Watch Faith Hospice on eightWest
Dr. John Mulder, Vice President of Medical Services for Faith Hospice, was interviewed by Rachael Ruiz and Laura Velasquez on eightWest.
(A closed-captioned version of this video is available at YouTube.)
You can also see the segment, as well as the live Q&A that followed, right here: http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/local_guides/about-faith-hospice
August 6th, 2010 | Posted in General | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Faith Hospice chosen as one of 101 Best Companies to work for
We are pleased to announce that Faith Hospice has been chosen as one of the 101 Best Companies to work for in West Michigan!
June 24th, 2010 | Posted in Bereavement, Community, General, Trillium Woods | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Hospice 101 — the hospice experience
In order to help explain what hospice is and what hospice does, we have written a fictionalized account of one family’s journey with Faith Hospice. The story is a composite of many typical hospice experiences.
Tom’s condition was getting worse. Martha could tell. He’d been suffering from congestive heart failure for several years, but lately his symptoms had become more troublesome. So far the doctor had been able to control them by trying different medications, but she suspected this time was different.
She managed to get a doctor’s appointment the following afternoon. It wasn’t easy getting Tom to the office, and by the time they arrived, he was out of breath and very uncomfortable.
The tests revealed what Martha had feared—Tom’s condition wasn’t getting better, as a matter of fact, it had become a lot worse.
“This might be a good time to call hospice,” the doctor said gently.
“Hospice? But that means there’s no hope.” Martha began to cry quietly.
The doctor reached out and put a hand over hers. “There’s always hope. But now instead of aggressively trying to cure Tom, they will concentrate on keeping him comfortable so the two of you can enjoy your time together.”
“How much time—“ Martha didn’t want to ask, but she had to know.
“Generally, we recommend hospice when, if the disease runs its normal course, there’s approximately six months left. However,” the doctor held up a hand as Martha began to protest, “I’ve had patients become so much more comfortable after being treated by hospice that they went off the program for several months. We don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s in God’s hands.”
Martha found that thought comforting. She also found it very comforting that the hospice the doctor recommended, Faith Hospice, embraced the patients’ and families’ spiritual beliefs. She and Tom both took strength from their faith, and now, at this difficult time, it was more important than ever.
That Monday, a registered nurse from Faith Hospice arrived at Martha and Tom’s house for an initial assessment. Martha liked how she listened so carefully, asking thoughtful questions and never making them feel rushed. She explained all the different hospice services, and Martha was amazed at all that would be available to them.
“How are you managing the stairs,” the nurse asked Tom glancing toward the curved, wooden staircase.
“It’s getting harder and harder,” Tom admitted ruefully. “Sometimes I don’t bother to go upstairs, but just sleep down here in my recliner.”
“We can arrange for a hospital bed to be delivered,” the nurse made a note. “I think that will make you much more comfortable.”
The nurse made some further suggestions, and explained that Tom would be assigned to a particular care team. Tom signed the consent forms she brought. By the time she left, Martha felt as if a huge burden had been taken off her shoulders. Tom was going to get excellent care, and Faith Hospice was going to do their best to keep him as comfortable as possible.
The Faith Hospice home health aide made Martha’s life so much easier and provided great comfort to Tom. She helped Tom bathe and dress, and Martha knew it made him feel better to know he was clean and looking his best.
The Faith Hospice physician, in consultation with Tom, his case manager and Tom’s physician, decided on the appropriate medication needed to keep Tom comfortable. Tom and Martha were able to spend their time visiting with family and friends. The children came as often as possible, and they enjoyed big family dinners together just like old times. Martha managed to get to the grocery store thanks to the volunteer respite workers who sat with Tom while she was away. She enjoyed getting out for a bit and even continued to get her hair done every Friday just like always.
“Dad is actually looking a lot better,” their daughter, Ann, commented as she helped her mother clean up after one of their Sunday dinners.
