July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Hospice brought dignity, peace
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
On Sept. 14, I had the pleasure of presenting the Jay-Randolph Developmental Services Collaborator of the Year Award to State of the Heart Hospice.
I am writing this letter to assist in informing the community of what a beneficial service we all have available to us, as well as to encourage anyone or any family in need of hospice services to seek them.
The following is the presentation speech that I wrote and delivered honoring State of the Heart Hospice as JRDS Collaborator of the Year:
“After working for 19 years in the residential department of Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, I, along with the residential staff of Union Street group home, the QMRP and residential healthcare coordinator, learned a powerful lesson in the spring and early summer of this year. We learned that we had a valuable partner that none of us had met until then.
“That partner, it turns out, enhanced everything that we at Jay-Randolph do. That partner taught us how to work with and for someone who is leaving our services through death.
“When we were told by a doctor that Larry Williams, a longtime resident of Union Street group home, had a short time to live, we found it hard to believe. Later, our new partner worked hard to convince us of the reality of Larry’s condition.
“When the partner came onboard at the request of Larry’s mother, Frances West, and began training us through modeling and explanation and calming direction, we soon learned that death is not to be feared and that knowledge would assist us in the care we had yet to provide.
“The JRDS team (including our new partner) encouraged Larry’s family’s decision to keep Larry at Union Street until he became unresponsive, at which time he would go to the Jay County Hospital for respite.
“Hospice workers in the form of nurses, a chaplain, a doctor, and a music therapist surrounded the JRDS staff, Larry’s family, and, of course, Larry. Our new partner taught us how to recognize and understand the stages of Larry’s departure and how to keep him comfortable as he prepared to leave us.
“They said, ‘Call us if you have any concerns or need any assistance.’ And they stood by their words. The dignity with which we’d always treated Larry was extended into a graceful and beautiful state of death with dignity and understanding and love and our ‘permission’ for Larry to leave this world.
“Before Larry’s passing on July 3, 2010, I went to Ruth Ann Widman, JRDS executive director, and said we must choose State of the Heart Hospice as our Collaborator of the Year this year! They are an amazing group of people who have taught us so much about life and dignity.
“Our valuable partner in this sad but beautiful experience is State of the Heart Hospice. With great joy, gratitude, and respect, I am so pleased to present State of the Heart Hospice with the JRDS Collaborator of the Year Award.”
Sincerely,
Marcella Bodle
Residential Department Head
Jay-Randolph Developmental Services Inc.[[In-content Ad]]
On Sept. 14, I had the pleasure of presenting the Jay-Randolph Developmental Services Collaborator of the Year Award to State of the Heart Hospice.
I am writing this letter to assist in informing the community of what a beneficial service we all have available to us, as well as to encourage anyone or any family in need of hospice services to seek them.
The following is the presentation speech that I wrote and delivered honoring State of the Heart Hospice as JRDS Collaborator of the Year:
“After working for 19 years in the residential department of Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, I, along with the residential staff of Union Street group home, the QMRP and residential healthcare coordinator, learned a powerful lesson in the spring and early summer of this year. We learned that we had a valuable partner that none of us had met until then.
“That partner, it turns out, enhanced everything that we at Jay-Randolph do. That partner taught us how to work with and for someone who is leaving our services through death.
“When we were told by a doctor that Larry Williams, a longtime resident of Union Street group home, had a short time to live, we found it hard to believe. Later, our new partner worked hard to convince us of the reality of Larry’s condition.
“When the partner came onboard at the request of Larry’s mother, Frances West, and began training us through modeling and explanation and calming direction, we soon learned that death is not to be feared and that knowledge would assist us in the care we had yet to provide.
“The JRDS team (including our new partner) encouraged Larry’s family’s decision to keep Larry at Union Street until he became unresponsive, at which time he would go to the Jay County Hospital for respite.
“Hospice workers in the form of nurses, a chaplain, a doctor, and a music therapist surrounded the JRDS staff, Larry’s family, and, of course, Larry. Our new partner taught us how to recognize and understand the stages of Larry’s departure and how to keep him comfortable as he prepared to leave us.
“They said, ‘Call us if you have any concerns or need any assistance.’ And they stood by their words. The dignity with which we’d always treated Larry was extended into a graceful and beautiful state of death with dignity and understanding and love and our ‘permission’ for Larry to leave this world.
“Before Larry’s passing on July 3, 2010, I went to Ruth Ann Widman, JRDS executive director, and said we must choose State of the Heart Hospice as our Collaborator of the Year this year! They are an amazing group of people who have taught us so much about life and dignity.
“Our valuable partner in this sad but beautiful experience is State of the Heart Hospice. With great joy, gratitude, and respect, I am so pleased to present State of the Heart Hospice with the JRDS Collaborator of the Year Award.”
Sincerely,
Marcella Bodle
Residential Department Head
Jay-Randolph Developmental Services Inc.[[In-content Ad]]
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