Do you know ways to give?

We all know what to do to help patients and families in our care, but we might not know how to let them help us. In this issue of The Heart of Hospice, you will learn of the ways families can give back in support of our programs and services to help others in their time of need. Take a moment to learn more about these opportunities and to share them the next time you are asked by a family member, "What can we do to show our gratitude?"

Our volunteer program has many options for those with time to donate their time to Hospice of Palm Beach County. Volunteers can perform duties that fit both their schedules and desires, such as administrative work, visiting patients or assisting with our many special events, for example. We also have a program for Professional Volunteers in fields such as Accounting, Massage Therapy, Nursing and more, so that volunteers can use their professional skills to assist our patients and families.

Another way to give back is through our Resale Program. Hospice of Palm Beach County Resale Operation not only looks for volunteers to assist in the Shops, but also for donations of gently used clothing, housewares and accessories to be sold in the shops. This is a fun and rewarding option for those interested in supporting the diverse programs and services Hospice of Palm Beach County offers to patients and families. If a family has a vehicle, boat, RV or other form of transportation they are interested in donating, we can speak with them about our Hospice Cars program.

For those interested in making a monetary gift, there are a variety of options.

Memorial gifts are the most common gifts. Families may request that friends and colleagues make donations in memory of their loved one in lieu of flowers and often include this in the obituary.

If a friend or family wants to memorialize their loved one in a more visible way, we have naming opportunities.

• Bricks in the Helen L. Messic Meadow, located at the Gerstenberg Center, are a relatively affordable option. For a one time gift of $250 or $500 (depending on the size of the brick) the brick is etched with the loved one’s name and placed on the walkway.

• For a one time gift of $5,000, a bench is placed in the Helen L. Messic meadow with a plaque placed on the seat back of the bench.

• For a cumulative gifts totaling $5,000, a plaque can be placed by a tree in the Helen L. Messic Meadow.

• For cumulative gifts totaling $10,000 and $20,000, a plaque can be placed on the tree of life located in the atrium.

• For larger gifts that can be pledged over 5 years, there are naming opportunities for rooms, program areas and facilities throughout the Gerstenberg Center and our five (5) inpatient units.

• For a one time gift of $1,000, you can add your loved one’s name to the beautiful stained glass artwork located at each of our five inpatient units: Jay Robert Lauer Hospice and Palliative Care Unit which also offers a beautiful recognition wall; Bethesda Memorial Hospice and Palliative Care Unit; Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at Good Samaritan Medical Center; Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; and the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at Delray Medical Center.

Patients and families often say they wish they could do more. We can help friends of Hospice of Palm Beach County to do more through gift planning. Gift planning (planned gifts) combines financial planning, estate planning and tax planning techniques so that supporters can make significant gifts, often with dramatic tax and financial rewards.

Naming Hospice of Palm Beach County in your will is one of the easiest ways to support the organization and does not affect your current income. Hospice of Palm Beach County can be named as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan (IRA).

The Foundation staff is knowledgeable and available to help you with gift giving plans. We encourage individuals to seek an attorney or financial professional’s advice when planning their gift.

Lastly, a way for businesses to support Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation is the new Corporate Partnership Program. By becoming a member of this program, Corporate Partners receive many benefits, which may include:

• Recognition on Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation's donor wall

• Recognition as a member of the Corporate Partnership Program in News To Friends, our newsletter that is published three times a year

• Logo included on Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation’s website

• Recognition on all Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation e-blasts

• A framed Corporate Partnership Certificate

To learn more about the ways to support Hospice of Palm Beach County through gifts, please visit our Foundation offices or call 561.484.6881. To learn more about our volunteer program, please call 561.227.5138.

Fritz Estime, Chaplain - Honoring your culture at a significant time

Fritz, who speaks fluent Creole, was called to work with a Haitian family because there were language and culture barriers. The family was having difficulty fully grasping what was happening to their loved one. Fritz explained to them, in their language, that the patient was very sick and only had a short time to live. He helped them process the situation and gave them insight so they could appreciate the magnitude of the circumstances. The family was scared and confused but Fritz reassured and supported them. He encouraged the family to enjoy the brief time that they had with the patient and integrated their cultural and religious practices to make them feel more at ease. Fritz brought a piece of their country, traditions, lifestyle and norms so they could be at peace. The family was grateful for the time they had spent with their loved one thanks to Fritz’s expertise and compassion.

