The Caring LineMISSIONHOSPICE

It’s About Life

Serving the community since 1979

Dorothy Torsen has a serious case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that limits her ability to move around without a walker and an oxygen tank. However, she’s not ready – nor does she qualify – for hospice care, which is designed for people who have a medical diagnosis that suggests they have six months or less to live.

Torsen is a good example of the kind of person who benefits from Mission Hos-pice’s Transitions program, which was introduced in 2006 to meet the needs of people who have life-threatening ill-nesses but are still receiving treatment. It also is available to people who may qualify for hospice care but prefer not to have it.

“I know for a fact I’m not going to be here four or five years from now,” said Torsen, a former special education teacher who operated the after-school tutoring program at North Shoreview School in San Mateo, sponsored by Samaritan House, for 10 years. “It’s nice to have someone care how you’re feeling as you go through this time. This disease is not going to get better and it’s scary, very scary.”

Helping allay her fears is volunteer Donna Nelson, a professional hypno-therapist and Reiki practitioner, who

has been trained to work with both hospice and transitions patients. Reiki is a relaxing energy treatment introduced a century ago in Japan. Torsen, who says

Dwight Wilson, Mission Hospice’s new chief executive director, comes from 31 years of supervising extended care pro-grams – including hospice and respite units – in the Veterans’ Administration facilities in Menlo Park, Livermore and Palo Alto, but he’s excited about the opportunities at Mission Hospice. “First of all, it’s got great people,” he said. “It’s been through challenges

but my emphasis in on leveraging our strengths. We’re a small ‘boutique’ hospice that can provide individualized care to the San Mateo County commu-nity. We offer service 24/7. We’re viable, we’re here to stay and our leadership is strong.” Judy DiPaolo, Mission Hospice Board of Directors member and HumanResources director at Mills-Peninsula

Health Services, said Wilson is excep-tionally well-qualified. “He comes with a great deal of experi-ence both in healthcare and the com-munity,” she said. “We find him to be an excellent match.” In addition to his professional creden-tials, Wilson is a past president of the board of Coastside Children’s Programs

Transitions Provides Care for Wider Patient Group

New Chief Executive Officer Brings Wealth of Experience

Dorothy Torsen and daughter Mary Fecher

Coxhead Receives Lotus Award The Rev. Stuart Coxhead, a long-time Mission Hospice board member and past president, chats with co-founder Helen Lagen after receiving the Lotus Award, an annual award to an individ-ual who has provided outstanding support to Mission Hospice. The award was presented by Board President Mary Chigos at a luncheon this spring at the Peninsula Golf and Country Club.

Inside The Caring Line

June, 2008

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The Bell is Back! CEO’s Desk Page 2 ■Calendar of Events Page 2 ■Board OKs Two New Hires Page 3 ■Lotus Award for Stuart Coxhead Page 4 ■

Mission Hospice and The Caring Line

The Caring Line is a quarterly publication of Mission Hospice of San Mateo County. Mission Hospice provides quality professional care and compassionate support for terminal-ly ill patients and their families, while offer-ing education about end-of-life issues for the San Mateo County community. Serving the community since 1979, we have helped thou-sands of families in San Mateo County and the surrounding area.

Most hospice services are provided in people’s homes, but Mission Hospice offices are located at 1900 O’Farrell St. (near San Mateo City Hall), Suite 200, San Mateo, CA 94403. For more information about Mission Hospice services and programs, or to arrange for a speaker for an organization or educational program, please consult our Web site at www.MissionHospice.org or call us at (650) 554-1000. ■

1900 O’Farrell Street, Suite 200San Mateo, California 94403www.missionhospice.org

MISSIONHOSPICE

It’s About Life

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #63

Burlingame, CA

We expect to publish every quarter with news about events, programs and people at Mission Hospice. Mission Hospice is very much alive in every sense of the word. Our staff is exceptional, the people we are serving receive excellent care and support, and our Board of Directors is committed to the success of the agency. The “bell” is back on the newsletter and a color change reflects our re-energized commitment to our mission and values. We received a grant from the Sobrato Center for Nonprofits to assist Mission Hospice with outreach, especially to individuals who have supported us in the past or wish to do so in the future. We anticipate hiring an individual who will

work with me to reconnect with many of you. In addition to the newsletter, you also can expect an annual report later this year. Finally, I would like to ask you for sug-gestions for re-naming our newsletter. I understand that many of you would like to see a different name, so here’s your chance to contribute your ideas. You can provide us your thoughts by emailing me at dwilson@missionhospice.org or calling me at (650) 554-1000. Also feel free to contact me with any feedback on how we can improve Mission Hospice. I’d very much like to hear from you.

Hiring an outreach coordinator and an additional weekend nurse are among the decisions reached in May during the Mission Hospice Board’s annual retreat to determine goals for the coming year.

“The new hires will expand Mission Hospice’s capacity with continuity of care and outreach to the health care community,” said Dwight Wilson, chief executive officer, who expects to have the new people on board by July.

