AKHH&H Volunteer of the year, 2009
	Aspirus Keweenaw Home Health and Hospice VOLUNTEER of the Year 2009 Virginia(Ginny)Vairus has been chosen as the Aspirus Keweenaw Home Health and Hospice Volunteer of the Year for 2009 and was awarded at a Luncheon recently. Ginny has been part of the Hospice team since the Fall of 1993.She is a very caring and dedicated volunteer providing over 16 years of service for the agency with numerous hours of respite, administrative assistance, she has done life reviews, and provided beautiful organ music for several past hospice bereavement services. Ginny is very active in the community by volunteering at the Omega House, a local light house, a women's organization and very involved in her church.” Volunteer Ginny has provided excellent care with the terminally ill in our community through the years and we are so proud to honor her with this award from the Michigan Hospice Palliative Care Organization," says Volunteer Coordinator Karen Kezele.
	Roots and wings and moving off to school by Paula Huls RN, BSN
	September is back to school time; parents are busy getting their children prepared. The milestone years are clearly remembered: the first day of kindergarten, or the first day of high school. The biggest off-to-school passage we have experienced is sending our children off to college away from home. We have already experienced this with our oldest son, who will complete his degree this year. Our daughter, too, has chosen to attend a college nine hours away in the Lower Peninsula. The past two months were filled with many conversations regarding roommates, credit hours, majors, dorm room essentials and topics that parents worry about; health and safety. As this is our last child leaving the home, the topic of the empty nest has come up quite often. Whether your child is going off to college, or finally moving out to live on his own, regardless of how much you may have been anticipating this time, this normal life transition requires you to make some adjustments in your own life. Some of the tips from the website ehow.com that I found were helpful are: Realize that whether or not you have a career, taking care of your child was your primary job, which takes a majority of a parent's time. It is normal to feel some sadness as the definition of your job changes. Realize that you have raised your child well enough so that he or she is able to leave. As Jonas Salk said, "Good parents give their children both roots and wings." This sums up the responsibilities we have as parents: To provide a stable, nurturing environment for our children to grow, emotionally and physically, which will prepare them for the time when they will leave to live on their own. We hope that the roots become deep-seated and when they do move out, their path to live responsible lives will follow. Don't compare your feelings to those of other parents. Each person will experience this change differently. Eat healthy and exercise. You no longer need to stock the refrigerator for the kids. Support your child as he or she begins to manage their life. Be a mentor, not a manager. Let your children know you will always be there for them no matter what the problem is. I have begun texting recently; this, along with e-mail and instant messaging are wonderful ways to stay in touch and still allow each of you to have your space. The telephone calls will be quite frequent in the first year, but as I have learned, the longer your child is away from home, it is Mom who makes the calls to keep in touch. Find a new interest or hobby. Moving on in your life will help you adjust to your child moving on in his / her life. you will also continue to serve as a good role model for your child. This normal life transition is easier when you realize that your children are adjusting well to their new lives. I think the website feelgoodparenting.com, says it very well; "If the roots are strong enough, children will always come back home (hopefully not to stay), but they will share with their parents all of the new things in their own lives or maybe to get another dose of the love that helped them to be who they are. We, as parents, will then see that we never really lose our children, as long as they know there is something worth coming back to". Paula Huls, RN, BSN, is the clinical review coordinator at Aspirus Keweenaw Home Health and Hospice
	Volunteering - Touches Mind and Heart
	Volunteering Experience Touches Mind and Heart Keweenaw Home Nursing will be starting a new class for Hospice Volunteer training on April 9. May I recommend to all who have a need to relate to other human beings, or those interested in seeking a deeper significance of living other than being a consumer, to take the class. About a year ago I graduated the six week course given by Keweenaw Home Nursing, and I recommend it to all whom I meet. I was hesitant at first, not knowing what to expect. I had never been in a nursing home let alone with persons that were dying. Would I be able to help? Would I be able to say the right things? Maybe I would be unable to relate and feel comfortable. I could have easily talked myself out of volunteering and have left this entire thing to the professionals and medical staff. I persevered and found to my delight that I was accepted for whom I was and I really had only to bring with me a smile and an ear to listen as well as my own concern and compassion for those I visit. The education given was straight forward, and it teaches one how to treat each individual with great dignity. I found at the end of my own experience that the gift to me was not that I was giving of my time, but it was the gift I was giving to “myself”. The fragile human beings with whom I was dealing allowed me to experience the human condition in a new dimension. We often discount