Martha nodded. “The Faith Hospice team is really helping him to stay as comfortable as possible. I’m so grateful for all they’re doing for your father. And for me, too,” she added. “I can’t imagine doing this without them.”
Several months later, Martha slipped while coming down the stairs. Fortunately her ankle wasn’t broken—just sprained. But it made it that much more difficult to care for Tom even with the Faith Hospice staff who came on a regular basis to help. The social worker suggested moving Tom to the Faith Hospice residence, Trillium Woods, in Byron Center. She and Martha also discussed various methods for paying the room and board fees.
Martha went to visit Trillium Woods and was very impressed. There were beautiful lounges, a communal kitchen, private rooms with a pullout sofa should she want to stay overnight with Tom, and a peaceful chapel where they could sit and worship. It felt more like an exquisite private home than a medical setting, and she was very relieved.
Tom was kept as comfortable as possible at Trillium Woods. The weather was warming up, and Martha sometimes pushed Tom in his wheelchair to one of the outdoor patios for lunch. They both enjoyed watching the birds and other creatures frolicking in the grass outside. Although Tom was comfortable, his condition continued to worsen. Martha was glad that twenty-four hour care was available at Trillium Woods. She visited as often as possible, but she was able to take time for herself and keep her own appointments.
Martha arrived on a Wednesday afternoon to discover Tom had a visitor: A small pet therapy dog was keeping him company on the bed.
“Like my new friend?” he asked weakly, putting up a hand to pet the animal.
Martha smiled and stroked the dog’s head. She couldn’t believe how many wonderful things were available at Trillium Woods. Volunteers played music, delivered flowers, washed and cut hair and Tom had even begun working on a family history thanks to a volunteer experienced in genealogy.
Tom received wonderful care at Trillium Woods from the Faith Hospice staff, but as the doctor had warned Martha, his disease eventually began to run its course. He drank little and ate even less. The staff assured Martha that this was perfectly normal. The children came from out of town and son Jeff spent several nights on the pullout sofa in Tom’s room.
Finally, the day Martha had been dreading arrived. When she got to Trillium Woods, she discovered that Tom had lapsed into a coma. She called the children, and they gathered around Tom’s bedside. Martha sat with his hand in hers as they talked and cried. Several hospice staff joined them in prayer and one of the nurses began to sing a beautiful hymn as Tom entered eternal life.
Martha felt a deep sadness, but at the same time, an overwhelming joy at the peace and beauty of Tom’s passing. She thanked the nurses and other staff who had walked with them on this final journey.
One of them put a hand on Martha’s shoulder. “Stay with him as long as you like. And when you’re ready, just let us know.”
Martha and the children talked and cried some more and then Martha told the staff they were ready to let Tom go. A nurse called the funeral home and set in motion the plans that Tom, Martha and the family had agreed on earlier.
The funeral was lovely and provided a great comfort to Martha. A week later a bereavement social worker from Faith Hospice called to check up on her. She explained that it was part of the hospice benefit and Martha was entitled to counseling as well. Faith Hospice offered several support groups, and Martha was able to pick one that suited her schedule. After attending several sessions, and meeting one-on-one with the bereavement social worker, she began to feel her spirits lift slightly.
Every day Martha said a prayer of gratitude for all the help and support she received. When her friend’s mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness, she didn’t hesitate to recommend Faith Hospice. She was so grateful that they had shared this journey with her.
June 24th, 2010 | Posted in Bereavement, Community, General, Trillium Woods | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Spotlight on: Our pet therapy and cosmetology volunteers
“Trillium Woods is heaven on earth,” Donna DeVries. who has been a hospice volunteer since 2000, said about the Faith Hospice residence in Byron Center. “I can’t believe how wonderful the atmosphere is. And the staff are angels. It just amazes me.”
