Compassion Connection 4th Edition from Home Hospice North Lanark

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Welcome to our fourth edition. In this, our last edition of 2021, we reflect on the things we are grateful for and the good things that have happened in the past year. We wish all of our clients, staff, donors, supporters and volunteers a very peaceful, special Christmas and all the best in 2022.
Please don't hesitate to share this newsletter with family and friends. If you haven't signed up for the newsletter yet, you can do so at hhnl.ca. Is there something you would like to see covered in our newsletter? Drop us an email at chair@hhnl.ca.

Do you or a loved one need support from our team? Please contact our Program Coordinator: email: info@hhnl.ca • phone: 613-406-7020 • fax: 613-691-6060.

HHNL PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENT

Attendees display the Comfort Birds that they each took home at the end of the course.

First Ever Practical Caregiver Training Facilitated by Home Hospice North Lanark Wraps Up
Home Hospice North Lanark (HHNL) is committed to offering the support that people need, such as the first-ever Practical Caregiver Training course that ran from October 15 to November 12. The course was developed for up to 15 unpaid caregivers by Champlain Hospice Palliative Care and facilitated by HHNL. For two hours every Friday, 12 attendees gained valuable information at no cost. Due to an easing of COVID rules, they could gather in person at the Civitan Club in Almonte.

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FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERS

From left: Jan Watson, Allan Goddard, Peggy McPhail, Ed Lawrence, Christine Bois, Kat Fournier and Ron Ayling.

Thank You to This Dedicated Group of Volunteers!

It was a frosty morning when these folks agreed to come out bright and early for a photo recently. These are the hard-working “Tree Committee” members who are behind one of Home Hospice North Lanark’s biggest fundraisers. As an organization that relies 100% on donations and fundraising they — and the over 2,200 trees sold to date — have made a big difference to HHNL, and most importantly, our clients and their caregivers.

We feel good about offering something of such beauty and value in exchange for your support. What could be more beautiful than planting trees to honour and support those whose journey through life is coming to an end.

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It's easy to order from our Tree Fundraiser at https://trees.hhnl.ca/
Makes a great "green" Christmas gift!

In the fall of 2018, Home Hospice-North Lanark started a visiting program for residents of Country Haven Nursing Home in Almonte. Over the next year Hospice volunteers formed close bonds of friendship with many of the residents. We visited weekly, enjoyed tea, read poetry and short stories, and spent time together listening to memories of days past. Hospice volunteers also sat with residents in their last days when family members were not available.
In March 2020 all this changed. COVID-19 ravaged Long-Term Care facilities throughout Canada and all visiting was cancelled.
Remembering how often our friends would show us their precious cards and pictures, we decided to replace our personal visits with cards containing personal notes. We worked with Naomi Redner, the Life Enrichment Coordinator at Country Haven who provided us with the first names of residents who would enjoy a card and notes. Hospice volunteers enthusiastically joined in and soon the Cards of Caring Program was underway.
Each month and on special holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Canada Day cards would be lovingly written and delivered. Naomi would ensure that birthdays were remembered and sometimes she would request an extra card for someone she believed might need to feel remembered.
Hospice volunteers miss the personal contact with their friends at Country Haven. Cards of Caring has filled some of that void for both volunteers and residents. Feedback for the program has been overwhelmingly positive. We hope that Cards of Caring will outlive the COVID-19 restrictions and will continue to bring cheer and a friendly hello. — Pat, Visiting Volunteer for HHNL

RECOMMENDED READING
This book is available for loan at the Mississippi Mills Public Library

With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial

by Kathryn Mannix

Dr. Kathryn Mannix has studied and practiced palliative care for thirty years. In With the End in Mind , she shares beautifully crafted stories from a lifetime of caring for the dying, and makes a case for the therapeutic power of approaching death not with trepidation, but with openness, clarity, and understanding.

Weaving the details of her own experiences as a caregiver through stories of her patients, their families, and their distinctive lives, Dr. Mannix discusses the universal, but deeply personal, process of dying. With meditations on life, death, and the space between them, With the End in Mind describes the possibility of meeting death gently, with forethought and preparation, and shows the unexpected beauty, dignity, and profound humanity of life coming to an end.
(FROM GOODREADS)

FOCUS ON CAREGIVERS

"People don't tell the same stories over and over again because they're losing their minds, but because the stories are important, and you need to know them," says Queen's University researcher Mary Ann McColl. This is a very interesting article that may help families better understand elderly loved ones.

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STRATEGIES FOR GETTING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS

The holidays can be a tough time for those who are grieving.
Here are links to some good information that we hope can help.