the elderly in our community. I have now experienced first-hand the wonderful opportunity to find that even as the body grows fragile, the personality, and depth of mind and heart are great gifts to those who take the time to see them. In sharing our common humanity, we really deepen ourselves as human persons. The elderly have much to give those who can take the time to visit and listen to their many stories. They are fragile in health, yes, and they are for the most part, bed ridden; they have difficulties that make us uncomfortable, this is all true, but they are also a rare and genuine source of marvelous memories, of living gathered over years of lives both productive and difficult. They can see outcomes for they have lived daily life to its humble end. They can be by their very selves, sources of great spirituality, and a fountain of sustaining wisdom. What you learn with the elderly and the dying is that they are “ourselves”. What we learn in serving them is our own humanity and the dignity of the human person. Many years ago, a Canadian by the name of Jean Vanier founded the International L’Arche Foundation. His foundation helps people who are mentally challenged and often physically impaired. Both normal and mentally and physically impaired people live in a community setting together. Vanier tells us that we need the other to understand the whole picture of our human dignity, that we are gifts to the other. I agree with his philosophy of giving. In caring for the elderly, I bring them my strength, my mobility and concern while they in turn give me their wisdom, their stories and most of all a special love that recognizes my efforts for themselves. What I have learned from this experience is that in giving we receive more than what we bring. In short, we are gifts to each other. As our modern world spins in its consumer orbit, I have found in serving the elderly and the dying a new depth to my own living. A clarification of my own life that allows me to see deeper what is important and what is mere distraction. My elderly allow me a new understanding of what it means to be human and the truism, that we are all connected to one and other. The true blessing of this work is that we learn to see the dignity of all human persons regardless of race, creed or color. In our contemporary society that finds pills and chemicals the cure for social problems and needs, and as the modern mind becomes more and more removed from the physical body and aging, I invite you to come closer and experience, to see the unity of mind and body in the aging. I invite you to the training given by Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice. It is a pathway that will not disappoint. It will challenge you, but never disappoint and it will enlighten and deepen your understanding of the human journey. Kathleen Carlton Johnson is a Hospice Volunteer for Keweenaw Home Nursing & Hospice. If you are interested in learning more about Hospice or volunteering call the office at (906) 337-5700.
	Owner's Manual For Your Body
	Patients As Partners in Managing Chronic Disease For a significant number of Americans, managing a chronic disease such as diabetes or heart, lung, or kidney disease has become a normal part of life, with many people having one or more chronic illnesses. However, our current healthcare system was designed to focus on acute illness and injury, not helping people manage long term conditions at home. Chronic disease changes a person’s life and dramatically transforms the role of patients in their own health care. For people to gain the knowledge and skills required to care for a chronic disease effectively, they need an extensive amount of education and support. The most effective care for chronic diseases demands that a person pay attention minute-by-minute and day-by-day to nutrition and hydration, physical activity, medication use, symptom management, and self-monitoring. How can someone become effective at managing a chronic illness? It’s a lot like having an owner’s manual for your car: •learning about the best fuel to keep your engine running smoothly (nutrition); •knowing how much water to put in the radiator to keep it circulating (hydration); •following the maker’s advice about best practices to stay efficient on the road (medication use and lifestyle behaviors); •paying attention to little subtle clues that something is going out of repair (symptom self-monitoring); •responding when the “check engine” light comes on (seeing medical help); •and making a list of things you noticed on the decline to tell your mechanic (patient daily diary). Patients and their caregivers (often family members) must learn how to deal with chronic symptoms and often with physical challenges. They may need to participate in complicated medication regimens, learn self-monitoring techniques, and make appropriate management decisions. Chronic disease may also require significant role and lifestyle changes and learning to cope with the ups and downs of the disease – physical and emotional. And on top of all that, patients and their caregivers must learn how to interact effectively with healthcare personnel, understanding their language and mysterious world of treatment options. Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice has designed self-care management information booklets for patients and families to acquire the self-confidence and skills to fully participate in management of their chronic disease. Patient Self-Care Management Programs on Diabetes, Heart Disease, Lung Disease, Hospice Care, and Kidney Disease are available for patients and families, to help them become the best owners of their bodies possible for them by learning the necessary skills and gaining self-confidence. Self-management education addresses use of medication, behavior change, pain control, coping with emotional reactions, learning to interpret changes in the disease and its consequences, and use of medical and community resources. Topics include: 1) techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation, 2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance, 3) appropriate use of medications, 4) communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals, 5) nutrition and hydration, 6) how to evaluate new treatments, and 7) an emergency plan when symptoms suddenly worsen. When patients are given the tools, self-management education helps them to live the best possible quality of life with their chronic condition. People who learn about their disease and follow their self-care plan experience reduced symptoms, improved physical activity, and significantly less need for medical treatment and hospitalizations. Some benefits have lasted years beyond the time of diagnosis. The principal reason that patients and families experience benefit is growth in confidence in their ability to cope with their disease. If you want help learning to manage the challenge of a chronic disease, please call Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice at 337-5700 or visit us on-line at www.khn-hospice.com. Mary Hindelang, RN, PhD Education Coordinator at Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice
	Enhance Your Life By Becoming a Volunteer
	ENHANCE YOUR LIFE BY VOLUNTEERING! When you volunteer, you help make other people’s lives better. But did you know that becoming a volunteer can have positive effects on your life as well? Volunteer work is a known strategy to help deal with stress. And who doesn’t have stress these days? Donating your time and effort to someone else or a cause you believe in can elevate your spirits, helping you to better cope with stress. Your gift of time and talent is rewarded by the smiles on the faces or those individuals you help. Volunteers who get energized by the work they do are better able to put their problems in perspective. The old saying, “There’s always someone worse off than you,” is often found by volunteers to be true. Knowing the challenges that other people face can make your own troubles seem minor in comparison. Volunteering can help build meaningful relationships with people you might not ordinarily meet. Friendships can be created with staff members and other volunteers over the years. You are able to help people during the most difficult times of their lives. A recent research in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior reports that a volunteers’ work indeed enhances all six aspects of well-being: happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and depression. Older people who volunteer enjoy longer lives, higher functional ability, and lower rates of depression and heart disease. Part of the reason is the socialization that volunteering can provide and they are not alone or isolated. When a volunteer talks to a patient or family member they say something you can really relate to and it just makes your day. The best part about being a volunteer is knowing that you’re helping someone else get through tough times and telling them that they are not alone It can help make the person’s life better at the present moment. It can be challenging at times, but the reward is so great! Many volunteers express of a “helpers high” that they experience. This is described as a physical and emotional sensation of euphoria that lasts for days or weeks and spreads into other areas of the volunteer’s life. The more you volunteer and do things for others, the more benefits you receive. Among these benefits are: a more optimistic outlook on life, increased energy, better perceived health, a greater sense of relaxation and a stronger immune system. Helping others can bring about positive change in our community. Perhaps the best thing about volunteering is there is never a shortage of opportunities in your local community. There are agencies always in search of new volunteers. I urge you to consider what type of volunteer activities would make you feel a sense of accomplishment and seek out the organization that is the best fit for you. If you would like to learn more about Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice and the volunteer opportunities available, visit our website at www.keweenawhomenursing.com. or call the Volunteer Coordinator
	Caregiving During The Holidays
	Caregiving during the Holidays Providing care for a loved one can be difficult at anytime of the year, but the holiday season can add to an already heavy load of responsibilities and cause added stress in the life of a caregiver. The holiday season is typically a time to reflect on our past memories. This season that is intended as a celebration of joy and connection with family and loved ones, may often times be a reminder of the difficult changes in our lives. For those caring for an ill or disabled family member the time of reflection may make us more aware of the current situation we are facing. Perhaps you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease and you remember the person prior to their memory loss and just how much life has changed for you and your loved one. This emotional pain of confronting these losses can add to your feelings of stress. You may be thinking “this may be mom’s last Christmas, so I want to make it extra special”. By putting these added demands on yourself you will make the holiday season more stressful. Instead give yourself permission to celebrate the holidays in a way that works best for you and your loved ones. Each holiday season is different and can be enjoyed it its own way. This may not be the year to make several different types of baked goods, but rather choose one or two that are special to your family. If all the usual decorations are not put up this year, it is okay. Give yourself a break and feel good about doing so. Set manageable expectations and limits for yourself. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Spend time with friends and other family members. Take time to laugh and have fun and not always focus on your role as the caregiver. This helps you to strike an emotional balance in your life. Learn to accept help. If family members or friends offer to share in your responsibilities of caregiving, allow them to do so. If the loved one you are caring for has dementia they may be better off staying at home with respite care rather than attending gatherings where there is too much stimulation. Grandchildren from out of town may enjoy spending time with grandma while you attend a Christmas concert. Remember the usual hints about caring for yourself including not abandoning healthful eating and drinking habits over the holidays. Exercise regularly, walking, swimming, or yoga can be great stress relievers. Remember not all giving in our community needs to be monetary. Your time is far more important to a friend, neighbor or family member who is providing care to a loved one. Offer to provide respite care so the caregiver can Christmas shop, go to lunch with a friend or attend a church service. You are not alone in your caregiving journey. Many others in our community are providing care also. If you are in need of support or you have support to share with others please join us for a monthly Caregivers Support meeting at Laurium Housing on the second Wednesday of each month at 2pm. For more information call KHN&H at 337-5700. Enjoy the holiday season and remember caregiving may be the most difficult job you have ever done, but there is none more rewarding than being able to care for someone who truly needs you. Sarah Baratono, LMSW, ACSW Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice
	Hospice is an Honor....says Volunteer
	Many people have asked me why I would choose to spend my time with people who are dying. First of all, Hospice, by its very nature, is not about death. It is about life and living that life to its fullest until death occurs, and accepting death as natural part of life. Hospice provides care in the home. This way a person who is dying may spend his or her last days surrounded by familiar things and loved ones. Hospice talks openly about the dying process with patients, families and caregivers, but also respects the wishes of those who do not want to talk about dying. Hospice also provides bereavement support after death to the family and to the caregiver(s). Each patient has a hospice team. This is an interdisciplinary team of trained professionals and volunteers to care for the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the dying. As a volunteer with Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice, I am trained to provide respite care, and to recognize needs in the home and relay these needs to other members of the hospice team. Volunteers do a variety of things, from washing dishes and other light chores to just spending time with the family. I like to sew, and one patient asked me to finish a baby quilt for a soon-to-be-born grandchild. Another patient didn’t want me to be in his room, but I had some wonderful conversations with his daughter. Each family is unique, Volunteers are there for the patient and the family. Some patients have wanted me to watch TV with them and discuss the program. The most memorable of those TV times was the O.J. Simpson trial and our arm-chair analysis of innocence or guilt. Hospice care was not available when my parents were in the last stages of life, and when hospice was introduced in this area, I decided to explore this wonderful program that supports families, assists in decision making, and provides help in the home for both patient and caregiver(s). In my fourteen years as a hospice volunteer, I have had the opportunity to meet many people. Each one has a story to tell - a unique view of life from his or her own perspective. During the past year I have had the privilege of recording a few of these life stories. If the patient so desires, I record this story on tape. In this way, the life story is told in the patient’s voice. I also provide a typed manuscript to the family. This experience of gathering pieces of a life story is a pleasant one, often filled with fond memories, laughter and sometimes tears. It is a treasure to families because of the memories it evokes. Hospice has another program called “Teddy Bear Care” where volunteers make bears out of a favorite article of clothing of hospice patients. The bears are then given to the family as a final gift and remembrance of their lives. To be allowed into a hospice home is an honor for me. To share the journey through the last months of life is a gift to me. I have seen remarkable courage and enduring love. I have watched families find strengths they never dreamed they had as they support their loved ones. In the end, grief comes for me too, but there is also the hope that I have served in some small way to make this transition a little more bearable. Needless to say, I get much more from being a hospice volunteer than I give, and it continues to be a rewarding experience. I would encourage anyone who wishes to know more about hospice work to call Keweenaw Home Nursing & Hospice. What are the qualifications for being a volunteer? They are: compassion, comfortable with the experience of death and spiritual needs, good communication skills, diplomacy, respect for confidentiality, tact, patience, a listening ear, a loyal tongue, personal discipline and understanding of the philosophy of Keweenaw Home Nursing & Hospice. Virginia Vairus, Hospice Volunteer Keweenaw Home Nursing & Hospice