Donna and her six pound Yorkshire Terrier, Barclay, visit Trillium Woods once a week. Donna started as a once a month volunteer but enjoyed it so much she now goes weekly. “It’s quiet and peaceful but not sad or dreary there,” she said. “There’s an underlying joy.”
As a pet therapy dog, Barclay brings his own brand of joy to the staff, patients and families at Trillium. Upon arrival at Trillium, Barclay heads straight for the volunteer office where, according to Donna, he knows he will get a treat from their stash. Then he spends time with the patients. “Anyone who needs a little extra loving,” said Donna.
Barclay forms a bond with the patients who have spent a certain amount of time at Trillium. Donna recalled one woman who always invited Barclay onto her bed where the two of them would share a snack of cheese curls. Donna found it hard to get Barclay’s attention when it was time to leave!
Another woman who was at Trillium Woods for several months really enjoyed Barclay’s visits. Her husband did, too, and they both loved petting the little dog. Donna took Barclay to visit one day and found the woman on the verge of a coma. Her hands were folded on her chest on top of the covers. Barclay took his accustomed position on the bed, and, when he realized the woman was too weak to move, crawled underneath her hands where he rested happily for the duration of their visit.
Donna began Barclay’s training as a puppy by giving him plenty of opportunities for socializing including trips to Walmart where he rode in the cart, and she encouraged patrons to pet him and hold him. Neighborhood children were invited to visit with him, and Donna took him on plenty of walks where he learned to cope around bicycles and children on skates—perfect training for a dog who would spend time “working” around wheelchairs and walkers.
When he was old enough, Donna enrolled Barclay in the West Michigan Therapy Dog’s eight week training course. Barclay got practice negotiating his way around tubes, wires, walkers and other medical paraphernalia without becoming frightened by the strange equipment. He also became acclimated to the smells and sounds of a hospital and practiced visiting on one of the floors. Barclay passed his test with flying colors and went on to get further training ultimately receiving national Delta Society certification.
Not everyone passes the training course, according to Donna. There have been instances where the dogs have done fine, but the owners realized that they themselves were not cut out for this very special type of volunteer work.
Donna, however, said, “I’m the one who’s blessed. I get the blessings out of this.”
For more information on volunteering for Faith Hospice, call 356-4859.
***
“It does something for me. Sometimes I think it makes me feel better than they do,” Carol VanStee said about the six years she’s been volunteering her services as a hairdresser to Faith Hospice.
Carol goes to Trillium Woods, the Faith Hospice residence in Byron Center, once a month to wash, cut and style patients’ hair. “It’s something I can do for the patients,” said Carol, “and they are so appreciative. It makes them feel better.”
The hard part, according to Carol, is getting to know a patient only to lose them several weeks later. Carol credits the training she received from Faith Hospice for enabling her to deal with the emotions this sort of volunteering evokes. “The training helped me feel comfortable in all the different situations I’ve faced as a hospice volunteer.”
Carol said she loves “the hominess of Trillium Woods,” and gives the nurses and aides “so much credit for the wonderful job they do. They don’t just take care of the patients, they make them feel they’re part of a family.”
According to Carol, the nurses and aides don’t hesitate to reach out and touch a hand or stroke an arm. “Touching, to me, says a lot.”
According to Carol, “volunteering takes such a little bit of your time, and you get so much out of it.”
If you are interested in learning more about volunteering for Faith Hospice, please contact our volunteer office at 616-356-4859. Faith Hospice is especially in need of licensed cosmetologists like Carol to provide hair care as well as licensed massage therapists to provide massages for patients and their caregivers both at Trillium Woods and in the community.
December 14th, 2009 | Posted in Community, General, Trillium Woods | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Treasure of a Loved One Memorial Service
Please join us for our fall Memorial Service:
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 – 7:00 pm
Holy Cross Episcopal Church
4252 Breton Road, SE
Kentwood, MI
If you have any questions, please contact 616-235-5291
October 20th, 2009 | Posted in Bereavement, Community, General, Trillium Woods | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
‘Heart of Hospice’ on display at ArtPrize
AmyJo Zabavski, a marketing outreach representative for Faith Hospice, is on exhibit at ArtPrize with ‘Heart of Hospice,’ a series of acrylic on canvas paintings.