Grief & Bereavement Support from Champlain Hospice Palliative Care Program
Grief in Times of Celebration: The Empty Spot from Canadian Virtual Hospice
How to Deal with Grief During the Holidays
Coping with Holiday Grief

Here is a link to a good article about how you
can support someone who is grieving.

How do you help a grieving friend during the holidays?

MEET OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Sidney Thomson joined Home Hospice North Lanark in April 2021. Sidney comes to us with 25 years nursing experience; the last 22 years with the Carleton Place Hospital, as well as a wealth of other experience, including 3 months as a Clinical Nursing Advisor to a university teaching hospital (Haramaya) in Harar Ethiopia (2013), and providing a palliative presentation ("Once in a Lifetime – the end of life journey in the acute care setting") to the International Nursing Conference in Jerusalem (2012). She completed a palliative fellowship in 2003 that lead to her designation as a palliative resource at the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) for 18 years. She has also worked as a Clinical Education Coordinator. She lives in Carleton Place with her husband and two dogs and enjoys running and camping. We are so fortunate to have Sidney overseeing our programs. She is here to help!

We are currently supporting a number of clients/ families/caregivers in the area from Beckwith Township to Pakenham through visiting volunteers (by phone) and coordinator collaboration.

Currently we have clients who are participating in the County Community Paramedicine Program with home visits, which is proving to be a real benefit. Clients/caregivers have the reassurance that well-being and other issues are being monitored, without leaving their homes.

The pandemic has brought some service needs to the forefront and we’ve incorporated navigation of support options and access to these into the care that we are able to provide. We will be monitoring the situation as we carefully move forward with in-person volunteer visits. You can find HHNL staff in the libraries in Almonte and Pakenham two days per week and at Orchard View by the Mississippi Retirement Community one day a week. DETAILS ARE HERE

HHNL OUT IN THE COMMUNITY

Above left: Program Coordinator Sidney Thomson and Chair Jan Watson are ready to share information. Above right: Board member Phyllis Moore and volunteer Peter Moller assist a woman who stopped by the HHNL table.

A Great Day at Union Hall

On Saturday, November 6, Union Hall hosted a “Community Builders” craft fair. In addition to raising funds for the Hall’s ongoing renovations, they invited other charities and non-profits to join them at the event to raise awareness and much-needed cash for their enterprises.

Home Hospice North Lanark was one of the organizations invited to participate, which we were pleased to do. We are always looking for opportunities to get the word out about how we can support and advocate for those in our community who are dealing with a life-altering or terminal illness, and their caregivers.

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BEHIND THE SCENES AT HHNL

This is Wendy Rampton, who takes care of public relations and marketing for HHNL. She was raised in Almonte, and although she lives in rural Carp now, she still considers Almonte home. Having experienced life as a caregiver for many years, she believes strongly that people who are seriously ill and their caregivers should have access to the support they need and deserve in their own community.

When she was invited to volunteer for HHNL (then HHPC) in 2013, she jumped at the chance. After a long career in graphic design, writing and marketing she decided to share her skills with HHNL and is dedicated to helping the organization grow. A particular focus in the coming year will be getting the information to the right people, so those who need HHNL know about the services. "I'm so excited about the growth we've seen even in the last short while, as the organization responds to the needs they have identified within the community." she stated. She also creates all the marketing collateral for HHNL's fundraisers.

FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERS

There were treats and coffee and tea, poinsettias, gift baskets and some great chats. The HHNL Board of Directors thanked Visiting Volunteers at an afternoon Christmas tea recently. These people are the heart of our programs.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The community is invited to attend our Annual General Meeting
on Thursday, January 13 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
We are honoured to welcome guest speaker,
Tony Belcourt, O.C., L.L.D. (Hon),
who will be speaking on Indigenous Palliative Care Protocols.

If you would like to join in please send an email to admin@hhnl.ca
no later than Tuesday, January 9, 2022.
You will be sent a Zoom link as well as an information package and agenda.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about HHNL and
the range of services we offer to the people of North Lanark.
(Photo courtesy the Humm)

FUNDRAISING UPDATE
HHNL relies 100% on donations and targeting fundraising to finance our programs and training. We thank everyone who shows their support!

Lots of people cared! All the numbers aren't in yet, but our annual Hike for Hospice raised over $22K this year. Thank you to each and every one of the hikers, their supporters and our corporate sponsors. This goes a long way to keep our programs running…and growing.

Our Tree Fundraiser is showing signs of a being headed to be a huge success once again. Our opening day saw the highest sales for one day in the 5 years that we have been holding this fundraiser. Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you! If you want to order we advise you to hurry…favourites are going fast!

We — and our clients — are so grateful for your support. You can be proud that you are helping us continue and expand our services. We are pleased to offer value for your money…healthy activity and environmentally positive products!