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Volunteering for Hospice Brings Many Rewards
Posted on May 1, 2017 by Karen McBain in VolunteersI am a gardener, and one of the first things I noticed about the Kaplan Family Hospice House is its serene, peaceful setting. My uncle’s obituary mentioned that donations could be made in his name to Care Dimensions/Kaplan Family Hospice House. I had been looking for a way to give back, so I thought, “Why not volunteer?” I signed up for the hospice volunteer training that fall. ...
Continue readingApril 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day
Posted on April 14, 2017 by Stephanie Patel, MD in Health care directivesThis is the 10-year anniversary of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), April 16, a day that was founded to inspire, educate and empower the public and health care providers about the importance of advance care planning. This special initiative creates an opportunity to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding how much treatment they want to receive at end of life and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be. ...
Continue readingPet Therapy Dog Tessie Brings Comfort to Hospice Patients
Posted on March 20, 2017 by Tessie Pet Therapy Dog in Complementary therapy, Pet therapyWednesdays are the best day of the week! My human says in a cheerful voice, "Do you want to go to the Kaplan House and put smiles on people’s faces?" Off we go to visit patients at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, sometimes sporting a decorative outfit in addition to my harness and leash. ...
Continue readingBooks to Help Children Deal With Death, Grief, and Loss
Posted on March 3, 2017 by Care Dimensions Children's Program Staff in ChildrenDeath is not an easy topic to talk about. It can make us feel scared and uneasy. Talking about it with children can be even more difficult. Using books can be a helpful way for parents, teachers, or other caregivers to guide conversations with young children. The following books have been reviewed and recommended by child life specialists at Care Dimensions. ...
Continue readingMy Life in the Balance
Posted on February 28, 2017 by Barrie Levine in CaregivingDuring the two tough years of my husband’s illness, I lost my balance. Every consideration in my life was laser-focused on his well-being. I never doubted the vital importance of my full-time role as a caregiver; in fact, I considered it a gift to accompany my husband as I always had in our marriage, this time (sadly) on the journey to the end of his life. He would have done exactly the same for me. In his acceptance of me as his caregiver, I felt his ultimate trust in me as his life's partner. ...
Continue readingLiving with Advanced Cardiac Disease
Posted on February 24, 2017 by Stephanie Patel, MD in HospiceAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 5.8 million people in the U.S. suffer from heart failure and one-fifth of them will die within one year of diagnosis. While these statistics can be daunting, there are ways to improve quality of life and make each day more manageable for those living with advanced cardiac disease. ...
Continue reading'A Monster Calls' - Exploring Child Grief
Posted on January 24, 2017 by Care Dimensions Children's Program Staff in ChildrenOur child life specialists are constantly looking for quality resources to share with families and professionals who are faced with supporting children through a parent’s life-limiting illness. Recently, Care Dimensions child life specialists saw the new Hollywood movie that portrays the experience of so many of the children and families with whom we work on a daily basis. ...
Continue readingThe Surprising Joys of Hospice Work
Posted on January 18, 2017 by Lisa Alcock in Donors, Hospice, VolunteersCare Dimensions volunteer and donor Lisa Alcock of Weston and Gloucester, MAThere are endless opportunities to donate time and money to good causes. The mission statements are compelling and the reasons for committing to those charitable efforts are readily evident. Yet, when I was looking for a new chance last year to make a difference, Care Dimensions became my obvious choice.My decision was no...
Continue readingHospice Patient Grateful His Poetry Preserved by Volunteer
Posted on January 18, 2017 by Lisa Conti in VolunteersBen Gesmundo shares his book of poems with Care Dimensions Social Worker Deb Todd.Benedict “Ben” Gesmundo of Haverhill, MA, has never thought of himself as a poet. Although he wrote several hundred poems over 50 years, he rarely shared them. Poetry was an outlet for Ben. When he felt inspired to get his thoughts on paper, they often came out in verse.Over the years, Ben accumulated mountains of ...
Continue readingHospice Volunteer: 'This Work is Undeniably Important'
Posted on January 18, 2017 by Ann Jennings in VolunteersKay was the first patient I visited after my six-week hospice training. My volunteer coordinator placed me with Kay because she was 92 years old, lived in a nice facility in Wayland, MA, and although she had dementia, she was talkative and had an interesting background. This profile made for a perfect patient for a “newbie” hospice volunteer. ...
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Since 1978, Care Dimensions, formerly Hospice of the North Shore, has provided comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals and families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. As the non-profit leader in advanced illness care, we offer services in over 100 communities in Massachusetts.
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