“Each piece shares a story of my journey as a social worker at Faith Hospice with patients, families and others affected by the loss of a loved one,” Zabavski said.
The works can be viewed at 53 Commerce SW in downtown Grand Rapids (map) for the duration of ArtPrize. You can also see the work at the ArtPrize website at http://artprize.org/artist/id/3673.
October 6th, 2009 | Posted in Community, General | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Food and Fellowship at Trillium Woods
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Service: 10:30 – 11:00 am
Brunch: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
$8.75 per person
Children 10 and under: Free
Faith Hospice at Trillium Woods
8214 Pfeiffer Farms Drive, SW
Byron Center, MI 49315
616-356-4820
Brunch Menu
Herb-crusted roast turkey
Green beans with bacon and apples
Roasted root vegetable mix
Waffles with syrup and butter
Pigs in a blanket
Country scrambled eggs
Fresh cut fruit
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
October 1st, 2009 | Posted in Bereavement, Community, General, Trillium Woods | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Spotlight On: Community Volunteers
“I knew there had to be a better way to die than taking lots of medications and having lots of doctor visits,” said Gen Tuinstra, a Faith Hospice community volunteer. “There had to be a better way to say good-bye.”
That way is hospice.
“I wanted to be a part of that,” said Gen who has been volunteering with Faith Hospice for three years both in the community and at Trillium Woods, the Faith Hospice residence in Byron Center.
Community respite and companion volunteers are an extremely important part of the hospice team according to Wendy Schaaf, Faith Hospice volunteer coordinator. Respite volunteers afford caregivers a much needed break to run errands, attend church or take time for themselves. Families can call the volunteer office and request a respite volunteer whenever they need one. “If, for instance, the whole family wants to attend a wedding,” said Wendy, “we can provide a volunteer who will sit with the patient while the family is away for the day.”
Companion volunteers tend to see the same patients on a regular schedule providing a listening ear to those in nursing homes or living on their own. “We try to schedule them for times when family can’t be with the patient,” said Wendy.
Jackie Harvey, who has been volunteering for Faith Hospice for several years, said she will play cards or games with her patients, read to them—they especially enjoy the Bible—or “sometimes I just listen.” Occasionally she takes them outside for some air or down to dinner if they are in a nursing facility.
“I go into their home with no other agenda than to minister to the patient,” said Gen, contrasting her role as a companion and respite volunteer with other hospice team members who maybe involved with the physical care of the patient.
Volunteers receive intensive training before meeting their first patient, according to Wendy. There are four training sessions totaling eight hours of instruction. The first provides introductory and background information and subsequent sessions deal with the mind, body and spirit. Volunteers learn what bodily changes to expect, discuss spirituality versus religion and hear about different beliefs and customs. Volunteers are also able to get field experience by shadowing an experienced hospice worker. Training classes are held four times a years, and the days and hours vary so that even someone with a fulltime job could participate. Volunteers do not need to give a minimum number of hours, according to Wendy. “They can volunteer once a week or once a month, it’s up to them.”
The volunteers feel they get as much, if not more, out of volunteering than the patients and families get out of having them. Jackie was a hospice volunteer for years in Maryland and upon moving to the Grand Rapids area her first thought was, “when we get there, I have to find a hospice.”
“It’s so worthwhile,” said Kelly Morse about her experience as a Faith Hospice volunteer. “They appreciate it so much.” According to Gen, “I’m always blessed when I go to someone’s home. I’m so rewarded.”
One particular patient stands out in Kelly’s mind. Kelly spent time with her on Thanksgiving and visited with her on New Year’s day when it was obvious she was dying. While it was sad, Kelly also found it to be a “spiritual moment” for her and an incredible experience.
