Hospice puts emphasis on life - not on death

“Inspiring,” Tricia Gardner, Bonner Community Hospice bereavement and volunteer coordinator said. “I use that word a lot.”

And, she was right; she did use that word a lot. Sometimes saying “awe-inspiring” or “totally inspirational” as she described the capabilities and commitment of the many individuals, health care providers and volunteers, who make up the not-for-profit hospice team.

“The heart of hospice has to be our volunteers. They are truly awe inspiring,” She laughed at using that word again. “We have massage therapists, people who work in the office handling paperwork, wood workers who can build ramps and people who will sit at the patient’s bedside and hold hands.”

“We’re a small community vested in friends and family. We know each other. These are our friends or our co-workers. Hospice is not a profession, it’s a calling.” Gardner said.

In an email, Tami Feyen, R.N., manager of Bonner General Hospital Home Health and Bonner Community Hospice, said: “Hospice provides a team of professionals in the home. With the expert guidance of nurses (who are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day) as well as the assistance of our personal care aides, social workers, and spiritual coordinators; clients and families find their medical care needs are met while working directly with our team.

“But most importantly, when their medical needs are met, they are able to focus on what’s really most important: their relationships, maybe healing old wounds and certainly building wonderful memories together during this precious journey. Far from giving up, hospice helps the client and their family truly live well and to support each other during a stressful, but in the end, very natural life passage.”

Gardner said that often death is seen as failure and that will stand in the way of family members contacting hospice. She says they think of it as giving up hope. But the reality is that although Western culture doesn’t celebrate death as it does life, it will happen to all of us.

“We work with people who are expected to die within six months, “Gardner said, “Although no one knows for sure. Some people decline quickly, others get better. With the help of hospice the patient will move more, eat better and with the improved quality of life might actually graduate from hospice.”

Hos-pice care doesn’t end with the end of life of the patient, but begins the healing process for the family. With programs such as Grief Acceptance classes, Kid’s Grief Camp, weekly support groups and the Memorial Lights Ceremony families are brought together to learn how to cope with their loss.

On Sunday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. the memorial lights ceremony will be held at four locations. The Brown House (north of BGH next to the Healing Gardens) in Sandpoint; Free Methodist Church, Bonners Ferry; the library in Priest River, and St. Blanche Church in Priest Lake.

If you would like your loved one’s name read at this event, send information to Bonner Community Hospice, 520 N. Third, Sandpoint, ID 83864. A $10 donation is requested, but not required. Hospice donations can be mailed to that address as well. Everyone is invited to attend.

For information call 265-1179. Names should be received by Nov. 29.

“How do we reconcile that someone isn’t here for the holidays?” Gardner asked, “We remember, we commemorate and the Memorial Lights Ceremony is beautiful. People can share a message or bring a photograph. It’s non-religious. It’s music and refreshments and it’s inspiring.”

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com or 264-4029.