Cheryl Dely, Bereavement Counselor - You’re not alone in your time of need

Cheryl was caring for an elderly woman who had just lost her husband. The woman was very distraught. For the time following the passing of her husband, she had friends, neighbors and Cheryl to help her cope. On one particular night, the woman was having a difficult time. Her neighbor stayed by her side for a while but had to leave. Cheryl was concerned that the woman would wake during the night or in the morning and become confused; it would be the first time that she would wake up alone. So Cheryl spent the night on a couch just outside the bedroom door to ensure the wellbeing of the woman. When the patient woke, Cheryl comforted her. She stayed throughout the day to help with plans, comfort her as needed and ultimately be a shoulder to cry on.

Jana Shiffert, Social Worker - You are a part of our family

Jana noticed that a patient she was caring for was showing symptoms that could become harmful to her if she stayed alone in her home for much longer. The patient, unwilling to move to an inpatient care center, confided to Jana that she was scared and nervous about leaving her home. Jana consoled her and reassured her that everything was going to be okay. She explained to her that the move would be better for her and that once she got better she could return home. The patient trusted Jana and finally agreed to be admitted. Jana then alerted the patient’s doctors and arranged for transport. While they waited, Jana helped the woman clean her house, and herself, so she would be more comfortable. Jana did for the patient what a family member would do. She did the dishes in the sink, helped dress the patient and acted as her “legs” because the woman was having a hard time walking. All the while Jana eased the woman’s nerves and made her feel relaxed. When the transport picked the patient up Jana locked up the house so it would be secure and ready for the patient when she arrived back home.

Marvis Morris – CNA, Help for everyone in need

Marvis Morris, CNA on our Gold team, was sitting in her car preparing to enter a facility in which patients of hers resided when she witnessed an elderly woman in an automobile accident that landed her vehicle in a retention pond. Seeing that the woman was trapped, Marvis – without hesitation - jumped in the water and pulled the woman out. Her quick thinking and actions saved the elderly woman’s life.

Carol Stoltz, RN – 21 years of service to the Western Communities - Service wherever you reside

Carol Stoltz, also known as “Carol of the Glades” has taken care of generations of families in the western communities of Palm Beach County. When taking a walk with Carol through the hospital parking lot people call to her fondly. They are family members of former patients -- daughters and sons, cousins and grandchildren -- and they are also family members of patients Carol is caring for now. They hug her, shake her hand and give blessings that Carol is there for them. No matter how difficult the situation, Carol can be counted on to persevere, to give everything she has to the patient and family. This is a poor area and Carol shows no judgment, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work helping the family and patient with their daily tasks. There is nothing Carol wouldn’t do for the people of the western communities, and they show their love for her every time she visits.

Sewing Shop Fundraiser

Each year, Laura and Dave Jordan host a fundraiser at their sewing and vacuum repair shop in North Palm Beach. The benefiting charity changes each year and in 2010, Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation was the lucky recipient. The couple asked their customers to help them in making a donation to Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation by donating one dollar into a jar at the shop. They were amazed at the outpouring of support! While they had only requested a one-dollar donation, some customers donated more than one hundred dollars! When they arrived to deliver the gift, they were thrilled to donate more than $1,350 - which is more than they had ever raised before! Both Laura and Dave have personal experiences with Hospice and were happy that the proceeds of their fundraiser would go to a charity near and dear to their hearts.

Cheri Haynie – CNA, Caring for every family member

While working with a patient, Cheri learned that the man didn’t have any family except for his dog. The dog meant the world to the man, but he was disabled and couldn’t care properly for it. Cheri drove on her own time to the only store in the area that carried the specific dog food that the man used. She would purchase the food, bring it back to the house, place it in the container where the man kept it and feed the dog. Cheri made certain that the dog was well cared for. This eased the man’s mind so he wouldn’t worry about the most important part of his life and his only family – his dog.