Kelly, who is also a licensed beautician, recalled another patient whose hair she’d cut and styled with the aid of the woman’s husband. They’d been married 65 years, and he had tears in his eyes as he gently cradled his wife’s head. When Kelly left, she was smiling because she had been privileged to “witness such love between two people.”
“I try to meet the people where they are,” said Gen. “I try to take away their hurt and their bruising, but sometimes all I can do is just listen. Besides, hospice operates on a team approach, and there are social workers and chaplains who also do their part.”
Our community volunteers are a particularly important part of that team, and we feel truly blessed to have them.
“I’m going to do it forever,” said Kelly.
For more information on becoming a Faith Hospice volunteer, call the volunteer office at 616-356-4859.
August 11th, 2009 | Posted in Community, General | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Spotlight On: Legacy Creation
Faith Hospice is blessed with talented volunteers who generously donate their time and skills in any number of areas including our Legacy Creation Program. Legacy Creation helps our patients create lasting memories for their families through scrapbooking, a family history or family tree, memoirs or a legacy video. Two very special Legacy Creation volunteers are Deb Gosselin, of Ancestry Helper, who helps Faith Hospice patients research their family history and Bill Stewart who works with patients to create a legacy video.
Deb Gosselin, owner and founder of “Ancestry Helper,” has been generously donating her time to the Faith Hospice Legacy Creation Program for over three years. “It’s really a labor of love,” she said. “It’s best to volunteer for the things you are most passionate about. It just multiplies the good feelings.”
Gosselin has been involved with genealogy for more than thirty years—since she first discovered it in college. She begins her research with a standard questionnaire which Faith Hospice volunteers generally help the hospice patient and their family to fill out. From there, she accesses a number of databases including census, military and immigration records. All the material that Gosselin uncovers in her genealogical research goes into a special three ring binder she designed for Faith Hospice Legacy Creation participants.
Libraries are another step in tracking down information, and Gosselin has found they usually yield copies of obituaries of grandparents or other relatives. Gosselin has found that patients enjoy reading them. “The hospice patient feels they’re part of a cycle, part of the tree of life,” she said.
Two of the first hospice patients to become involved with Gosselin through the Legacy Creation Program shared the same maiden name but had never met each other. Gosselin’s research revealed that they were related approximately four generations ago. She shared the information with each of them, and they enjoyed meeting each other and swapping stories.
Gosselin learned another patient had had circus performers in their background. She contacted the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and they were able to locate posters with the performers’ names on them. Gosselin included photocopies of the posters in their Legacy Creation binders.
Since Gosselin generally doesn’t have months and months to do an extensive genealogy work-up for her hospice patients, she focuses on the things that are most important to them and of which they are the most proud. That might be their military experience, their college affiliation or a particular sport.
Gosselin recalled one patient whose room was extensively decorated with Michigan State “Spartan” memorabilia. She worked her usual research magic and discovered that the patient’s grandmother had been one of the first women to graduate from Michigan State. Further digging uncovered an article and picture from the Grand Rapids Press that Gosselin was able to obtain for the patient and their family.
According to Gosselin, doing a basic history and family tree are relatively easy, but it’s “finding the interesting little details that bring the history to life.”
Gosselin has found that the Legacy Creation Program—be it a family history, scrapbooking or making a video—gives the hospice patient and their family something to focus on and to share. There have even been times when she has continued work on a project with the family after the patient has died. “Family histories can continue through the grieving process.”
“I try to focus on the good years and create a picture of them,” said Bill Stewart about his participation as a videographer in Faith Hospice’s Legacy Creation Program. His goal is to create a “better memory” for the patient’s family with the focus on the life of the patient as opposed to their death.
Stewart begins with an informal interview that he captures on tape—much like a “fireside chat” as he put it. He asks the patient about their life and then he “lets it unwind the way the patient wants it to. I just let it flow.”
