTreeLot&MarketwillfeatureChristmastreesandwreathsavailableforpurchaseeverySaturdayfromNovember24thtoDecember15th.ProceedsfromtreelotsaleswillbenefitHospiceSimcoe!Treesareonsalefor$40andwreathsare$20.

Looking for the perfect tree?