Patient Services

Hospice Volunteer Featured on North Country Matters

Ginger Storey-Welch, a long-time Hospice Patient Volunteer, talks with North Country Matters host Donna Seymour about the rewards and opportunities of being a volunteer with Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley. They discuss what Hospice is, how to volunteer, the training, and the kinds of volunteer opportunities there are.

She shares some of the heartfelt stories of people whose final days were filled with warm memories and last wishes granted thanks to the caring of Hospice staff and volunteers.

The number one feedback we get from patients and families is “I wish we had called sooner”. While having an serious illness that will limit your life is part of qualifying for services, it is not the focus. Comfort, joy, family and LIVING – whatever that means for each individual – is the focus. Our dedicated staff work endlessly to make every day on Hospice as good as it can be!

For more information on the benefits of Hospice Care call our office at 315-265-3105.

If you are interested in becoming a Hospice Volunteer, contact Linda Caamaño at 315-265-3105 or lcaamano@hospiceslv.org

Hospice Receives Support from YPC of NNY for Music Therapy

The Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation visited the Hospice Center this month to learn more about how their generous grant is helping residents in St. Lawrence County. The YPC of NNY selected Hospice to fund our new Music & Memory program.

Music & Memory is intended for patients living with a dementia-related illness and provides therapy through the playing of familiar and meaningful music. Research shows that, when done appropriately, the use of music with patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia can help relax them, increase communication and can contribute to their quality of life. This program also provides a great way for our volunteers to connect with patients.

With the help of the Youth Philanthropy Council, 8 Hospice staff members and volunteers were certified by the nationally recognized Music & Memory Program. Their grant allowed us to purchased equipment such as iPods and earphones and music from iTunes . We have already seen the use of music impact the lives of several patients. According to Volunteer Kay Church (who has been a Hospice volunteer for 22 years) “this has been the best addition to our programs that I have ever seen.” Hospice looks forward to expanding the program to reach more patients to bring them some comfort and joy at a time when it can be scarce.

Many thanks to the members of the Youth Philanthropy Council and the Northern New York Community Foundation!!!

New Education Programs Offered by The Alzheimer’s Association

Through a partnership with The Alzheimer’s Association of CNY, Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley will offer free educational programs to residents of St. Lawrence County on topics related to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and care-giving. This month’s topic: Legal & Financial Planning.

Many people are unprepared to deal with the legal and financial consequences of a serious illness such as Alzheimer’s disease. Legal and medical experts encourage people recently diagnosed with a serious illness—particularly one that is expected to cause declining mental and physical health—to examine and update their financial and health care arrangements as soon as possible. Basic legal and financial instruments, such as a will, a living trust, and advance directives, are available to ensure that the person’s late-stage or end-of-life health care and financial decisions are carried out.

A complication of diseases such as Alzheimer’s is that the person may lack or gradually lose the ability to think clearly. This change affects his or her ability to participate meaningfully in decision making and makes early legal and financial planning even more important. Although difficult questions often arise, advance planning can help people with Alzheimer’s and their families clarify their wishes and make well-informed decisions about health care and financial arrangements.

On March 30th, the Alzheimer’s Association will present “Legal & Financial Planning” from 1:00PM-3:00PM at the Hospice Center located on Route 11 in Potsdam. This program is intended to help those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia plan for their future. The program will offer an overview of pertinent legal documents such as wills, power of attorney, Advanced Directives, and health care proxies. They will also present information regarding financial issues and options such as Medicare, Medicaid or VA benefits.

The event is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to register for the program by calling 315-621-4025 ext.100 by March 25th.

For more information on this program and other educational opportunities, contact Nancy Vosbrink at 315-265-3105 or nvosbrink@hospiceslv.org.

To view more upcoming community events, check out our Events Calendar!

New Patient Enrichment Programs at Hospice

Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley makes every effort to enrich the lives of our patients and their families during the time they are under our care. Under the direction of our new Volunteer Manger, Linda Caamaño, Hospice is proud to present our new Patient Enrichment Programs. The purpose of these programs is to bring added comfort and joy to our patients and their families. Volunteers, who are already a crucial part of the Hospice team, will receive additional training in the program of their interest. To date, Hospice Patient Enrichment programs include; the Life Legacy program, music therapy, the Memory Bear Project, and a pet therapy program.

The Life Legacy program allows patients a chance to preserve their life story. A trained volunteer, over the course of several visits, interviews and records the patient telling their story. This gives patients an opportunity to record what was most significant to them, and can also lead to families learning something about their loved one they hadn’t known before. It is a gift treasured by families for years after their loved one is gone.

Music and Memory is a new program to help comfort patients living with dementia-related illnesses. Research has shown playing music that is familiar and meaningful to a patient can bring great comfort and often opens pathways to communicate and connect with others. With this program, a customized playlist is made for a patient and then delivered by one of our volunteers who brings along special headphones for them to listen with. This program helps promote interaction between the patient and the volunteer.

Through a partnership with Therapy Dogs International, certified therapy dogs and their handlers visit Hospice patients upon request to provide the unconditional love, affection and presence that only pets can give. This is especially meaningful to patients who have had to give up their own pets due to a move into a nursing facility or as a result of their illness. The emotional bonds that humans share with pets result in very positive effects: reduced anxiety and stress, increased feelings of relaxation, and an overall improved outlook on life. The Pet Therapy Program uses the natural bond between humans and animals to provide comfort, peace, and soothing companionship to terminally ill patients. The therapy dog handlers will also complete the Hospice Volunteer Training series as to stay in compliance of our scope of practice.

The Memory Bear Project (pictured above) serves to leave family members with a lasting, tangible memory of their loved one. Often, when someone we love dies, we find ourselves hanging onto anything that they once owned or reminds us of them. Through this program, custom, hand-sewn teddy bears are made from clothing that belongs to a patient. This is especially meaningful to grandchildren who will have not only something to remember their loved one by, but an object that will hopefully bring them comfort each time they hug it! This service is offered by Hospice in partnership with the women’s housing unit at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility in Canton.

For more information about these programs and other volunteer opportunities, contact Linda at 315-265-3105!