He sometimes researches music from the appropriate era and adds it to the tape along with still photographs from the patient’s photograph albums. Stewart had one patient who grew up in Chicago in the 1920s, and he was able to incorporate snaps of old-time Chicago in the video.
A retired electrical engineer, Stewart has been working with Legacy Creation for a year now, and he really enjoys it. “I like people. I like talking to people. I like to get their views on the world.” According to Stewart, “you don’t have to talk to people for very long to find them fascinating.”
Stewart recalls one 92 year-old patient who was an “artist” when it came to welding. “You could see his eyes light up when someone took an interest in his work.”
Stewart’s only wish would be for some newer computer software and either the donation or loan of more equipment. His real wish is that his videos will “leave a legacy for the patient.”
Faith Hospice and the Legacy Creation Program always welcome new volunteers. For more information on volunteering or on Legacy Creation, contact the volunteer office at 616-356-4859.
August 11th, 2009 | Posted in Community, General, Trillium Woods | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
“Trillium Woods is awesome…”
“I felt an immediate sense of peace coming down the driveway of Trillium Woods,” said Sharon W., who arrived there by ambulance. Right away she experienced an overwhelming feeling of calm and the sense that she would like it there. It eventually became her “home away from home.”
Trillium Woods is our Faith Hospice residence located off 84th Street in Byron Center. It provides care for patients who, for one reason or another, cannot remain in their own homes. It also serves patients who need short-term management of symptoms that may have gotten out of control.
“This place is awesome. I can’t say enough about Trillium Woods,” said Sharon who worked with developmentally disabled children and adults for thirty years. “I don’t feel sick. They manage my pain and make me feel comfortable. I can relax and feel at ease.”
With her symptoms under control, Sharon was able to indulge her love of cooking while at Trillium Woods. She was a judge in the Iron Chef Competition as well as the apple pie competition. An experienced cook, Sharon once enlisted the help of her sister and made homemade noodles and chicken soup for the staff from a recipe handed down by her Irish grandmother. She wanted to give back to the staff who she felt were doing “an awesome job.” She was a little daunted by the electric stove since she was used to a gas one, but she quickly mastered it, and the staff proclaimed her chicken soup to be delicious. She made plans to prepare a meal for the weekend staff as well. But make no mistake—Sharon had no quibbles with the food at Trillium Woods! “The food is awesome,” she said. And if she didn’t care for what was on the menu, the chef was more than willing to whip up something more to her liking.
The eldest of three in a very warm family, Sharon was thrilled at how close she became to the staff at Trillium Woods. They dropped by after days off to catch her up on their news, and they shared their individual cultures through stories and food. She also became friends with the other patients.
Sharon truly made herself at home at Trillium Woods. Her shepherd-husky mix, Brownie MacTavish, came to visit on a regular basis. Brownie loved looking out the window of Sharon’s room, much as Sharon did, watching the woodland creatures as well as the comings and goings of the patients, their families and staff. Volunteers stopped by regularly to give her manicures and to cut and style her hair.
She even hosted what she called a “pig-out party” in her room—friends and family gathered together to watch movies and eat as much junk food as they could handle. When one of them “crashed” on her sofa for the night, Sharon knew she was really at home!
A visit from a volunteer skilled in genealogy helped Sharon prepare a legacy for future generations—together they researched and documented information on thirteen generations of Sharon’s family—something Sharon had been wanting to do for many years. Members of the Legacy Creation team planned to help her explore other means of leaving her imprint on the world as well.
But even beyond all the activities, Sharon found Trillium Woods to be a spiritual place, a place where she enjoyed talking to the chaplain and where even the doctor prayed with her. Her time at Trillium Woods, according to Sharon, gave her the opportunity to “reflect on things.”
August 11th, 2009 | Posted in General, Trillium Woods | Share this on Facebook or Twitter