In other activities, the board:Re-affirmed their commitment to •the Transitions program, which serves patients and their families prior to the need for hospice (see feature article on Page 1).

Developed a community outreach •plan that includes a quarterly newsletter and an annual report, to be published later this summer.

“This reflects a renewed commit-ment to reach out to long standing supporters of Mission Hospice and maintain regular contact with them,” Wilson said.

Endorsed a partnership between •the CEO and the Mission Hospice Auxiliary to improve communica-tion and work more closely on Auxiliary activities.

Worked on defining its organi-•zational structure, including its committee structure.

Reached consensus about on-going •communication requirements between the board and CEO.

“The retreat succeeded in charting a positive direction for Mission Hospice,” said Wilson. “Everyone was very happy with the work of Linda Wohlrabe,

interim executive director, and the leadership of Mary Chigos, president of the board. Everyone who participated in the retreat reported they were happy with the results and the solid direction that Mission Hospice has undertaken.”

Transitions Program (Continued from Page 1) New CEO (Continued from Page 1)

From the CEO’s Desk Board Retreat Launches New Outreach Coordinator

and a member of the Cabrillo Unified School District Board of Trustees. He is a past president of the San Mateo County Visiting Nurses Association. Born in Berkeley, Wilson grew up in Oregon, where he received bachelor’s degrees in science (1971) and nursing (1974). He earned a master’s degree in nursing/gerontology at the University of Washington in 1975 and did doctoral work at UCSF in the late 1980s. Wilson started his career first as a licensed vocational nurse working in a nursing home with his father-in-law, a registered nurse. “I was always attracted to long-term nursing,” he said. “I’ve never been hap-py with the care we give older people. I’d like to think I’ve helped improve care at the VA.”

As associate chief of staff for Extended Care, he was responsible for administer-ing and directing 454 skilled nursing home beds including respite, hospice and transition care, gero-psychiatric, neuro-behavioral, dementia and sub-acute care. In addition, he chaired a region-wide extended care product line for the VA responsible for developing policies and procedures for long-term care and home care programs. He also was the princi-pal investigator for a three-year study of program models in nursing homes funded by the National Institute of Health. Wilson and his wife, Julia, a public health nurse, have been married for 36 years. They live in Moss Beach and have three adult children. He started at Mis-sion Hospice March 31, three days after retiring from the VA.

relaxing is hard when she has to fight just to breathe, was initially skeptical of Reiki but she’s now a convert. Nelson said she tries to tailor her visits to the needs of the patient, using Reiki, light massage and sometimes guided imagery to help with relaxation.

“These are the things I feel are my gifts and what I like to do,” said Nelson. “Other volunteers like to help with visits to the doctor, playing cards, watching ballgames or numerous other activities with the patients.” For Nelson, visiting with Torsen is an opportunity to give of herself and to be a companion to someone navigating a significant time of life.

Deborah Stone, Transitions coordinator,has a list of about 60 different services

aimed at providing emotional supportand practical assistance ranging from help with errands, shopping and laun-dry, to respite care for family caregivers. Torsen still lives in her own home but

the program also is avail-able to people in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Torsen’s daughter, MaryFecher, says the programhas been a godsend.She visits her mother

frequently but she also works full-time and has a family, so having a Transitions volunteer to help out is significant.

“Mom needs companionship,” she said.“Just the boost your people give her is wonderful.

Transitions is funded by donations andgrants. Services are provided at no cost to the recipients.

‘It’s nice to have someone care how

you’re feeling as you go through this time.’

Dorothy Torsen, Transitions patient

Calendar of EventsMission Hospice’s Hospice, ■Transitions and Bereavement Programs with the Rev. Linda Siddall, chaplain and director of Community Outreach Saturday, Aug. 23 9:30 a.m. to noon St. Mark Catholic Church 324 Marine View Ave. Belmont Free. Light refreshments. Open to the public.

Bereavement Support Group ■Every Wednesday 6 to 7:30 p.m, Mission Hospice offices 1900 O’Farrell St., Suite 200 San Mateo, Ca. 94403. Open to all members of the community. For more information, please call (650) 554-1000.

Volunteer Information Meeting ■ Wednesday, Sept. 17 noon to 1 p.m. or 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mission Hospice offices 1900 O’Farrell St. Suite 200 San Mateo Call (650) 554-1000 for information.

Volunteer Training ■ Saturday, Oct. 11 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mission Hospice offices 1900 O’Farrell St. Suite 200 San Mateo Call (650) 554-1000 for information.

Light Up A Life ■Annual Celebration SAVE THE DATE Sunday, Dec. 7.

Dwight Wilson, RN

Bereavement Support

Mission Hospice offers a free Bereavement Support Group every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in the Mission Hospice offices at 1900 O’Farrell St., Suite 200, San Mateo, Ca. 94403. The group is open to any bereaved person. For more information, please call (650) 554-1000.

Dwight Wilson Chief Executive Officer

The Bell is Back! It is with great pleasure that Mission Hospice brings

you this new edition of the Caring Line.