HONORING OUR VOLUNTEERS

National Volunteer Week is April 21-27, 2024

All of April is National Volunteer Month and is celebrated by hospice and palliative care providers across the nation. The U.S. hospice movement was founded by dedicated volunteers, and volunteers continue to play a vital role in hospice today. We are inspired by our compassionate volunteers who show up wanting to be of service and your kindhearted concern for those approaching end of life is abundantly appreciated. We could not do this work without you on our team, so this month WE CELEBRATE YOU.

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT GROUP - MARK YOUR CALENDARS

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024 (5:00-6:30PM)

We look forward to seeing our active volunteers (those who are COVID-trained or are Graduates of the 2022 & 2023 Trainings) at our April Support Group! Come enhance your skills, knowledge and competencies as we explore our explore our hospice experiences. If you are currently serving a family, please try to attend. LOCATION: Kauai Hospice Conference Room. (RSVPs are helpful to plan refreshments.)

ARTICLE: HOW NOT TO BE A SWOOPER - LESSONS FROM A SEAGULL ABOUT CAREGIVING

BY: PATTY WEBSTER (The Conversation Project, Dec. 2023)

The “seagull effect” is one of the most common stories we hear about caregiving at The Conversation Project. When an out-of-town sibling swoops in for a visit, thinking they know best and upending plans, they can create a messy situation (as seagulls often do). The Conversation Project’s Patty Webster turns personal experience into a story jam-packed with helpful analysis and tips for potential swoopers and primary caregivers. Read this terrific post.

ARTICLE: HOW TO TALK TO YOUNG KIDS ABOUT DEATH

By Sarah Kerr, PhD

Centre for Sacred Deathcare (January 2024)

Young children are naturally curious about death (whether it is the death of a pet or the concept of mortality in humans) and it’s important to hold space for these explorations. Death is hard and sad, but it doesn’t have to be confusing or scary. Kerr beautifully describes six very helpful principles for meaningful conversation with young children: be neutral; be informative; be direct; be age appropriate; be honest; and be confident.  Read about these core concepts in more detail.  

IT'S HARD TO GIVE UP YOUR CHILDHOOD THINGS. HERE'S HOW TO HONOR THEM AND LET THEM GO

BY KYLE MACKIE, NPR LIFE KIT (Feb. 2024)

Kyle Mackie’s story begins: “My fiancé and I were lucky enough to buy a house last year. I was excited to be a first-time homeowner — and so were my parents. I finally had a place to store my childhood stuff taking up space in their house.” As the process began, he felt a creeping sense of sadness and wondered whether there was a less heart-rending, more strategic way to do this. Read or listen to this Life Kit episode (21-minutes). It offers many helpful insights. Here's one tip: “as you wade through boxes of old report cards and participation medals, remember that if you have the privilege to go through belongings from your past, it means someone cared enough to hold onto all of it for you -- it was “saved in love”.

ARTICLE: MINDFULNESS FOR GRIEF AND LOSS

FROM: MINDFUL.ORG STAFF

Grief can extend its reach into the broader spectrum of life changes and is a complex mix of emotions often including deep sadness, fear, and shock. It is different for everyone and dealing with grief is a deep journey we all will likely face sometime in life. Mindfulness can support us in healing and self-discovery after a significant loss or life-change. Using mindfulness involves staying present, acknowledging emotions, and finding peace through practices like meditation, and approaching loss, death and dying with a calm and centered mindset. This article (and website) is a comprehensive go-to resource (mahalo Rev. Caroline Miura). Click to read. Mindful.org dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and events—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society.

ENDWELL INSTAGRAM POST: HOW TO DRESS FOR CANCER

BY: SUE WILLIAMSON (Jan. 26, 2024)

“I was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, when I was 30 years old… and like Alice entering Wonderland, I entered a free fall… Ahead lay a sea of endless appointments, painful procedures, and overwhelming uncertainty; what I wore would be the one thing I could control.” Both poignant and upbeat, Sue Williamson shared with Vogue Magazine how “dressing for the occasion” took on a whole new meaning. Scroll through the 10-slide story here. (You can view this post without an Instagram account.) Or, read the full Vogue article.

ARTICLE: PALLIATIVE CARE HAS A BRANDING PROBLEM – CHANGING HOW IT’S PERCEIVED CAN BREAK DOWN SILOS

BY: AMY SHAW, PA (MEDPAGE TODAY, Feb. 22, 2024) 

Most people with a diagnosis impacting their quality of life intuitively understand how they could use "an extra layer of support." Loved ones need it too. Chronic and terminal disease reverberates through families like the stressors calving a glacier, impacting spouses, children, and grandchildren alike, often turning their lives on end. Although many spouses bravely say, "It is what it is," others also admit, "I never thought retirement would look like this." Despite a clear need for greater access to palliative care, far too many patients and families aren't connected to it until much too late. Continue reading…  Amy Shaw is a dementia care specialist and palliative and hospice care provider. She is the author of the forthcoming medical textbook, The Arc of Conversation: A How-to-Guide for Goals of Care Conversations (Springer-Nature, 2025).

ARTICLE: ACTIVE SOCIAL LIVES CAN HELP DEMENTIA PATIENTS

BY: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO (Medical Xpress: March 18, 2024)

Social connection is crucial for dementia patients. A study published in the journal The Gerontologist found that improving social support and meaningful interactions can optimize quality of life for patients with dementia and their caregivers. "Unmet social needs negatively impact quality of life, and that can lead to health outcomes like depression and cardiovascular disease, as well as high health-care use and early death," said lead study author Dr. Ashwin Kotwal. People with dementia and those who care for them should be screened for loneliness, so providers can find ways to keep them socially connected, according to experts. Continue reading.