News From HospiceCare Inc. - Winter 2010

In this edition of News from HospiceCare:

Daughter Finds HospiceCare is for Families, Too
Expert Listeners Help Heal "Old Hurts"
Community Comes to the Rescue 
A Stroke of Luck
Message From Our CEO Susan Phillips
Upcoming Events

Daughter Finds HospiceCare is for Families, Too

I don’t have any regrets, because we got to do everything Mom wanted—all of it,” says Heather Kleiboer. Today, she recognizes she could have used HospiceCare sooner, but when you’re losing someone you love, you move mountains to comfort and care for them.

In May 2009, Heather’s vibrant and independent mother, Margie Reffue, learned she had several inoperable brain tumors, and suddenly her life expectancy was being measured in months. “Don’t think it’s too soon to call HospiceCare,” friends told Heather. “But I wasn’t willing to give up caring for my mom,” she says.

Heather brought her mom to live with her and her husband Phil and their two young sons. “We understood this is the only time we have,” says Heather. They asked Margie what she wanted to do in the time she had left. Her list included seeing whales, visiting Door County, a trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and later she added oil painting.

The family soon accomplished Margie’s first two requests, taking an “epic” trip west to see whales and enjoying a stay in Door County. “She was so content just listening to those waves crashing in and moving out,” recalls Heather.

Then, in September, Margie’s independence dropped dramatically. Heather signed her mom on to HospiceCare, even though she still
didn’t feel Margie needed the service. But Heather found it was great having a chaplain visit her mom, who
hadn’t been able to attend church in weeks. A nursing assistant came to help Margie with bathing. The social worker learned the Shedd Aquarium was on Margie’s list and helped arrange for tickets and special parking for a November trip. And Margie’s volunteer coordinator asked volunteer and accomplished artist Pete Lundberg to oil paint with Margie.

“I didn’t let HospiceCare initially do everything they could have,” says Heather. But she knows now it’s also okay to understand your limits and accept help. As HospiceCare offered more support, Heather let go, so she could focus on being a daughter. “HospiceCare takes all the work out of caring for somebody at home,” she adds. “As limited as our time may be, every moment should be enjoyable.” 

Expert Listeners Help Heal "Old Hurts"

Ann,* a HospiceCare patient, was the mother of six children who all loved her—but didn’t get along with each other. Their arguments often occurred in Ann’s presence. As her health declined, Ann struggled with the heartache caused by her feuding family.

Fortunately, when family discord, spiritual concerns or other unresolved matters are causing distress, patients and their families can turn to HospiceCare’s social workers, grief counselors and chaplains for guidance. “When someone is dying, ‘old hurts’ often come to the forefront,” explains Kris Rilling, HospiceCare resource social worker.

“We have experience in listening and understanding. We facilitate people coming together … we help them find the words.”

In Ann’s case, a schedule was arranged so her children could visit her one at a time, says Tammy Kasuboski, HospiceCare social worker. But the fights continued, she says. With guidance from Ann’s HospiceCare team, her children realized they needed to put their differences aside for their mother’s sake. “At the time of her death, Ann had the calm, respectful presence of four of her children,” Kasuboski says. “They were able to remain in the same room together and support each other, and their mother. I believe this was possible with much education and refocusing of their anger, values and beliefs.”

After Ann’s death, her children thanked HospiceCare for guiding them through their challenging family dynamics. “We try to bring peace to a difficult situation,” says Kris Rilling. “We want to make a difference for people in the precious time they have to achieve their goals.”

* Name changed for privacy.

Community Comes to the Rescue

We thank Kessler’s Diamonds of Madison for making house calls for us. One was with a patient who has dementia and is receiving
hospice services in a long-term care facility. The patient’s finger had swollen around a ring, and it was causing discomfort. Several
staff members tried without success to remove the ring, and finally all agreed that the ring needed to be cut to spare the patient
further discomfort and possible infection. Kessler’s agreed without hesitation to help us and did so without charge. Their visits are
deeply appreciated by everyone involved.

We also thank Dr. Julia Foster-Armstrong of Armstrong Dental Office in Milton for making a house call to a patient with dementia
who was experiencing dental pain. Her specialized knowledge of antibiotic combinations and analgesics successfully reduced the
patient’s pain and eliminated the necessity for oral surgery. Thank you, Dr. Armstrong.

A Stroke of Luck

Volunteer Peter Lundberg recently fi lled a very specialized volunteer request: A patient wanted instruction in oil painting. Pete has been a direct-care volunteer for nine years and, as one of our garden volunteers, he carefully plans the garden in front of the entrance to the
Don & Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center. But he is also owner of Janus Galleries and an accomplished artist in his own right. When he heard that a patient wanted to paint, he happily answered the call. Thanks, Pete!

Message From Our CEO Susan Phillips

Although the healthcare reform bill will hurt hospices, we are fortunate to live in a community of outstanding healthcare partners who will help us find a fix. As the bill now stands, hospices throughout Wisconsin will not survive the reform bill. Most smaller hospices will fold by 2013 due to additional Medicare cuts; larger hospices may make it until 2018.

Something unusual about this community is how its healthcare entities collaborate to ensure the highest quality care. South central Wisconsin is fortunate not to have the heavy infl uence of national insurers/providers. Instead, local insurers/providers put quality fi rst and profi ts second. As the impact of the bill became known, representatives from UW Hospital and Clinics, UW Medical Foundation and Dean/St. Mary’s were present to express their concerns when Senator Russ Feingold came to HospiceCare in December.

Following the meeting, UW Hospital’s CEO, Donna Katen Bahensky, offered the support of their UW lobbyist to orchestrate a day on Capitol Hill for nonprofi t hospice representatives from around the country. She joined us as we met with senators and representatives to share how, if passed, the cuts in the bill would eliminate hospice as an option. And she spoke eloquently of the high quality of the hospice option and the Medicare dollars that are saved by the 24/7 hospice care teams that make ER visits and expensive hospital and ICU stays unnecessary.

Most importantly, Donna shared how HospiceCare collaborates with all the UW and other Wisconsin schools by providing teaching rotations— for medical students, residents and fellows; and nursing, pharmacy and social work students—that offer this country’s best hope for improving care to dying patients and their families.

You can be proud that the healthcare priority in south central Wisconsin is quality care and that the area’s healthcare providers have demonstrated a willingness to work as a team to ensure that our citizens’ health comes before profit.

As the situation develops, we may be asking for your support in contacting Congress in the future and appreciate any time you can give
to ensure that hospice remains an option for people in our community beyond 2018.

Events

2/11  Texas Roadhouse fundraiser – The restaurant will be donating 10 percent of all proceeds from patrons who present this coupon.
2/27  Second Annual Pat Reithmeyer Benefi t for HospiceCare – Bowling tournament at Village Lanes, Monona. $30 per person. To register, call Village Lanes at (608) 222-7361.
2/27  Sips & Sounds – Join us for south central Wisconsin’s premier wine-tasting festival at the Pontiac Convention Center in Janesville. $50 per person. Make reservations at hospicecareinc.com or call (608) 755-1871.
3/9  Q&A Seminar – Making the Hospice Choice
3/10  Liliana’s Restaurant fundraiser – Half the cost of your three-course meal at Liliana’s in Fitchburg will support HospiceCare. $60 per person. To reserve your table, call Liliana’s at (608) 442-4444.
3/24  2010 National Bereavement Teleconference – Cancer and End-of-Life Care
4/11  Memorial Quilt Dedication Ceremony – Janesville
4/17  Memorial Quilt Dedication Ceremony – Madison