CHI - St. Joseph's Health - MN

Fall/Winter 2017

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workers, and volunteers address pain control and symptom management, and provide emotional support tailored to the needs of individuals and their families. We believe hospice is about living as fully as possible." Guy began receiving CHI St. Joseph's Health Hospice Care services in August 2016. The CHI St. Joseph's Hospice Care team made Guy's goal of remaining in his home a reality by helping him perform daily activities, monitoring and adjusting his medications as needed, and arranging for his physician to see him in Walker so he didn't have to travel to Park Rapids. Joan found the service equally valuable because she had someone she could call for support day or night. Guy received Hospice Care services until his death from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in late January 2017. During that time, the team not only cared for his physical needs, but also his and his family's emotional and spiritual needs. "Guy was a very spiritual man, so the faith-based aspect of the program was very important to our family," Joan says. "The Hospice Care team brought us a lot of kindness and good humor. Our home has always been filled with laughter, and it was nice to have people share that with us. The word 'hospice' often has a negative connotation because it signifies the end of life, but receiving hospice services was a positive experience for us. Everyone involved was so kind, loving, and respectful. We are very thankful for Hospice Care." To learn more about CHI St. Joseph's Hospice Care, call 218.732.4552 or toll-free at 866.588.4552. Volunteers—The Heart of Hospice At CHI St. Joseph's Health, one of the strongest aspects of the Hospice Care program is its volunteers. "Volunteers remain the heart of our hospice philosophy," says Betsy Meyer, CHI St. Joseph's Health Volunteer Services Coordinator. "Our volunteers truly engage in our mission to help families in their greatest time of need, at the end of life." If you are interested in becoming a Hospice Care Volunteer, please call Volunteer Services at 218.616.3197. "We believe hospice is about living as fully as possible." —JESSICA JENSEN, INTERIM HOSPICE CARE DIRECTOR AT CHI ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH Join Us for Light Up A Life On Nov. 24, 2017, CHI St. Joseph's Health will hold its annual Light Up A Life for Hospice Care tree-lighting event in support of the Hospice program. Held in downtown Park Rapids, the ceremony begins at 6:00 pm and honors loved ones. Your donation of $25 or more in honor or memory of loved ones helps us to provide individualized, quality care to Hospice patients and families. Call 218.732.4552 for more information or to make a donation. www.CHISJH.org | CHI St. Joseph's Health 7

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